EF Education First
EF Education First is a privately held global education company operating 50+ owned language campuses and 600+ offices across 100+ countries, delivering immersive language programs, educational travel, online English learning, corporate training, K-12 curriculum, and higher education through Hult International Business School.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1965
- HeadquartersLuzern, Switzerland
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What EF Education First does
EF Education First is a privately held, family-controlled global education company founded in Sweden in 1965 by Bertil Hult and currently owned through Swiss holding company Signum International AG. Headquartered in Zurich with a North American headquarters in Boston, EF operates across more than 100 countries with 600+ schools and offices, 50+ owned and accredited International Language Campuses, and 10,000+ employees. Its mission is delivered through a diversified portfolio spanning language immersion abroad, online language learning, educational travel, international boarding schools, gap year programs, corporate training, K-12 digital curriculum, and higher education via the Hult International Business School and Hult Ashridge Executive Education subsidiaries.
The core technology stack combines a physical immersion delivery model (own campuses, teacher-led classes, host families) with a digital ecosystem anchored by the AI-powered EF Hello mobile app, the EF English Live 24/7 online school, the EF SET free CEFR-aligned English certification, the EF English for Schools K-12 platform, and the proprietary EF English Proficiency Index (a global benchmark built on data from 2.2 million+ adults across 123 countries). Supporting infrastructure includes the EF Teacher Zone educator community, the EF EPI research publication, and EF World Journeys, which unifies three experiential travel sub-brands (EF Go Ahead Tours, EF Ultimate Break, EF Adventures) under cross-brand referral mechanics.
EF generates revenue through a mix of one-time program fees for multi-week to multi-year language and academic programs abroad, recurring subscriptions for EF English Live and EF Corporate Learning (serving 3,000+ organizations globally), transactional tour bookings across the EF World Journeys portfolio with seasonal promotional pricing (interest-free monthly plans starting at $64/month and discounts up to 51%), and tuition at EF Academy boarding schools and Hult programs. Go-to-market combines direct-to-consumer digital booking via country-specific websites, dedicated enterprise sales teams for corporate and government clients, community-led acquisition through EF Teacher Zone, and content-driven demand generation anchored by the EF EPI research publication. Customer segments span K-12 students, gap year and university-bound young adults, professionals, seniors aged 50+, corporations and governments, and K-12 schools across more than 50 nationalities within EF Academy alone.
EF Education First firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- EF Education First
- Legal name
- EF Education First
- Website
- https://ef.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1965
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- EF Education First is a privately held global education company operating 50+ owned language campuses and 600+ offices across 100+ countries, delivering immersive language programs, educational travel, online English learning, corporate training, K-12 curriculum, and higher education through Hult International Business School.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
EF Education First industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Language Education and Educational Travel Services
- NAICS
- Language Schools (611630), Elementary and Secondary Schools (6111), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (61131), All Other Schools and Instruction (61169), Educational Support Services (611710)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Prepackaged Software (7372)
- akta.pro primary industry
- International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.) (EDAJABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses) (EDACAIAB), University/School Admissions Outsourcing & Enrollment Management (EOM) (EDAIACAC)
Keywords
Where EF Education First is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Luzern
- HQ country
- Switzerland
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices7 records
Markets served
EF Education First business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Language Learning Programs Abroad: Immersive language courses at 50+ EF International Language Campuses globally, offering programs for youth (13-25 years), adults, and seniors (50+) with durations from 2 weeks to 52 weeks
- EF English Live (Online): Subscription-based online English school with live teacher-led classes available 24/7, offering both group and private sessions
- EF Corporate Learning: Enterprise language training solutions for organizations and governments, trusted by over 3000 organizations globally
- EF Educational Tours: Teacher-led group travel programs for K-12 students (13-17 years) to destinations across Europe, Asia, and South America
- EF Academy Boarding Schools: International private day and boarding schools (14-19 years) in USA and UK offering IB and A-Level diplomas
- EF World Journeys (Travel Brands): Guided experiential travel under EF Ultimate Break (18-35 years), EF Go Ahead Tours (all ages), and EF Adventures (18+ years), generating revenue through package tour bookings with referral incentives
- Hult International Business School: Independent award-winning business school offering bachelor's, master's, and MBA programs with campuses in USA, UK, and UAE
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | EF Ultimate Break guided tours — up to 50% off summer promotions |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
EF Education First product offering
Product offeringCore offering
EF Education First is a global education company that provides language learning, academic, and cultural exchange programs combined with educational travel experiences. The company operates language campuses, online learning platforms, and partners with universities to offer degree programs. Its offerings serve individual students, young adults, K-12 schools, and corporate clients across 100+ countries.
