Cranfield University

Cranfield University is a renowned postgraduate-focused institution with campuses in Cranfield and Shrivenham. Established in 1946 as the College of Aeronautics, it gained university status in 1969 and currently specialises exclusively in science, engineering, technology, and management.

Cranfield students benefit from the university's unrivalled industry partnerships, research-driven education, and professional development opportunities. Its unique facilities include Cranfield Airport (one of only a few university-operated airfields globally) and the Cranfield University Technology Park, which is home to over 60 innovative business enterprises.

The university's commitment to providing professional opportunities to its students is reflected in a particularly high graduate employment rate of 96 per cent, supported by relationships with nearly 1,500 organisations ranging from small and medium sized companies to global multinationals such as Airbus, Boeing, and Unilever.

Cranfield's academic portfolio spans eight subject including Aerospace, Defence and Security, Energy and Sustainability, and Water.

Both taught and research programmes are available, and learners enjoy a student-to-staff ratio of 8:1, ensuring a highly personalised learning environment and close collaboration with leading experts. Obtaining a Cranfield postgraduate degree is a proven asset in the search for competitive and meaningful graduate employment.

Cranfield University's teaching excellence is built upon a strong foundation of research-informed course content, small class sizes, expert tutoring and industry engagement.

The student‑to‑staff ratio is 8:1, one of the best in the UK, ensuring personalised attention and mentorship for every student, with plenty of opportunities for individual feedback. These small classes create a collaborative learning environment where professors get to know their students, promoting interactive discussions and peer support.

Classes are delivered exclusively by professors, guaranteeing that students benefit directly from faculty expertise and professional experience. 99 per cent of Cranfield's academic staff hold the highest degree level in their field, reflecting the university's emphasis on depth of knowledge and scholarly achievement.

Innovative teaching methods, including problem‑based learning, simulation exercises, and live industry projects, immerse students in real‑world challenges and foster the sort of critical thinking that make Cranfield graduates so successful in securing top employment roles.

Cranfield University's academic structure is organised into two faculties, each focusing on key thematic areas to deliver targeted postgraduate education and research.

The Faculty of Engineering and Applied Sciences

This faculty houses the aerospace integration research centre, breakthrough innovation hub, and advanced manufacturing and materials labs, which together support programmes in aeronautical systems, vehicle design, and production technologies.

It also hosts Cranfield's courses and research on sustainability, energy materials, plant growth facilities, and water management research, delivering MSc and doctoral programmes in environmental engineering and resource resilience.

The faculty also delivers specialised MSc and research degrees addressing national security, cybersecurity, and defence technology, in collaboration with military and governmental organisations.

School of Management

One of Europe's oldest and most highly ranked business schools, offering MBA, Management MSc, and executive education with strong industry partnerships and career services.

Most postgraduate programmes at Cranfield University require applicants to hold at minimum a UK lower second‑class honours bachelor's degree (2:2), or an equivalent qualification from an internationally recognised institution.

Certain specialised courses may require a UK upper second‑class honours degree (2:1) or equivalent; prospective students should check the specific requirements on the individual course pages for their chosen programme, and applicants who do not meet this minimum grade requirement may still be considered if they can demonstrate substantial, relevant professional experience.

In addition to academic qualifications, all applicants for taught postgraduate degrees must submit copies of degree certificates and full academic transcripts, two academic or professional references (where required), and a personal statement outlining their suitability and motivations for the course.

Evidence of English language proficiency is required for any international candidates who have not completed prior studies in English, and assessment systems include IELTS, TOEFL and a few others. Full details of these can be found online. Once an offer is made, successful applicants receive guidance on the next steps, including visa support, funding options, and arrival arrangements.

Cranfield has two campuses, in Cranfield (Bedfordshire) and Shrivenham (Oxfordshire). Each can be considered as comprehensive learning environments containing everything students need for academic success and personal development, offering a breadth of world‑class facilities to support teaching, research, and student life.

Subject-specific facilities include Cranfield's Aerospace Integration Research Centre, which houses large scale test beds for aircraft and engine systems alongside advanced manufacturing workshops. The digital aviation research and technology centre has been developed with Boeing and Thales, and features a digital control tower, 3D‑printing lab and virtual reality suite. Other specialised labs include an energy materials laboratory and a plant growth facility for agrifood research.

Academic teaching spaces include fully modernised lecture theatres, group meeting rooms and private study areas, equipped with the latest teaching technologies and 24/7 wireless internet access.

Cranfield campus also features a fully equipped sports centre with a fitness suite, aerobics studio, playing fields, sports pitches and tennis courts. Shrivenham campus boasts a heated outdoor pool, riding stables and a golf course. Both campuses contain a range of cafes, bars, shops, cash machines and post offices for students' convenience.

Cranfield University provides a comprehensive range of funding opportunities including scholarships, bursaries, grants, and loans, to support both domestic and international postgraduate students.

These awards are designed to ensure that all students at Cranfield have the resources needed to complete their studies in confidence. The university's online funding finder tool enables students to search for external scholarships and bursaries, while its financial services team offers personalised advice throughout the year.

Available scholarships include:

Environment, Agrifood, Water and Energy:

• Course Excellence Scholarship – 50 per cent full fee scholarship
• Regional Excellence Scholarship – 40 per cent full fee scholarship
• Cranfield Merit Scholarship (Environment, Agrifood, Water and Energy)
• Brian Meredith Scholarship
• Cranfield India Scholarship
• Cranfield Nigeria Scholarship
• Cranfield Vietnam Scholarship

Cranfield Forensic Institute:

• Cranfield Forensic Institute Merit Scholarship – Up to 15 per cent full fee scholarship
• Cranfield India Scholarship – 40 per cent full fee scholarship
• Cranfield Mexico Scholarship – 40 per cent full fee scholarship

Cranfield School of Management:

• Cranfield Merit Scholarship – up to 20 per cent
• Cranfield School of Management Regional Scholarships – up to GBP 15,000
• Cranfield School of Management China Scholarship
• Cranfield School of Management India Scholarship
• Cranfield School of Management Taiwan Scholarship

Manufacturing and Materials:

• Manufacturing and Materials Excellence Scholarship

Discretionary Scholarships:

• Cranfield Scholarship

Early application is encouraged to maximise scholarship opportunities. UK students may also access a government master's loan of up to GBP 12,471 to support their studies.

Cranfield University continues to lead the way in postgraduate education, with cutting‑edge programming and partnerships designed to enhance research, education, and industry collaboration.

Cranfield has gained specific recognition for excellence in the 2025 QS World University Rankings by Subject, assessed across nearly 5,000 universities globally.

The university placed within the global top 35 for mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering, as well as within the top 150 in business and management, and the top 200 in both environmental sciences and materials science.

Overall, Cranfield holds top rankings in the following twelve subject areas:

• Computer Science and Information Systems
• Engineering – Chemical
• Engineering – Electrical and Electronic
• Engineering – Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing
• Engineering – Petroleum
• Agriculture and Forestry
• Environmental Science
• Materials Science
• Chemistry
• Business and Management
• Economics and Econometrics
• Statistics and Operational Research

Cranfield's many other accolades include six Queen's Anniversary Prizes, a recent GBP 69 million investment toward a hydrogen research hub, and a ranking of 8^th in the UK for its School of Management Transformation MBA by the 2025 Financial Times rankings.