EF Education First

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.

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

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

• Language education
• Study abroad programs
• Cultural exchange
• Educational travel
• Corporate language training

Headquarters

HQ city

Luzern

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices7 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. 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
2. EF English Live (Online): Subscription-based online English school with live teacher-led classes available 24/7, offering both group and private sessions
3. EF Corporate Learning: Enterprise language training solutions for organizations and governments, trusted by over 3000 organizations globally
4. EF Educational Tours: Teacher-led group travel programs for K-12 students (13-17 years) to destinations across Europe, Asia, and South America
5. EF Academy Boarding Schools: International private day and boarding schools (14-19 years) in USA and UK offering IB and A-Level diplomas
6. 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
7. 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

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Twelve partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• UCLA School of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026UCLA 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.
• EcoRisecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026EcoRise 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 SchoolcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Saint 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.
• EaqualsminorOthersEF 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 CouncilminorOthersEF is associated with the British Council, an international UK organization present in 100+ countries focused on cultural relations and English language promotion.
• English UKminorOthersEF holds membership with English UK, the national association of English language centers in the UK, representing institutions meeting rigorous inspection standards.
• English USAminorOthersEF holds membership and accreditation with English USA, the leading association of accredited English teaching programs in the United States.
• English AustraliaminorOthersEF holds membership with English Australia, the peak body for accredited English language centres in Australia ensuring rigorous academic and operational standards.
• English New ZealandminorOthersEF holds membership with English New Zealand, which guarantees quality of English language providers and collaborates directly with government bodies.
• Languages CanadaminorOthersEF holds membership with Languages Canada, the national language education association representing accredited programs managed by public and private organizations in Canada.
• ELT Council MaltaminorOthersEF holds accreditation with the ELT Council of Malta, a government-designated body regulating and promoting the English language teaching sector in Malta.
• Instituto CervantesminorOthersEF 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

Direct 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

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ef-education-first
• Instagraminstagram.com/careers.ef
• TikToktiktok.com/@careers.ef
• Xx.com/EF
• Facebookfacebook.com/EF

Compliance18 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments1 record

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

Frequently asked questions about EF Education First