mit supply chain management phd

At the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics

• Center for Latin-American Logistics Innovation
• Luxembourg Centre for Logistics and Supply Chain Management
• MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics
• Ningbo China Institute for Supply Chain Innovation
• UK Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence Centre
• Zaragoza Logistics Center
• Master's Degree Programs
• GCLOG Certificate
• Master's Program Admissions
• Researchers
• Alumni Benefits & SCALE Credentials

Graduate Certificate in Logistics & Supply Chain Management | MIT SCALE

Professionals interested in deepening their knowledge in scm in emerging market economies - expanding their graduate education in developing countries.

The MIT Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GCLOG) is an elite academic program from the MIT Global Supply Chain And Logistics Excellence (SCALE) network, geared toward exceptional graduate students and professionals from developing countries who are interested in learning state-of-the-art topics in logistics, freight transportation and SCM and tools to solve real problems from emerging regions.

As a certificate program, the GCLOG has a smaller time and tuition footprint to MIT SCALE master's degree programs, and is a perfect educational complement for students currently pursuing a master's degree at their home universities or professionals looking for elevating their education to address current challenges in emerging markets. The GCLOG is taught by instructors from the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics (CTL) – considered the world's foremost thinkers in the field of Supply Chain Management and related fields. The GCLOG carries with it the prestige of MIT, one of the world's most respected universities, with a proven record in supply chain management and logistics. 

We look for "Amplifying graduate education and prepare the next generation of leaders in Supply Chain for emerging market economies," capitalizing on a hybrid, hands-on experience that combines online content and two residential seminars on the MIT campus at an affordable cost for talented professionals.

Download our program brochure .

Special waiver for SCM MicroMasters credential holders

If you completed the MicroMasters program in Supply Chain Management in the last three years and want to apply for the GCLOG program, we have great news! If after submitting your application, you are admitted to the GCLOG , you won't need to take the asynchronous sessions of the first module and you will receive a discount of 15% in the tuition. See the official announcement here  and the video .

GCLOG Quick Links:

• GCLOG Tuition & Funding Info
• Who is Eligible for the GCLOG Program?
• Visa Requirements for GCLOG students
• Application Requirements & Instructions
• Current attendance policies related to COVID-19

Application Deadlines Round I:  Nov 17, 2024 Round II:  Jan 26, 2025 Round III: April 4, 2025 Questions? Email us at [email protected] !

                                                                       APPLY NOW!

Student Experience

" The GCLOG is a truly unique world-class experience that supports the pathway to success in our professional careers. " –Andrea Barreto, GCLOG 2016 – Mexico (Sr. Product Manager at Amazon.com).

" Best in class instructors, outstanding classmates and valuable debates at MIT is what I found in this program. It definitely was a milestone not only in my career but in my life. " –Roberto Sugiyama, GCLOG 2016 – Brazil (SCM Manager at Bayer).

GCLOG students combine online study with two three-week residencies on the MIT campus, with minimal disruption to their ongoing master's, family, and work commitments, and without breaking the bank. Read more  testimonials from our alumni .

GCLOG Program Outline

  The GCLOG class of 2026 will include four components:

• Online course GCx (May 9 – July 5, 2025): Excellence in Supply Chain, delivered through the edXedge ( http://edge.edx.org/ ) platform, covering fundamentals of Supply Chain Management & Logistics.
• A 3-week seminar on the MIT campus (July 6 - 25, 2025), where students attend workshops/lectures on state-of-the-art knowledge in the field (e.g. Urban Logistics, nanostore supply chains, SCM for food and agri-business, SC Resilience, Humanitarian Logistics, Omni-channel distribution strategies, SC Strategy, Sustainable SC, etc.).
• A research-oriented Capstone project that provides applied solutions. This capstone serves as a culminating academic experience for the GCLOG students.
• A 3-week seminar on MIT campus (early - end of January, 2026), where GCLOG students participate in SCALE Connect , a unique experience where students from all MIT SCALE centers (Zaragoza, Luxembourg, Ningbo, MISI, Loughborough and MIT) gather together to attend lectures and participate in challenges, company tours, and other interesting activities.

GCLOG Program Details

GCLOG Program Cost 2025

Tuition :  $10,000 Preferential Tuition for academic partners of the MIT SCALE network and top 30 QS ranked universities on every region :  $8,500

Preferential Tuition for SCM Micromasters credential holders :  $8,500

• Students are responsible for  Travel & Living Expenses .
• Financial Aid:  Preferential Tuition & Partial Tuition Waivers .

