Cranfield University is an exclusive postgraduate university with a main campus in Cranfield, Bedfordshire, and a second site in Shrivenham, Oxfordshire. The university specialises in science, engineering, technology and management, exploring how they work together to benefit the world.
Cranfield's world-class postgraduate courses and unrivalled facilities attract talented and hard working students from around the world. The university fosters a culture of technology, research, entrepreneurship and innovation while building advanced management and leaderships skills.
Working with national governments, NGOs, and charities, to micro-SMEs and the largest blue-chip multinationals, Cranfield influences policy and brings ground-breaking technologies and products to the market.
As one of the UK's most business-engaged universities, they are trusted to understand and to be responsive to many organisations' needs. Some of Cranfield's key enterprises include:
Cranfield University's academic impact is reflected in its many accolades, awards and rankings, industry partnerships and in the strength and success of its global alumni network.
Simply put, Cranfield is a superb place to study a postgraduate degree. The university offers a specialised programme of courses which also includes many transferable skills, making graduates highly valued for their specialisms as well as their versatility. Students travel from around the world to learn and conduct research in the fields of aerospace, defence and security, environment and agrifood, energy and sustainability, manufacturing and materials, transport systems and water sectors.
During their time at the university, students have access to the very best facilities and cutting-edge equipment, as well as access to the university's connections with businesses, industry and governments. Cranfield's international outlook attracts a highly qualified and widely experienced teaching faculty, who are enthusiastic about the success of their students and prepare them for leadership and management roles in the business and industrial sectors of tomorrow.
Cranfield enjoys a particularly high graduate employment rate of 96%, and its alumni hold an internationally respected qualification which is an asset in the search for competitive employment after graduation.
Cranfield has many world-class, large scale and national facilities that enhance the quality and value of its research and teaching.
Just a few of its academic facilities include:
Aerospace Integration Research Centre (AIRC) - A purpose-built facility housing a large-scale test bed for aircraft and engine systems and an advanced manufacturing workshop.
Breakthrough Innovation Hub - Providing design, build and testing spaces devoted to interdisciplinary research across science, engineering and design
Energy Materials Laboratory - The EML's facilities enable the evaluation of the corrosion performance of metallic and ceramic materials in a range of environments.
Plant Growth Facility - Facility for experimental work involving plant physiology, phenotyping, and plant-microbe and plant-soil interactions.
Through-life Engineering Services (TES) Centre - The TES centre develops through-life technologies and strategies, funded by industry partners, including Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Network Rail.
Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre (DARTeC) - Launched in 2019 as a collaborative effort with Boeing, Thales, and Saab, DARTeC's facilities include a digital control tower, 3D printing laboratory, and a virtual reality centre.
The university also provides multiple food and drinks vendors and student bars on both sites. The Cranfield campus features a sports and fitness centre, while the Shrivenham campus boasts a heated swimming pool, riding stables and a golf course.
Living on campus is a popular and convenient way for students to source accommodation while studying at Cranfield. Some of the main benefits include the proximity of student housing to academic buildings on campus, the convenient package of services which are typically featured with the contract such as utilities bills and internet, and the social aspect of living alongside peers and student colleagues.
There is a tremendous sense of spirit in Cranfield's five hall, and the supportive student community which inhabits them. Students will find a variety of room types, including both catered and self-catered options. Each building has ample parking facilities for those who intend to bring their car with them.
Housing options are as follows:
Cranfield understands that many students within its community have families and partners who they will want to continue living with, and provides a range of affordable family homes and apartments to accommodate this. There are two, three, and four bedroom furnished family homes available, as well as a range of stylish studio apartments for couples.
Scholarships for students enrolling on a full-time master's at the university are available to students who have been recognised for academic success, allowing for them to continue their studies as postgraduates.
We are pleased to have a host of scholarships for entry onto a range of our master's degrees. These scholarships have been developed to enable you to fulfil your aspirations to study with us and show our commitment to attracting a high calibre of students, who are dedicated to making an impact in their chosen career.
These include
Cranfield University has the same minimum entry requirements for most of their taught and research postgraduate programmes.
Applicants typically require a first or second class honours degree in a relevant subject area from a UK institution, or an equivalent international qualification. The Cranfield website has a list of accepted alternative assessment systems on its international student page.
Students who do not have the required qualification may still be accepted onto a course if they can demonstrate sufficient work experience in a relevant field. There are many alternative routes to enrolment, and the university considers each application on its individual merits.
Certain programmes may have additional entry requirements, so prospective students are encouraged to check the specific course they are interested in before submitting an application.
Additionally, international students may need to provide evidence of English language proficiency after receiving an offer. Students typically apply with IELTS or TOEFL grades, but there is a full list of accepted assessment providers and standards on the university website.
There are many different ways to study with Cranfield. With many course offerings, multiple postgraduate degree qualifications, options for full-time and part-time study, and multiple intake points, there are consequently a number of different cost packages which postgraduate student may be subject to.
