Cranfield University

As the UK’s only specialist postgraduate university in technology and management, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships is creating leaders in technology and management globally.

We are creating leaders in technology and management, unlocking the potential of people and organisations by partnering with business and governments to deliver transformational research, postgraduate education and professional development.

Our results are recognised in our awards and rankings, our partnerships and the success of our alumni. The experience gained at Cranfield is transformational for both individuals and organisations alike.

• In June 2020, 54% of our students were from the UK, 16% from EU countries and 30% from the rest of the world.
• There is one member of academic staff to every five students, one of the best ratios for any university in the UK.
• Over half of all aerospace engineering master's students in the UK study at Cranfield each year.
• Over half of our students are over 30 years of age.
• We have over 20 international alumni communities across the world, including China, India, Russia, Switzerland and Brazil.

A number one UK University

We are a specialist postgraduate university with world-class, large-scale facilities and a staff-to-student ratio that is one of the best for any university in the UK. Our global success is reflected in our rankings and awards:

• Number 1 in the UK for aerospace engineering (more than five times as many master's students in the UK study at Cranfield each year than at the university in second place), HESA 2018/19.
• Number 1 in the UK for transport and automotive postgraduates (with over twice as many students as the university in second place), HESA 2018/19.
• Top 10 in the UK for commercial research, consultancy and professional development, HESA 2018/19.
• We have the largest number of engineering master's students in the UK, HESA 2018/19.
  

Cranfield ranks 5th in the UK for mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering in the QS World University Rankings 2021.

The Times Higher Education World Rankings, The Times World Rankings, The Complete University Guide and The Guardian, which focus on helping prospective undergraduate students to compare universities, don't list Cranfield University as we are postgraduate only.

Research rankings

Our research is industry-relevant and informed by our close links to business:

• 81% of the research at Cranfield is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent, Research Excellence Framework 2014. This score informs the allocation of research funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
• The nano membrane toilet was named by the Financial Times as one of the ’50 ideas to change the world’ in 2017.
  
• Number 1 in production and manufacturing engineering PhDs (27% of the 100 graduates in the UK studied at Cranfield), HESA 2018/19.
• Number 1 in aerospace engineering PhDs (one third of all aerospace engineering research degrees of the 150 graduating in the UK), HESA 2018/19.

Cranfield School of Management rankings

Cranfield School of Management consistently ranks highly for its MBAs, management qualifications and executive education:

• Cranfield School of Management’s Management MSc was ranked 3 in the UK and 30th in the world in the Economist Which? MBA Masters in Management (MiM) 2019. It was also ranked 1 in the UK and 9 in the world for percentage of job-seeking graduates with a job offer three months after graduation.
  
• In the Financial Times Executive Education rankings, Cranfield School of Management is consistently ranked among the top 20 business schools in Europe and one of the top 10 in the UK for both its open and customised executive development programmes. We are in the top 10 in the world for the international reach of our customised programmes.
  
• 3rd in the UK and 10th in the world (outside the US) in Forbes' ranking of The Best International MBAS: One-Year Programs 2017.
• In the Times Higher Education/Wall Street Journal World University Rankings 2019 – Business School Report Master’s in Finance, our Finance and Management MSc is ranked 2 in the UK, 4 in Europe and 6 in the world.
  
• 1st outside the US and 11th globally in the Supply Chain Management World 'University 100' annual survey 2016.
• The School is one of an elite group worldwide to hold the triple accreditation of: AACSB International (the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business), EQUIS (European Quality Improvement System) and AMBA (the Association of MBAs).

Creating leaders in technology and management

Cranfield's distinctive expertise is in our deep understanding of technology and management and how these work together to benefit the world.

Our education portfolio is renowned for its relevance to business and industry. We are the largest UK provider of master's-level graduates in engineering and offer a flagship MBA, extensive world-class customised executive education and professional development programmes. Our work informs government policy and leads the way in producing cutting edge new technologies and products in partnership with industry.

The research and consultancy we carry out for industry, government and business provides our students with a real-world learning environment, allowing them to develop as professionals and then transfer their knowledge to the global economy. This has always been the 'Cranfield way' but it has never been more important than in today's world.