Admissions Info

• Eligibility
• Application Requirements and Instructions
• Visa Requirements

Application Deadlines

Round I:  Nov 17, 2024 Round II:  Jan 26, 2025 Round III: April 4, 2025

Dr. Christopher Mejía Argueta ( email ) Director of the MIT GCLOG Program

Certificate & Online Programs

Mit’s commitment to education extends beyond the classroom and includes opportunities to learn online or pursue advanced certificates..

As the world of online learning and Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) continues to grow, MIT has provided more opportunities to reach individuals across the world through online platforms. There has also been incredible growth in the online education industry, and MIT has made valuable contributions to increasing its online presence. As we continue to grow, more opportunities will become available.

Credentialed Online Programs

Mitx micromasters credential in data, economics, and design of policy.

Learn practical skills and theoretical tools to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. Through a series of five online courses and exams, learners engage with cutting-edge field research and gain a strong foundation in microeconomics, development economics, and probability and statistics. For more information, please visit  the DEDP website .

MITx MicroMasters Credential in Finance

Meet the complex demands of today’s global finance markets with five courses developed and delivered by MIT Sloan faculty. Accelerate your career or fast-track your MIT Master of Finance degree. For more information, please visit the MicroMasters Finance website .

MITx MicroMasters Credential in Principles of Manufacturing

Learn the principles of manufacturing: process control, production flow, supply chain and basic finance, from the world’s top-ranked Mechanical Engineering department. For more information, please visit the POM website .

MITx MicroMasters Credential in Statistics and Data Science

From probability and statistics to data analysis and machine learning, master the skills needed to solve complex challenges with data. For more information, please visit the DS website .

MITx MicroMasters Credential in Supply Chain Management

Gain expertise in the growing field of Supply Chain Management through an innovative online program consisting of five courses and a final capstone exam. The MicroMasters Program in Supply Chain from MITx is an advanced, professional, graduate-level foundation in Supply Chain Management. It represents the equivalent of one semester’s worth of coursework at MIT. For more information, please visit  the SCM website .

Hybrid and On-Campus Certificate Programs

MIT certificates allow students to advance their knowledge in a particular field of interest and enhance their professional skills. Below is a list of on-campus certificate programs.

Professional Education

MIT Professional Education is the hub for non-degree programs geared toward professionals. They offer substantial programming for individuals looking to take classes or participate in short programs. They also offer custom programs and digital programs, which further expand the reach of professional education. Many of the programs offered lead to the completion of a certificate that enables professionals to reach their career goals. For more information, please visit  the Professional Education website .

Certificate in Systems & Product Development

The certificate program offered by the department of System Design & Management (SDM) is designed for working professionals interested in expanding their knowledge and understanding of systems engineering. To learn more about this opportunity, please visit  the System Design & Management website .

Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GCLOG)

The MIT Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GCLOG) is an elite academic program from the MIT Global Supply Chain And Logistics Excellence (SCALE) network, geared towards outstanding graduate students from Latin America. For more information, please visit  the SCALE website .

Certificate Opportunities for MIT Graduate Degree Students

In addition to the standalone certificate program offerings, MIT offers a variety of certificate programs for MIT graduate students to accompany their graduate degree. Below is a list of certificate programs available to MIT degree students only.

Business Analytics Certificate Program

More information about the Business Analytics Certificate Program can be found online.

Biophysics Certificate Program

More information about the Biophysics Certificate Program can be found online.

Certificate Program in Graduate Education in Medical Sciences (GEMS)

More information about the Certificate Program in Graduate Education in Medical Sciences can be found online.

Certificate Program in Science, Technology and Policy (STP)

More information about the Certificate Program in Science, Technology and Policy can be found online.

Environmental Planning Certificate

More information about the Environmental Planning Certificate can be found online.

Healthcare Certificate

More information about the Healthcare Certificate can be found online.

Sustainability Certificate

More information about the Sustainability Certificate can be found online.

Technical Leadership Certificate

More information about the Technical Leadership Certificate can be found online.

Urban Design Certificate

More information about the Urban Design Certificate can be found online.

Non-Degree Learning Opportunities

Opencourseware.

MIT was a pioneer in the free exchange of online course materials, developing a repository of information in the OpenCourseWare (OCW) site. Through the OCW, individuals can learn at their own pace and study a wide range of fields. For more information, please visit  the OCW site .

MIT has partnered with the edX platform to develop dozens of free online courses. Now, anyone has the opportunity to experience the rigorous courses that MIT has to offer and broaden their knowledge on topics in science, engineering, and technology.

Many MITx course offerings, such as the MicroMasters programs above, lead to the completion of a verified certificate, though this varies by course. For more information, please visit  the MITx site .