Cranfield is committed to ensuring fair access to education for its students, and provides a raft of free services and information at its fees and funding pages on the university website.
Students can access advice, guidance and a range of specialised online tools to create a funding package which is customised to an individual student's financial needs. The service is for both UK-based and international students, and the financial services department team are available all year round to answer and questions and queries.
Cranfield's funding finder is a fantastic resources which provides a searchable database of external funding opportunities, which the university can help students to apply to. Bursaries are also offered by the university, for high quality applicants.
Students at Cranfield can study a taught or research degree in subjects ranging from aerospace to water. Students benefit from state-of-the-art facilities and the university's close links with business and industry professionals, as well as graduating from an institution with a world-class reputation.
Cranfield's programmes are structured to offer many choices for students, including options for qualification type, as well as full or part-time study, and short courses.
There are taught programmes for MSc, MBA, MRes, MDes, PgDip or PgCert qualifications, and certain courses offer multiple entry points throughout the year for greater flexibility.
Cranfield has one of the best student-to-staff ratio in the country at 8:1, giving students a highly personalised learning experience. The university attracts talented students from more than 100 countries around the world, who form a diverse learning community with many opportunities to meet and network with students from different backgrounds.
Many of Cranfield's teaching faculty are leading academics with established industry experience, and are able to give valuable professional insights. The university has a dedicated centre for andragogy focused on the science of collaborative, problem-based adult learning. Its teaching quality has received the highest possible recommendation from the Quality Assurance Agency.
All taught courses at Cranfield follow a similar structure to an undergraduate degree, with the added benefit of an excellent student-to-staff ratio, which results in far more individual attention than is typical at undergraduate level. Students benefit from studying in small groups with a dedicated faculty, and some of the most innovative teaching methods and latest technologies at their fingertips.
Students will undertake various modules aimed at helping them to develop the skills and experience needed to secure employment in their field of study, and will undertake individual projects as well as group work, exams and essays. Students can learn on a full or part-time basis, with some of the programmes offering flexible starting dates.
Cranfields dynamic, research intensive position means their research students are able to study live research projects, commissioned by world-leading business and professional organisations, that have an impact globally and make a practical difference to the world.
During their time learning, students have access to research facilities including the £35million Aerospace Integration Research Centre. All students will be assigned a supervisor with vast experience in their field of work.
Cranfield University is home to innovative research centres, which undertake ground-breaking work into a wide range of subject areas, with the goal of delivering transformational work which has a lasting, positive impact around the world.
The university is well connected to the wider research community, and is successful at securing funding which it invest intelligently in its infrastructure, academic staff and the provision of meaningful student opportunities.
In 2022, 88% of research at Cranfield was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework (REF 2021). Cranfield are also ranked 7th in the UK for Engineering research power, 7th in the UK for research impact in Agriculture, Food and Veterinary Science and 7th in the UK for research impact in Business and Management.
Cranfield is a significant contributor to global innovation having developed solutions to real-world problems – for example, in water and sanitation, aviation safety and humanitarian mine detection and clearance – that have improved the lives of millions of people around the world.
Cranfield is particularly successful at employing an interdisciplinary approach towards education, bringing together a collaborative programme of themes and disciplines to tackle some of the most significant challenges facing the world today. Cranfield's innovative and forward-thinking curriculum targets a range of industrial and commercial sectors, which reflects its network of highly distinguished industry partner organisations who contribute to the programme design and opportunities provided in many postgraduate courses.
Areas of research expertise are water, agrifood, energy and power, aerospace, manufacturing, transport systems, defence and security and management.
The university's research is relevant and informed. Recent applications include:
Cranfield School of Management is an internationally renowned business school with over 35,000 global alumni, many of whom are now leading the way in their fields. Our consistent presence in world rankings and our triple accreditation put us in the elite 1% of schools worldwide.
So why join our community? Ultimately, we are a business school with over 50 years' experience in offering MBAs, Business and Leadership MScs and Corporate Executive Education along with innovative business research and practice. Everything we design is driven by applied thinking, and we strive to deliver one core value across the entire school: transformation. We help transform people into the leaders they want to be, regardless of age, experience, or discipline.
Cranfield School of Management consistently performs well in the major school and programme specific rankings, reinforcing our position as a top global management school.
What Makes Cranfield School of Management Unique?
Cranfield School of Management consistently performs well in the major school and programme specific rankings, reinforcing our position as a top global management school.
Click here to see our rankings
Our Master's programmes attract students from around the world, drawn by the combination of academic excellence, strong industry focus and our unique facilities. We have been providing world-class postgraduate education and training for over 75 years. The faculty prides itself in graduating students that are ready to tackle the emerging needs of industry that go on to join our influential alumni network where our graduates can be found in senior positions around the world.
