Molde University College is the central Norwegian institution in logistics offering bachelor's-, master's- and doctoral degree in logistics. The MSc program is in line with the European standards on master's degrees, covering a total of 120 ECTS, and is based on a bachelor's degree of 180 ECTS.

The challenge of the future is to make the transition from the management of individual departments to cooperative thinking and acting in a globalized world with international competition. It is therefore important for all logistics specialists to master English well. For that reason, the program is taught in English. This means that all instructions, textbooks, examinations, handouts, student presentations, etc., will be in English. About half of the students are non-Nordic, so the study program has a unique international profile.

Logistics

Logistics entails organizing the flow of products, services and information from raw materials to the end user. This program aims to give a thorough analysis and understanding of problems and solutions associated with all parts of the value chain: purchasing and supply, production planning, inventory management and distribution planning, including the management of transport services. Understanding the connections between the different value chains, (Supply Chain Management) is also a major focus in the program.

The approaches to problem solving in logistics requires a broad understanding of the subject matter in order to arrive at satisfactory solutions on the basis of an analysis of alternatives. Logistics, therefore, is built on a broad spectrum of disciplines, such as economics, information/communication technology, business administration, organization and management, besides quantitative methods based on mathematics, operations research and statistics.

"Siviløkonom"

Students with a bachelor's degree in economics or business administration equivalent to a norwegian Øk/Adm bachelor's degree, may obtain the special Norwegian title "Siviløkonom" on basis of a completed MSc logistics program, provided a particular selection of elective courses are covered. For further details (in Norwegian) look under "Økonomi" in the study handbook. International students with appropriate background, who are interested in this additional degree, should contact the MSc logistics program manager at the beginning of the first semester.

The program has two specializations, requiring somewhat different profiles from the undergraduate education. The specializations are:

1. Industrial logistics

2. Supply Chain Management

The specializations have different target groups.

Industrial logistics is meant for students interested in quantitative methods for planning and management of activities involved in procurement, production, inventory and distribution within and across companies. Ideal backgrounds are business administration, engineering, mathematics and computer science, but most important is an interest and ability in the use of quantitative methods and models.

Supply Chain Management is suited for students with an interest in organization, business and to some extent social science. Although mathematics and statistics are used, the focus is more on the qualitative aspects involved in the management of the value chain.

Students with a background in economics or business administration can apply for both specializations.

Students with a background in logistics or subjects such as operations research, wishing to follow specialization 1, Industrial Logistics, have the opportunity to build on their previous knowledge by taking more specialized courses in the first year. Also other students can apply for specialization 1, including students with a recognised bachelor's degree in engineering, applied mathematics. Students with other backgrounds may also be considered for admission.

The completion of 180 course credits (ECTS) (e.g. a recognised bachelor's degree) from a university or college is required. For applicants from some countries, a bachelor of four years is required. Applicants from some countries will be required to document a recognised test in English language. See "Information for international applicants" at the English home page www.himolde.no/english.

An achievement of at least 25 % of nominal study progression during an academic year, is required in order to maintain the place in the study programme.

The program will qualify students for positions in the private and public sector, in Norway, as well as abroad, in a broad range of professional areas. Career prospects for people with a degree in logistics are good, since there is a shortage of this type of competence both in business and government. In designing this program, emphasis was placed on offering courses that would prepare students for the future needs of the private and public sectors.

The study program should give the students a broad insight in all logistical activities that take place in a company, as well as the relationship between these. Further, the relationships and coordination between a company and its suppliers and their subsuppliers are highlighted, and in a similar fashion, the company's customers and their customers. Depending on the specialization chosen in the MSc program, the students should also gain deeper insight into special topics and should be able to use special tools and methodologies to analyze and solve problems in the supply chain belonging to his or her specialization.

The Master`s degree will also qualify the candidate for admission to the PhD program in logistics at Molde University College, as well as other PhD programs internationally. Admission to the PhD program in Molde via the MSc program is dependent on excellent academic performance.

The program offers students the possibility to write the master thesis at a university abroad. This gives international students the opportunity to work on master projects related to their home country. Students interested in doing so should contact the student advisor early in their studies.

Most courses in the first year are based on a combination of lectures, homework and examinations.

In the first year of the program the students select courses according to their background from bachelor's level and their planned specialization at master's level.
Students with a specialization in logistics from their bachelor's degree, can utilize their former knowledge of logistics by picking more specialized courses in the first and second semesters.

The third and fourth semesters are structurally the same for both specializations. The series of one-week seminars in semester three, requires that each student follows at least ten seminars. It is compulsory to be present during seminars. Two of these seminars are related to the preparation for writing the master thesis in the fourth and final semester.

Some additional information about the MSc program can be found on the MSc logistics program homepage.