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Pathways to Graduate Programs

Learners who successfully earn the mitx micromasters® program credential are eligible to apply to graduate programs at mit and other universities around the world., please find more details regarding which schools grant academic credits to our micromasters program credential holders by program in the following tables., if your university would like to work with us to bring the mitx micromasters program credential holders to your master’s program, please contact [email protected] ., supply chain management.

Data, Economics, and Development Policy

Principles of Manufacturing

Statistics and Data Science

Past Pathway Schools' Webinars

Supply Chain Management:

• Webinar 1 : Deakin University (Australia), Griffith University (Australia), and Purdue University (USA)
• Webinar 2 : Harvard Extension School (USA), Rochester Institute of Technology (USA), and Royal Roads University (Canada)
• Webinar 3 : Arizona State University (USA), Covenant University (Nigeria), and Doane University (USA)

Data, Economics, and Development Policy:

• Webinar 1 : Bethel University (USA), Doane University (USA), and Harvard Extension School (USA)
• Webinar 2 : Royal Roads University (Canada) and University of San Francisco (USA)
• Webinar 3 : American University of Central Asia (Kyrgyz Republic), Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México (Mexico), and Rochester Institute of Technology (USA)

Principles of Manufacturing :

• Webinar 1 : Galileo University (Guatemala) and Royal Roads University (Canada)
• Webinar 2 : Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (Lebanon) and Rochester Institute of Technology (USA)

Statistics and Data Science:

Register to view the past webinars on-demand:

• Webinar 2 : Doane University (USA) and Rochester Institute of Technology (USA)
• Webinar 3 : Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (Lebanon) and Sasin School of Management - Chulalongkorn University (Thailand)
• Webinar 4 : Harvard Extension School (USA) and Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences (USA)
• Webinar 5 : Deakin University (Australia) and Universidad Tecnologica (Uruguay)
• Webinar 6 : Bethel University (USA, Eurasian Management and Administration School (Russia), and Laweh Open University College (Ghana)
• Webinar 7 : Curtin University (Australia) and Reykjavík University (Iceland)
• Webinar 8 : Covenant University (Nigeria), Northwestern University (USA), and University of San Francisco (USA)

If your university would like to work with us to bring the MITx MicroMasters program credential holders to your master’s program, please contact [email protected] . You can learn more about how you can join MIT’s efforts to reimagine higher education by offering credit for the MITx MicroMasters program credential.

At the MIT Center for Transportation & Logistics

News and Events

Rising Stars: Meet Ria Verma of 84.51°

Ria Verma’s path to the supply chain world might seem like a no-brainer in hindsight, given her parents’ careers—her dad, a veteran ship captain in the Merchant Marines, and her mom, a computer programmer. “My dad has been a ship captain for over 30 years, so he knows logistics inside out, literally from being on the ocean and working with freight and container ships,” she shared. But for Ria, a first-generation Indian American, there were more exciting plans. “I actually wanted to be a lawyer for most of my childhood. I thought, ‘My sister’s a doctor, so I’ll be a lawyer,’” she laughed.

Taking Her Talents to Tempe

Ria followed through with her plan during her first two years at Arizona State University, diving into pre-law while developing an interest in economics. From academics to meeting lifelong friends, it was an experience she’ll never forget. “ASU might have a reputation, but I loved it there and will stand by ASU forever,” Ria said, reflecting on her time at the university. “It’s a big public institution, but if you want to find opportunities, they’re there. The resources are amazing, and the people are humble but incredibly challenging and supportive.”

Ria was also part of the Honors College at ASU, which offered her a more intimate academic experience during her first two years. “Being in the Honors College meant being on a different side of campus, surrounded by other honor students. It was a smaller, tight-knit community, and I learned a lot from them,” she recalled. This environment, combined with her involvement in various clubs and her membership in the business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi, helped her build a strong social and academic network. “I had a very active social life alongside school, and having friends with the same mentality really kept me grounded and focused on my goals,” Ria said.

However, her academic path changed after her sophomore year when she landed an internship at W.L. Gore & Associates. It was there that she was introduced to the world of supply chain management, an experience that completely shifted her career trajectory. “That experience really changed everything for me, and I ended up adding supply chain as a double major,” she explained. Upon returning to campus, she enrolled in industrial engineering statistics courses to dive deeper into the technical side of the business. What once seemed like a clear path to the courtroom was quickly replaced by an unexpected passion for the supply chain.

Despite being accepted into other competitive programs out of state, Ria chose to stay at ASU for her undergraduate education, valuing the balance of academic rigor and affordability it offered. “I didn’t want to hash out so much money for undergrad. And I knew that ASU would allow me to achieve everything I wanted academically,” she said.