Product overview
EF Education First operates a diversified platform offering language learning, educational travel, academic programs, and corporate training across multiple brands. The core offerings include EF Language Abroad (immersion programs at 50 campuses globally), EF English Live (online English school with 24/7 teacher-led classes), EF Academy (international boarding schools), and EF Gap Year programs. The travel portfolio includes EF Ultimate Break (18-35 age group), EF Go Ahead Tours (all ages guided travel), and EF Adventures (active travel). Enterprise solutions encompass EF Corporate Learning (trusted by 3,000+ organizations) and EF English for Schools (K-12). Supporting products include EF Hello (AI-powered language app), EF SET (free English proficiency test), EF EPI (global English ranking index), and EF Teacher Zone (educator resources). The company also operates Hult International Business School and Hult Ashridge Executive Education as subsidiary business education brands.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- EF Language Abroad: Language learning programs abroad at accredited EF campuses in over 50 destinations worldwide, serving students from 13 years old to adults and seniors.
- EF Ultimate Break
- EF Go Ahead Tours
- EF Adventures
- EF Gap Year
- EF Academy
- EF English Live
- EF Corporate Learning
- EF English for Schools
- EF Educational Tours
- EF SET
- EF Hello
- Hult International Business School
- EF Pro Cycling
- EF EPI
Products and services
- EF Language Abroad
- EF English Live
- EF Academy
- EF Gap Year
- EF Ultimate Break
- EF Go Ahead Tours
- EF Adventures
- EF Corporate Learning
- EF English for Schools
- EF Educational Tours
- Hult International Business School
- Hult Ashridge Executive Education
- EF Hello
- EF SET (English Standardized English Test)
Quantifiable outcome
- 44% of students in OECD countries begin university at least one year after completing secondary school, with gap year participation growing
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use EF Education First
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments6 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
EF Education First technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability2 records
Feature5 records
EF Education First partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- UCLA School of EducationcoreUCLA School of Education partnered with EF Academy Pasadena and Saint Mark's School on the TREEAMS initiative to develop a nursery model for growing trees on school campuses before permanent planting, supporting post-wildfire recovery in Los Angeles communities.
- EcoRisecoreEcoRise collaborates with EF Academy Pasadena students on the TREEAMS initiative to plant 5,000 native trees across fire-impacted Los Angeles communities, as part of a program envisioned by Dr. Jane Goodall before her passing.
- Saint Mark's SchoolcoreSaint Mark's School co-launched the first TREEAMS tree nursery during Earth Week 2026 alongside EF Academy Pasadena, contributing to a student-led initiative to restore fire-impacted LA communities.
- EaqualsminorEF holds accreditation from Eaquals (Evaluation and Accreditation of Quality in Language Services), an international nonprofit association known for its inspection system for language teaching centers, covering EF language schools globally.
- British CouncilminorEF is associated with the British Council, an international UK organization present in 100+ countries focused on cultural relations and English language promotion.
- English UKminorEF holds membership with English UK, the national association of English language centers in the UK, representing institutions meeting rigorous inspection standards.
- English USAminorEF holds membership and accreditation with English USA, the leading association of accredited English teaching programs in the United States.
- English AustraliaminorEF holds membership with English Australia, the peak body for accredited English language centres in Australia ensuring rigorous academic and operational standards.
- English New ZealandminorEF holds membership with English New Zealand, which guarantees quality of English language providers and collaborates directly with government bodies.
- Languages CanadaminorEF holds membership with Languages Canada, the national language education association representing accredited programs managed by public and private organizations in Canada.
