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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.
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.
Our corporate plan
The corporate plan provides a focus for the effective engagement of the entire Cranfield community towards the realisation of our mission: to create leaders in technology and management. We have identified four strategic priorities, informed by our staff, students, alumni and business partners, which will continue to be our focus over the next three years:
- To provide a premier learning experience that enhances the capabilities of individuals and their organisations.
- To be recognised for outstanding transformational research that meets the needs of business, government and wider society.
- To grow an efficient, effective and sustainable enterprise.
- To be renowned for our impact and influence - regionally, nationally and internationally.
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.
Cranfield is a postgraduate university, specialising in technology and management. The theme running through Cranfield’s history is a commitment to and passion for applied research which makes a difference to the world in the fields of science, technology and management.
The forerunner of Cranfield University was the College of Aeronautics, created in 1946 and based at the RAF station in Cranfield, Bedfordshire. Through the 1950s and 1960s, the development of many aspects of aircraft research and design led to considerable growth and diversification into other areas such as manufacturing and management.
In 1967, the School of Management was founded, so 2017 marks our 50th anniversary.
In 1969, the College of Aeronautics became The Cranfield Institute of Technology incorporated by Royal Charter with full degree-awarding powers.
More recently, there has been further substantial progress, including an academic partnership with the Defence Academy, UK, at Shrivenham in Wiltshire.
Cranfield University welcomes applications from students from all over the world. Here we explain how to complete your application and the information, advice and guidance available to assist you. You can apply online for most of our courses.
There is strong competition for places on our programmes and, although there are no set application deadlines, we recommend that you apply as early as possible to secure your place. This is important if you also want to apply for on-campus accommodation or need to apply for a visa to study in the UK. These processes will take additional time after your course offer has been made.
How to apply for a course
Use the pink 'Apply now' button on the top of this page or from the course page.
Once you have submitted your application you will receive an email confirmation. Within two days of submission we will confirm your username and password, so you can access our Applicant Portal, EVE, through which you will be able to:
- view your application and personal details,
- check the status of your application,
- upload documents, if required, in support of your application,
- request a change to your application,
- update your contact details,
- withdraw your application (prior to receiving a decision),
- ask for a deferral (if you have received an offer).
To help speed up the application process, please provide your supporting documents, for example degree certificate, as soon as possible.
We only require electronic copies of these documents during the application process. Photocopies sent by post will be scanned and uploaded to your record, and then destroyed. Please do not send us hard copies of your original documents.
Entry requirements
We have the same minimum entry requirements for most of our taught and research programmes. Here we explain those requirements and the range of assistance available to help you meet them.
Some courses may have additional entry requirements, so please check the specific course you are interested in before submitting your application. If you are an international student you may need to provide evidence of your English language proficiency when you receive an offer to study with us.
Minimum entry requirements
- A UK first or second class honours degree in a relevant subject area or
- An equivalent international qualification (find out whether your qualification meets our requirements by visiting our International Student page) or
- Relevant work experience in combination with a degree below second class honours.
If you do not meet our formal entry requirements, but still feel you can demonstrate the ability to complete the course successfully, you may still be accepted onto a course. Each application will be considered on its merits.
If you are an international student you will need to provide a satisfactory English test result that meets the requirements for the course you have applied for. Some courses require a higher test score, please check the course page for details. Our minimum requirements are as follows:
- IELTS Academic - 6.5 overall
- TOEFL - 92
- Pearson PTE Academic - 65
- Cambridge English Scale - 180
- Cambridge English: Advanced - C
- Cambridge English: Proficiency - C
- Trinity College London Integrated Skills in English III - minimum overall score of 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 an IELTS for UKVI test.
Employability and career development
Studying at Cranfield will unlock your potential, develop your talent and greatly enhance your employability. Students graduating from Cranfield leave with the skills, knowledge and inspiration to forge long and successful careers. Our alumni are in demand and prosper in some of the world’s most prestigious organisations, progressing to senior positions and making a difference in business, industry and for society across the globe.
A unique learning environment for researchers
Cranfield’s mature, postgraduate environment, world-class, industry-scale facilities, our passionate teams of academics and a community of like-minded students from more than 30 countries, combine to make Cranfield a unique place to learn.
Our staff-to-student ratio – 5:1 – is one of the best of any university in the world. Our students tell us that our hands-on, practical approach, our specialist focus and the depth and excellence of our education, research and industry links are what attracts them here.
You will be working alongside other talented postgraduates who may be studying full-time or part-time. This provides many networking opportunities with a wide group of fellow students from different backgrounds, each contributing to a rich learning experience.
Many of our teaching staff have industry backgrounds and are leading academic experts in their fields, providing real-life learning challenges that you will encounter in your career. Our teaching quality has been independently assessed and received the highest recommendation possible from the Quality Assurance Agency.
Unrivalled links with business, industry and government
Cranfield has close links with business and industry. We're number one in the UK for research income from industry per academic (Times Higher Education, 2017) and our programmes are designed with industry partners to ensure they are relevant and up-to-date. We are equipping our graduates with the knowledge and skills to meet the latest challenges facing both public and private sector organisations.
Through our many partnerships, applied research projects, executive education, and professional development programmes, we have mutually beneficial relationships with around 1,500 companies and organisations. These include many of the largest and most successful global businesses including Airbus, Jaguar Land Rover, Rolls-Royce, Unilever, EasyJet, Coca-Cola, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority.
Cranfield Defence and Security, located at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham in Wiltshire, works in close partnership with the UK Ministry of Defence, providing specialist skills training. These unique qualifications are much sought-after by governments, the military and security agencies worldwide.
Global impact
Research carried out at Cranfield turns ideas and innovation into reality, delivering practical, life-changing benefits around the world, for businesses, governments and citizens alike. Three of the five Queen's Anniversary prizes Cranfield has received are for work in making the world a safer, better place. Our awards were for:
- Research and education in large-scale soil and environmental data for the sustainable use of natural resources, 2017
- Safe water and sanitation for the world's poorest communities, 2015
- Aviation safety through research and training in air accident investigation, 2011
- Humanitarian demining, 2007
Take a look at these examples of how our work has made a real difference:
- Innovation in the welding process delivers large savings to the oil and gas industry
- Assessing the potential of vertical axis wind turbines for the offshore market (NOVA)
- Influencing national policy on gender diversity on top corporate boards
- Autonomous vehicle research award
- Understanding ice formation to improve aircraft safety
- Reducing fresh produce waste through improved packaging
International development
Cranfield’s mission is to be a global leader in education and transformational research in technology and management for social good. We have a particular focus on helping countries to utilise research to stimulate their economies. Some examples:
- Cranfield is leading a project investigating the hydro-social and environmental impacts of sugarcane expansion in Sub-Saharan Africa, funded by the Belmont Forum, a consortium comprised of the world’s major funders of global environmental change research.
- Our links with Africa are long-standing and build on our research in tea production, water, agriculture, irrigation, soil science, and ecosystems. This is demonstrated by the Sue White Fund for Africa, which supports African students to study at Cranfield for a PhD award.
- We also have a number of projects in countries such as Brazil, China and India across a variety of disciplines, including informatics expertise to support commodity market analysis, such as the Cranfield World Soil Survey Archive and Catalogue, capabilities in corporate sustainability and governance, through our Doughty Centre for Corporate Responsibility, and significant contributions to innovation and entrepreneurship agendas, for example through the work of our Bettany Centre.