Next Stop: Seattle

At the end of her junior year, Ria packed up and moved to Seattle for a summer internship at  Microsoft.  Continuing to flex her technical muscles, Ria was assigned to a machine learning project that would later become her honors thesis at ASU. As part of Microsoft’s first-ever Supply Chain rotational program, she immersed herself in learning the ins and outs of demand planning, channel management, and data science. “Microsoft was an amazing internship experience,” Ria recalled. “But it was also nerve-wracking because I really wanted to get a full-time offer.” Her hard work paid off, and by the time she graduated, there was an offer waiting for her to join Microsoft as a full-time employee.

Reflecting on her journey, Ria credits her internships for setting her on the path to success. “They’re crucial for getting your foot in the door and gaining job experience. They also help you figure out what you actually want to do by allowing you to try different things.” For Ria, the hands-on experience she gained at Microsoft during her internship not only solidified her interest in the technical side of  supply chain management  but also gave her the confidence to pursue it further.

However, Ria wasn’t one to rest on her laurels. Upon accepting the full-time position at Microsoft, she immediately sought ways to continue growing her expertise. She enrolled in online courses to deepen her understanding of data science and  machine learning , areas she knew would be critical for her future. “I didn’t have to do any of that, but I wanted to make that transition into a more technical role,” she explained. Her dedication paid off, and after two years, she officially became a data scientist at Microsoft.

A Leap to MIT

Despite her success at Microsoft, Ria felt a pull to go back to school and learn more. While at ASU, she won the Supply Chain Excellence Award through a partnership with MIT, which included a conditional acceptance and a small scholarship to attend their famous Supply Chain Management graduate program. But the decision to go back to school wasn’t an easy one, particularly because of the financial implications. “Financially, it was a big decision,” Ria recalled. “But I received the UPS Fellowship award for MIT, which granted me a full tuition scholarship. That was one of the happiest days, ever.”

With the financial burden lifted, Ria was able to fully immerse herself in the one-year program, and it turned out to be everything she had hoped for and more. “It was one of the best years of my life,” she reflected. “I went in thinking I’d just learn technical skills, but I came out with so much more.”

MIT’s program was unique not only for its technical depth but also for the strong sense of community with her fellow students. She found herself surrounded by like-minded individuals from around the world, each bringing their own perspectives and experiences to the table. “The community at MIT was incredibly supportive,” she said. “I made some of my best friends, and we still keep in touch regularly. We have a group chat where we share updates, celebrate each other’s successes, and even help each other with career advice.”

One of the highlights of her time at MIT was working on a Capstone Project that involved applying generative AI technology to optimize supply chain operations for a global pharmaceutical company. The project was so successful that the company hired her and her partner to continue their research beyond graduation, and Ria hopes to have another paper published this year on the topic.

The Next Chapter

Now based in New York City, Ria recently began a new position as a Senior Data Scientist at  84.51°, a retail data science, insights, and media company . And like most newcomers to NYC, she’s making the most of the experience. “One of my main interests now is creating a work-life balance where it’s about developing a community. I’ve been living out of a suitcase for the last two months, hopping from place to place, and I’m embracing the lifestyle. It’s probably the last time in my life that I live so freely, but it gives me a really good perspective on my personal development as I try new things.”

As for the future, Ria envisions going back to school again, but maybe this time as a professor. “I stay really close to my professors at ASU and MIT, and my hope is that one day I can come back as an adjunct professor or something. That’s one of my North Stars.”

By  24/7 Staff August 29, 2024

Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management

As part of MIT Global SCALE Network, MIT CTL currently manages and hosts the Graduate Certificate in Logistics and Supply Chain Management (GCLOG) Program. The GCLOG is an innovative graduate certificate program that offers MIT CTL’s world-class supply chain studies to graduate business and engineering students from Latin America. For more information about the GCLOG Program, click here .

How to Apply: Master of Science

To apply for the System Design and Management Master of Science degree in engineering and management, please register as an applicant and complete the online application. For information on applying for the Graduate Certificate in Systems and Product Design, visit this page .

The application for the 2024-2025 admissions cycle will open in September of 2024.

Deadlines and Important Dates

* International citizens are advised to apply by this date to allow adequate time for visa processing if admitted.

Before You Apply

Each year, SDM enrolls 50 to 55 high-potential, mid-career professionals who represent diverse academic and professional backgrounds. These individuals share two common goals: they want to be systems thinkers and they want to lead.

