What Study Group does

Study Group is a UK-headquartered private international education provider, founded in 1994 and based in Brighton, that acts as an intermediary between international students and universities through pathway programmes, transnational managed campuses, and direct-entry admissions support. Its core product suite centres on degree-preparation programmes (International Foundation Year, International Year One, and Pre-Masters) delivered through 17 International Study Centres globally, supplemented by the Bellerbys Global foundation programmes (across China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and the UK), Direct Entry admissions support for academically qualified students, and the online Pre-Sessional English Language Preparation (PELPO) delivered via the Insendi virtual learning environment and Microsoft Teams. The Global Managed Campus Solutions offering goes further, with Study Group running end-to-end transnational campus operations (recruitment, staffing, facilities, visa processing, student support, quality reporting) for partner universities that retain academic oversight and awarding rights — exemplified by the University of Huddersfield London campus reaching 100% capacity on launch and Charles Sturt University campuses serving 6,000+ students across Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney.

The company makes money through three primary streams: pathway and preparation programme tuition (recurring subscription-style fees paid by students over programme duration), managed-services revenue from operating global campuses, and revenue-share/transaction-fee arrangements with university partners where Study Group handles international recruitment and admissions and shares economics back to the institution. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed. The go-to-market is a hybrid B2B2C model: enterprise field-sales targeting universities for partnerships and managed-campus deals, paired with a global channel of 4,000+ education agents and direct university recruitment teams handling international student leads. Underlying technology is anchored in the Insendi virtual learning platform (acquired 2020), the Microsoft Teams integration for synchronous PELPO delivery, and Google Ads remarketing for marketing automation. Study Group is the first pathway provider registered with the UK Office for Students (2018), holds ISO 9001 (2025) and ISO 45001 (2024) certifications, and its programmes adhere to QAA and QQI standards. The company was acquired by Arete Education in May 2026, operates in 30+ countries with offices across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, China, Singapore, India, and the United States, and has supported 150,000 international students since 2010 across its 60+ university partner network.

Name

Study Group

Legal name

Study Group Limited

Website

https://studygroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Study Group is a UK-headquartered international education provider, founded in 1994, operating 17 International Study Centres and managing transnational campuses for 60+ university partners across 30+ countries. It prepares international students for university through pathway programmes (International Foundation Year, Year One, Pre-Masters), Direct Entry admissions, and managed-campus solutions, and was acquired by Arete Education in May 2026.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Education / Higher Education Pathway Programs

NAICS

Educational Services (611), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA), International Branch Campus & Offshore Program Partnerships (EDAIABAI), Online/Hybrid Overseas Pathway & Bridging Programs (EDAIAJAK), Direct Enrollment & Third-Party University Study Abroad Programs (EDAIAAAB)

Keywords

• International education
• Pathway programs
• University partnerships
• Foundation programmes
• English language preparation

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices8 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Pathway and preparation programme tuition: Revenue from delivering degree preparation programmes including International Foundation Year, International Year One, Pre-Masters, and Pre-Sessional English courses to international students
2. Managed campus operations: Revenue from operating global managed campuses for university partners, including recruitment, staffing, facilities, operations, student support, and visa processing, with universities retaining academic oversight and awarding degrees
3. University partnership commissions: Revenue share arrangements with university partners for international student recruitment and progression, including revenue share to Charles Sturt University of $100m+ AUD across peak six-year period

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Study Group partners with universities worldwide to design and deliver international higher-education pathway programs, foundation years, and English-language preparation, both online and at its 17 International Study Centres on partner campuses. It also provides managed campus services for university partners, handling international student recruitment, onboarding, and academic delivery through its Insendi digital learning platform.

Product overview

Study Group is an international education provider operating a portfolio of products and services centred on preparing international students for university study and connecting them with higher education institutions. The core offerings include degree-level preparation programmes (International Year One, International Foundation Year, Pre-Masters Programme) delivered through 17 International Study Centres globally, and the Bellerbys Global sub-brand with Study Centres across Asia and UK. Direct Entry provides recruitment and admissions support to 60+ university partners, while Global Managed Campus Solutions enables universities to establish transnational campuses. Supporting offerings include Pre-Sessional English Language Preparation Online (PELPO), AI Digital Literacy courses, and the Study Group Digital Learning online platform. The company acts as an intermediary between international students and universities, providing academic preparation, English language training, and progression pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Bellerbys Global: University preparation programmes offering pathways to prestigious universities worldwide, with Study Centres in China, Malaysia, Singapore, South Korea, and the UK.
• Study Group Digital Learning
• International Study Centres

Products and services

• International Study Centres (ISCs)