Scholarships/Bursaries
Scholarships for students enrolling on a full-time master's at the university are available to students who have been recognised for academic success, allowing for them to continue their studies as postgraduates.
We are pleased to have a host of scholarships for entry onto a range of our master's degrees. These scholarships have been developed to enable you to fulfil your aspirations to study with us and show our commitment to attracting a high calibre of students, who are dedicated to making an impact in their chosen career.
These include
Course Excellence Scholarship – 50% full fee scholarship
Regional Excellence Scholarship – 40% full fee scholarship
Cranfield Merit Scholarship (Environment, Agrifood, Water and Energy)
Cranfield Forensic Institute Merit Scholarship – Up to 15% full fee scholarship
Cranfield India Scholarship – 40% full fee scholarship
Cranfield Mexico Scholarship – 40% full fee scholarship
The Cranfield campus is a self-contained learning and living environment, located within a 40 minute train journey from central London. Neighbouring towns of Milton Keynes and Bedford place Cranfield at the intersection of two very different and interesting worlds. Milton Keynes is a truly modern city, with nearby Bedford being a historic market town. Both are within a few miles of campus, and readily accessible by car, or by public transport. The closest international airport is London Luton, while Heathrow, Gatwick and Stansted are all easily accessible by train or coach.
Cranfield Defence and Security site at Shrivenham is around 50 mins from London by train and around 25 mins from Bristol by train. Bath, Cheltenham, Bristol and Oxford are all within an hour's drive and London less than two hours away by car. Click here to find more details on our Shrivenham Campus.
The Cranfield campus radiates a strong atmosphere of community, making it easy for students to forge friendships studies and recreational time, in a welcoming and inclusive environment. There are plenty of things to do, including a lively programme of events organised by the CSA, which bring many opportunities to find new friends and make the most of the university experience.
Students attending both campuses have the opportunity to get involved with the many clubs and societies which are co-ordinated by the CSA.
There are more than 25 societies to choose from, which are a great way for students to meet new people from outside of their course while at the same time learning new skills to add to their CVs. Societies range from sports clubs such as football, tennis and volleyball, to interest groups like the musician's society and the walking society.
Sports teams benefit from the use of Cranfield's excellent facilities which include grassed, multi-use playing field features full-size football, rugby and cricket pitches, two floodlit, fully fenced, five-a-side pitches with synthetic artificial turf and a state-of-the-art exercise and fitness centre.
Students can also set up their own club where it is not already offered, and may receive organisational support from the CSA.
The Cranfield Student Association (CSA) is run by a team of elected students who work at ensuring that all students are represented and supported during their time learning, as well as to promote student welfare, and organise social, cultural and sporting activities. The CSA is supported by a small team of university staff, who work collaboratively with the student officers and student membership to ensure all the most important support and services are readily available.
Some of the events and activities held at Cranfield throughout the year include theme nights, bowling excursions, volunteering initiatives, and the Cranstock music festival which is organised by full-time MBA students. There is a wealth of opportunities to meet new people and get involved in a wide range of clubs and societies run by student volunteers, such as the Basketball Club, Astronomical Society, and Musicians Society. Students can try something new or develop their interests with like-minded individuals, many of whom become lifelong friends.
Cranfield recognises that completing a postgraduate qualification can present a number of challenges, particularly for those who are moving to a new town, city, or even country to live and study. The university is proud to provide a dedicated programme of resources and services through its student advice centre, where individuals can get free and effective guidance whenever required.
Students have access to a range of support systems, including student advice centres at both campuses, where they can get advice on everything from academic resources to information on learning support for students with a disability. There is also a confidential counselling service, information on housing, and help for international students with visas and immigration.
Cranfield's team of friendly and approachable welfare officers are themselves students at the university, and understand first-hand the pressures which postgraduate student are facing. They are able to give general guidance, as well as referral to specialised services where needed.
Cranfield has unrivalled links with business, industry, and government organisations, ranging from the most compact owner-managed SMEs to the biggest international conglomerates, British and overseas universities, governments and non-governmental organisations.
In total, the university maintains relationships with almost 1,500 organisations globally, who frequently offer internships, graduate employment opportunities and research projects to their student body. Cranfield also has 14 formal, high-level industry strategic partnerships reflecting long-term relationships across academic, research and innovation activities, and consistently delivers world-class science and education to their strategic partners, with a practical, business-focused edge.
Cranfield has an impressive alumni reputation, with graduates in the top 1% in the world, a number of which hold CEO positions in top companies (Centre of World University Rankings 2017). There is a dedicated careers service which offers everything from coaching to one-to-one appointments with an advisor. Students can also find resources to help with writing a CV and cover letter, information on careers fairs and workshops, as well as job listings. 96% of Cranfield's graduates are employed or in further study (DLHE longitudinal, 2017).
Recruiting from Cranfield offers businesses access to global graduates from top-ranked programmes, who have the knowledge, skills, and behaviours to make a positive impact in the workplace.
