MBA

The Cranfield University MBA programme is a highly regarded postgraduate degree designed to equip aspiring business leaders with the strategic, managerial, and entrepreneurial skills necessary to excel in today’s complex global environment. This rigorous programme combines theoretical frameworks with practical application, allowing students to develop a comprehensive understanding of core business functions such as finance, marketing, operations, and leadership. Delivered through a flexible format, the Cranfield MBA accommodates busy professionals by offering part-time study options, blended learning modules, and intensive short courses, enabling students to integrate their professional responsibilities with their academic pursuits seamlessly.

The curriculum is carefully structured to foster critical thinking, innovation, and decision-making capabilities. Students engage in case studies, live projects, and simulations that mirror real-world business challenges, providing hands-on experience that enhances their problem-solving skills. The programme also emphasizes leadership development, encouraging students to refine their personal and interpersonal skills essential for managerial success. Throughout their studies, participants have the opportunity to collaborate with diverse cohorts, including experienced professionals from various industries and backgrounds, enriching their learning experience through shared insights and networking.

Cranfield University’s strong connections with industry partners and renowned faculty members ensure that the programme remains relevant and up-to-date with the latest business trends and practices. Students benefit from access to exclusive guest lectures, seminars, and workshops led by industry experts. The Cranfield MBA prepares graduates for senior management roles, entrepreneurship, or further academic pursuits, providing a solid foundation for impactful leadership and strategic influence in a competitive global marketplace. Upon completion, students join a distinguished network of Cranfield alumni who are making significant contributions worldwide, supported by ongoing career services and professional development opportunities facilitated by the university.

School of Management Disclaimer

Keeping our courses up-to-date and current requires constant innovation and change. The modules we offer reflect the needs of business and industry and the research interests of our staff and, as a result, may change or be withdrawn due to research developments, legislation changes or for a variety of other reasons. Changes may also be designed to improve the student learning experience or to respond to feedback from students, external examiners, accreditation bodies and industrial advisory panels.

To give you a taster, we have listed the core modules and some optional modules affiliated with this programme which run in the academic year 2018–2019. There is no guarantee that these modules will run for 2019 entry. All modules are subject to change depending on your year of entry.

Compulsory modules

• Organisational Behaviour: Personal and Professional Foundations of Leadership and Change
• Accounting
• Strategic Operations Management
• Strategic Marketing
• Economics of Organisations and Strategy
• Entrepreneurship and New Venture Creation
• Venture Capital Investment Competition
• Finance and Management
• Strategic Management
• Project Management Introduction
• Global Macroeconomics and Business Environment
• Challenges for Leaders: Managing People, Change and Sustainability
• Challenges for Leaders II
• International Business Assignment
• Data Analytics and Decision Making
• Leadership in Action

Elective modules

• Entrepreneurial Finance
• International Strategy
• Managing International Mergers and Acquisitions
• Corporate Financial Strategy
• Corporate Finance Transactions
• Strategizing in Challenging Contexts
• Strategic Human Resource Management in the 21st Century
• Leaders as Thinkers: Leadership through Philosophy
• Driving Value Through the Supply Chain
• Negotiating in Business and Organisations
• Managing Strategic Innovation
• Business Law
• Identifying Hidden Needs
• Leading and Managing the Family Enterprise
• Strategic Quality Management
• Major Critical Projects and Programme Management - a Sectoral Approach
• MBA Consultancy Project

We welcome MBA applications from talented candidates from all backgrounds. Professional experience and personal qualities are equally important to us. We want students who will challenge us and their classmates, people that know their own mind and strive for both personal and team success. We want to know how ambitious you are, how determined you are, your potential to develop and make a difference. 

You will need to have:

• A minimum of three years' post-qualification work experience
• A good degree and / or professional qualification
• Applicants who do not have a degree are welcomed provided they can demonstrate high levels of achievement, exceptional career progression or evidence of leadership potential.

If you are unsure if you qualify for our MBA programmes we are happy to assess your profile and give you feedback on your suitability for the programme before you make a formal application.

GMAT

We welcome candidates with Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) scores over 600. The average score for our Full-time MBA students is currently 680. You will need to contact GMAT directly to book an appointment to take the test.

You can also try a sample GMAT test paper on The Princeton Review website.

Cranfield's GMAT registration number is:

• Full-time MBA - K2H-N3-65

GRE

We welcome candidates with a minimum GRE score in the 80th percentile for both verbal and quantitative reasoning. Our Designated Institution Code is 3641.

Cranfield admission tests

We also offer our own admissions tests as an alternative to GMAT, for candidates who are able to come to Cranfield for interview. There are two paper-based tests, designed to assess candidate's numeracy and problem solving skills.

Try our sample test questions to help you prepare

• Problem Solving Test 1 
• Problem Solving Test 2
• Numeracy Test 1
• Numeracy Test 2

English Language

If you are an international student you will need to provide evidence that you have achieved a satisfactory test result in an English qualification. Our minimum requirements are as follows:

• IELTS - 7 overall
• TOEFL - 100
• Pearson PTE Academic - 68
• Cambridge English Scale - 190
• Cambridge English: Advanced - C
• Cambridge English: Proficiency - C
• Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English III - pass

In addition to these minimum scores you are also expected to achieve a balanced score across all elements of the test. We reserve the right to reject any test score if any one element of the test score is too low.

We can only accept tests taken within two years of your registration date (with the exception of Cambridge English tests which have no expiry date). Students requiring a Tier 4 (General) visa must ensure they can meet the English language requirements set out by UK Visas and Immigration (UKVI) and we recommend booking a IELTS for UKVI test

Deadline: 8th of September. There are also other available dates: 31st of December and 31st of March. Dates can be changed. Please, for current information check the programme page.

The Cranfield University MBA program offers a range of financing options to assist students in funding their studies. Tuition fees for the MBA vary depending on the mode of study; as of the latest academic cycle, the full-time MBA tuition fee is approximately £37,500. Cranfield University provides several scholarships and bursaries to eligible students, including merit-based awards, industry-specific scholarships, and loyalty discounts for alumni. Additionally, students may access government-backed loan schemes, such as the UK Student Loans for eligible residents, which can cover all or part of the tuition fee and living expenses. Cranfield also supports students in securing external funding through sponsorship from their employers or organizations, with many companies partnering with the university to finance employee development.

Part-time and executive MBA students might have different fee structures and variable financing arrangements, often including employer contributions and installment payment options. Cranfield’s Careers Service offers guidance on applying for financial aid and loans, helping students navigate the application process effectively. International students are advised to explore specific international student funding options, which can include external scholarships and private loans. The university also provides guidance on financial planning and budgeting to ensure students can manage their expenses throughout the duration of the program. Overall, Cranfield University aims to make its MBA accessible to talented individuals by offering diverse financing solutions adapted to different student needs.

We will help you not only to secure your first role post-MBA, but to plan for a successful lifelong career. With the support of our career development team, you will work out where you want to be professionally and how to get there. You will learn to identify the fit between what you have to offer and what is required by employers, to differentiate yourself and pitch yourself.

Average exit salary £63,929

• 63% of students changed country after graduation 
• 74% of students employed in the UK after graduation
• 58% of students changed industry sector after graduation 
• 92% of students employed 6 months after graduation