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% of International Year One students completing programme were eligible to progress to year 2 at chosen university (2024-2025 academic year)
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Twin GroupcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 October 2025UK-headquartered Twin Group announced a partnership with Bellerbys Global, part of Study Group, to deliver the Bellerbys Foundation Programme at Twin Eastbourne and Twin London campuses from September 2026. The programme offers international students routes to 50 universities across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and China, providing academic and language preparation. Partnership marks Bellerbys brand's return to the UK education market.
• New Jersey Institute of Technology (NJIT)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 October 2025Study Group signed a new international student recruitment partnership with NJIT, a public polytechnic university in Newark, New Jersey. Study Group will support NJIT's international recruitment by providing overseas students access to undergraduate and graduate programs. This partnership marks Study Group's third new U.S. university signing in 2025, expanding its North American network to 13 institutions.
• University of HuddersfieldflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal managed campus partnership with University of Huddersfield to launch University of Huddersfield - London campus. Study Group oversees student recruitment, campus staffing, facilities setup, day-to-day operations, assessment delivery, student support, visa processes through UKVI licence and quality reporting. University retains responsibility for curriculum design, assessment creation, quality assurance, academic oversight and awarding degrees. Campus reached 100% capacity immediately at launch with 400 students enrolled.
• Charles Sturt UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy Group powered Charles Sturt University's presence across Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney for over two decades, delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in business, accounting, and IT. Started as one classroom with 16 students grew into three thriving campuses welcoming 6,000+ students from 50+ countries every year. Revenue share of $100m+ AUD achieved across peak six-year period. Study Group provided end-to-end management of campus operations.
• Royal Holloway, University of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner12-year partnership with Study Group supporting more international students to enrol directly onto undergraduate and postgraduate courses. Royal Holloway is proud to be one of the most international universities in the UK with almost a quarter of students from outside the UK and alumni in 171 countries.
• University of LeedscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with University of Leeds for Leeds International Study Centre celebrating 10th anniversary. Study Group signed a five-year lease for 19,000 sqft of office space at 8 Park Row in Leeds city centre for The Leeds International Study Centre.
• University of BathcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe University of Bath entered a 10-year strategic partnership with Study Group to launch a new on-campus International Study Centre, expanding access for global students through specialist degree preparation and English language programmes.
• University of Strathclyde BahraincoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerManaged campus delivering eight undergraduate programmes, recently recognised with the Student Champion award at Unipal Awards 2024 for commitment to innovation and accessibility.
• Plan InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerLong-standing partnership through Building Futures initiative. Since 2004, donated more than £1.1 million and funded 13 major educational projects including supporting initiatives such as Education Cannot Wait in Myanmar providing quality education to more than 51,000 children.
• Leeds Beckett UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for University ISC providing pathway programmes. Since adopting Pre-Sessional English Language Preparation Online, Leeds Beckett has seen significant improvements in students' academic preparedness with students arriving more confident, performing better, and transitioning more smoothly into degree programmes.
• Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Ministry of EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIn 2025, Study Group delivered the pilot of Program Munafis for Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Education, preparing high-achieving students with skills and confidence to succeed at top universities. Programme combined digital learning and seminars, connecting students and parents with QS Top 100 universities and scholarship opportunities.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• INTO University Partnerships: Direct competitor offering pathway programmes, International Study Centres, and university partnerships globally. Closely comparable on business model — joint partnerships with universities delivering International Foundation and Year One programmes to international students.
• Navitas: Direct peer in international pathway programmes and managed-campus solutions (e.g., SAIBT, NIC). Operates university partnership colleges globally with comparable student preparation and progression services.
• Kaplan International Pathways: Kaplan's pathway division delivers foundation, pre-Masters, and English preparation programmes through university partnerships across the US, UK, and Australia. Directly comparable product set and target customer base to Study Group.
• Cambridge Education Group (CEG): Operates CEG Digital, ONCampus, and CEG Worldwide partnerships, delivering pathway, foundation, and pre-Masters programmes through UK and international university partnerships. Closely aligned product mix and customer segment.
• Sannam S4: Provides international student recruitment, pathway, and transnational education services for universities globally with strong India and Asia presence. Comparable service model targeting similar international student segments.

Emerging players

• QA Higher Education: Operates pathway colleges in partnership with UK universities (e.g., University of Birmingham, University of Roehampton). Smaller scale than Study Group but directly competing for similar university partnership deals.
• ApplyBoard: Tech-enabled international student recruitment platform connecting students, agents, and institutions. Competes with Study Group's agent-led recruitment motion and is increasingly used by university partners that overlap with Study Group's network.
• Cialfo: Digital platform for international student recruitment and university application management. Adjacent to Study Group's Direct Entry service in particular, with growing presence in Asia-driven international student flows.

Broad incumbents

• IDP Education: Global education services company including IELTS testing, international student placement (Hotcourses), and a broader portfolio. Overlaps with Study Group on international student recruitment but operates a much wider portfolio.
• QS (Quacquarelli Symonds): Operates QS World University Rankings, QS Global Education Group, and student recruitment events/services. Overlaps with Study Group on international student marketplace and events but is primarily a data/events platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/study_group
• Facebookfacebook.com/studygroupcorporate
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/study-group

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Study Group