Successful SDM candidates also demonstrate:

• Strong leadership potential
• Systems thinking capability
• A propensity to excel in complex engineering and management situations

Candidate Qualifications

To qualify for the SDM master’s program, candidates must either:

• Hold a B.S. degree in engineering, science, or technology, and have five or more years of professional technical experience with increasing responsibility; or
• Hold an M.S. degree in engineering, science, or technology, and have three or more years of professional experience in a technical field, including some leadership experience.

You may apply while working towards the minimum amount of experience required. For example, an applicant who has a B.S. and four and a half years of work experience may apply, as long as they have completed five years of experience by the time they begin the program.

In addition, candidates should have experience contributing to a product or system development initiative and working with or leading groups.

Application Requirements

Transcripts.

Electronic copies of official transcripts from undergraduate and graduate institutions from which you have received a degree(s) or performed graduate work must be uploaded using our online application form. Uploads may be in the form of a single- or multi-page PDF, or individual JPEG or TIFF image files. 

Transcripts must be in English. Transcripts from international (non-US) institutions must be in English and certified.

Application Fee

The fee for applying to SDM is $90, payable by credit card online when you apply. You will be prompted for payment information after submitting your application.

Waivers for admissions fees are handled by the Office of Graduate Education. Please visit the OGE website to access the fee waiver form and find more information on the waiver process.

Letters of Recommendation

Three letters of recommendation (with the option of one additional letter submission) must be supplied with your application. During the online application process, you will be asked to provide contact information for your recommenders and may choose for them to submit their recommendations electronically.

Recommendations should be completed by individuals who can comment with some certainty about your intellectual and professional achievements and leadership potential. If possible, one recommendation should be completed by an academic source if you have attended a university within the last five years. We do not accept recommendations from family members.

Standardized Tests

Standardized test scores such as the GMAT or GRE are recommended but not required for application to the program. Applications submitted without test scores will be reviewed holistically and without negative inferences. SDM does not have minimum required GMAT or GRE scores for admission. We do have minimum acceptable scores for English proficiency exams; please see the section further down the page for more information.

Additionally, applicants are welcome to submit other pieces of evidence, such as expired test scores (GMAT, GRE, TOEFL, IELTS), which may assist the Admissions Committee in its evaluation process.

We will accept self-reported test scores by the application deadline, and welcome either traditional or online version of exams.

Test codes for the SDM program*:  

• GMAT: X5X-QS-04 MIT Sloan School of Management-System Design and Management
• GRE: 3537-MASSACHUSETTS INST TECH SYS DE – Grad

If you are taking the GMAT/GRE after submitting your application, please provide the test date. We accept both the GMAT and GRE test results and have no preference for one over the other. 

*Note: SDM’s test codes are different from MIT’s. Please be sure to submit the correct codes to ensure we receive your scores.

All finalists for admission to the System Design & Management (SDM) program are required to attend an on-campus or video/virtual interview prior to receiving a final decision. These applicants will be contacted directly by the SDM Admissions Office.

Additional Requirements

The online application will additionally require you to submit a resume, a statement of objectives, and a leadership essay. You should have these ready at the time of completing the application.

The statement of objectives is a brief essay that asks why you are applying to graduate school and why you are applying to the SDM program. The leadership essay asks you to provide an example of your leadership experience.

Information for International Applicants

Non-native English speakers applying to the master’s program are required to demonstrate proficiency in English if they have not obtained a post-secondary degree at an English language institution. SDM requires the submission of scores on the Cambridge English, IELTS or TOEFL exam.

Cambridge English Qualifications

The Cambridge English Qualifications are English language proficiency exams. We accept the C1 Advanced and C2 Proficiency assessments, which measure a student’s English language abilities for graduate studies and competitive professional environments. We expect a CEFR score of 185 or better, and it must be less than 5 years old.

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS)

The International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic exam measures the ability to communicate in English across all four language skills — listening, reading, writing, and speaking — for people who intend to study or work where English is the language of communication.  We expect an IELTS score of 7.5 or better, and it must be less than 2 years old. No code is required; select “MIT Graduate Admissions” as the reporting option.

Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

The TOEFL exam measures the ability of non-native English speakers to use and understand the English language. 

We expect a TOEFL score of 90 or better, and it must be less than 2 years old. The program code for SDM is  3514 MIT/SDM .

Reapplying to SDM

Those reapplying to the program need to submit the following:

• New SDM online application
• $90 application fee
• Updated statement of objectives
• Updated resume
• One new letter of recommendation

All other information will be carried over from your previous application, including GRE or GMAT scores if they are still valid. You may also submit new scores if you have retaken the test since submitting your last application.

Questions and Concerns

We are here to support you. If you have any questions, please contact the admissions staff at [email protected] .

This page last updated on August 30, 2024.