- ELT Council MaltaminorEF holds accreditation with the ELT Council of Malta, a government-designated body regulating and promoting the English language teaching sector in Malta.
- Instituto CervantesminorEF holds accredited center status with Instituto Cervantes, the official organization promoting the Spanish language and culture worldwide, certifying institutions meeting high standards for Spanish as a foreign language teaching.
Scale indicators13 records
Recent moves8 records
Expansion highlights6 records
EF Education First competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Rosetta Stone: Long-established language learning company offering digital subscriptions and enterprise solutions. Overlaps with EF Hello on consumer learning and with EF Corporate Learning on enterprise/government language training contracts.
- Babbel: Subscription-based language learning app offering courses in 14+ languages. Competes directly with EF Hello and EF English Live in the consumer digital language learning segment, particularly among adult learners seeking flexible, affordable alternatives to formal courses.
- Duolingo: Leading AI-powered digital language learning platform with 500M+ users. Directly comparable to EF Hello, EF English Live, and EF's broader language learning portfolio as a consumer-facing language learning competitor with strong mobile and freemium dynamics.
- Berlitz Corporation: Global language training provider with owned language centers and corporate training programs in 70+ countries. Direct competitor to both EF Language Abroad's immersion campuses and EF Corporate Learning's enterprise language services.
- Kaplan International: Operates language schools abroad and prepares students for university, directly mirroring EF Language Abroad's immersion model. Part of Kaplan Inc., a Graham Holdings company, competing for the same international student demographic.
- Intrepid Travel: Experiential small-group travel company operating globally. Comparable to EF Ultimate Break, EF Go Ahead Tours, and EF Adventures in the guided experiential travel segment, particularly for millennial and Gen Z travelers seeking meaningful group experiences.
- EC English Language Centres: Operates accredited English language schools across multiple destinations serving international students. Directly comparable to EF Language Abroad's physical campus model and competes for similar student segments including young adults preparing for university.
Broad incumbents
- Pearson: Global education company offering English language testing (PTE Academic), educational publishing, and digital learning. Overlaps with EF SET as an English proficiency assessment provider and competes broadly in the language and learning services space.
- British Council: UK international organization promoting English language and cultural relations across 100+ countries. Operates English teaching centers and assessment services that compete with EF's language training and proficiency testing offerings, particularly in the UK.
- IDP Education: Global education company co-owning IELTS and operating international student placement services. Comparable to EF's university preparation pathway and 200+ partner university network as a competitor in international student recruitment and English testing.
Market position
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
EF Education First social profiles
Digital presenceEF Education First compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance18 records
EF Education First financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
EF Education First leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles13 records
EF Education First subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries13 records
EF Education First funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
EF Education First M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments1 record
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about EF Education First
What does EF Education First do?
EF Education First is a global education company that provides language learning, academic, and cultural exchange programs combined with educational travel experiences. The company operates language campuses, online learning platforms, and partners with universities to offer degree programs. Its offerings serve individual students, young adults, K-12 schools, and corporate clients across 100+ countries.
Is EF Education First a public or private company?
EF Education First is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was EF Education First founded?
EF Education First was founded in 1965. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is EF Education First based?
EF Education First is headquartered in Luzern, Switzerland, in the Europe region.
How does EF Education First make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Language Learning Programs Abroad is the primary driver. The others are EF English Live (Online), EF Corporate Learning, EF Educational Tours, EF Academy Boarding Schools, EF World Journeys (Travel Brands) and hult International Business School.
Who are EF Education First's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Rosetta Stone, Babbel, Duolingo, Berlitz Corporation, Kaplan International, Intrepid Travel and EC English Language Centres. Broad incumbents are Pearson, British Council and IDP Education.
Does EF Education First have an API?
No public API is recorded for EF Education First.
What industry is EF Education First in?
EF Education First's product category is Language Education and Educational Travel Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAJABAG, International/Global Curriculum Schools (IB, Cambridge, etc.), with a secondary code of EDACAIAB, In-Service Professional Development (Workshops/Institutes/Short Courses). Its NAICS code is 611630 and its SIC code is 8200.