Durham University Business School
Durham University Business School is a faculty of Durham University (founded 1832, Russell Group) delivering Masters, MBA, Online MBA, Durham DBA and Global DBA programmes, alongside international pathway programmes via Study Group and a global agent network across multiple regions.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1832
- HeadquartersDurham, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Durham University Business School does
Durham University Business School is a constituent faculty of Durham University, a UK public research university founded in 1832 and operating under a Royal Charter with charitable status. The Business School delivers taught postgraduate programmes (Masters, Full-time and Online MBA, Doctorate in Business Administration including the Global DBA), supported by a wider university portfolio of 100+ undergraduate and 90+ postgraduate degrees across 17 colleges. International students are routed through the Durham University International Study Centre (a Study Group partnership) via International Foundation Year, Pre-Masters and English preparation pathways, and through a global agent network spanning Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. Research and doctoral training are anchored by UK Research Council funding (AHRC, EPSRC, NERC, UKRI), with Durham leading the NERC-funded IAPETUS2 doctoral training partnership.
Technology infrastructure is based on Blackboard Learn Ultra for virtual learning, Banner Self-Service for student information, and a specialised Event Management System used by Event Durham for conference and venue operations. The technology stack is functional and integration-oriented but not described as differentiated or proprietary.
The business model is fee-and-grant driven. Revenue streams include UK and international tuition fees (undergraduate, postgraduate taught, postgraduate research), accommodation and catering across the 17 colleges, research grants and contracts, scholarship and bursary flows (university-funded, alumni, corporate, government), and commercial venue hire via Event Durham (capacity up to 500 guests). Pricing is annual subscription-style, with means-tested bursaries (e.g., Student Employability Fund), alumni discounts (10% Alumni Fee Scholarship through 2028-29), and targeted corporate scholarships (Ørsted, Santander, Lothbury). The institution does not separately disclose Business School revenue, and operates as a non-profit educational body rather than a commercial enterprise.
Durham University Business School firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Durham University Business School
- Legal name
- Durham University
- Website
- https://dur.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1832
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Durham University Business School is a faculty of Durham University (founded 1832, Russell Group) delivering Masters, MBA, Online MBA, Durham DBA and Global DBA programmes, alongside international pathway programmes via Study Group and a global agent network across multiple regions.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Durham University Business School industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree) (EDAHAHAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Graduate & Professional School Preparation (EDALABAI)
Keywords
Where Durham University Business School is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Durham
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Durham University Business School business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Undergraduate Tuition Fees: Fee income from UK/EU undergraduate students paying tuition fees annually, with amounts varying by programme and subject area
- Postgraduate Tuition Fees: Fee income from taught Masters programmes (MA, MSc, LLM, PGCE, MBA) and postgraduate research programmes (MRes, PhD)
- International Student Fees: Higher fee rates for international students studying in the UK, with programme-specific fees listed in the course database
- Scholarships and Bursaries: University-funded, externally-funded (alumni, corporate), and government-backed financial support to attract and retain students
- Conference and Event Services: Event Durham generates revenue from conferences, weddings, accommodation, and venue hire services across university colleges and teaching spaces
- College Accommodation and Catering: Residence charges for undergraduate, postgraduate, and visiting students across university colleges
- Research Grants and Contracts: Funding from UK research councils (AHRC, EPSRC, NERC, UKRI), charitable trusts, and industry partners for research activities
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Alumni Fee Scholarship - 10% postgraduate discount |
| Subscription | One time/ perpetual license | Student Employability Fund - means-tested support |
| Subscription | Annual | Durham Cathedral Choral Scholarship |
| Subscription | Annual | College-specific scholarships |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Santander Brighter Futures Grant |
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Santander Scholarships |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Durham University Business School product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Durham University Business School offers postgraduate taught Masters programmes (MA, MSc, LLM), Full-time and Online MBA programmes, and Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) programmes as core educational offerings. It also delivers Pre-Masters and International Foundation Year pathway programmes for international students, and operates Event Durham providing conference, venue, and event management services across the university's colleges and teaching spaces.
Product overview
Durham University Business School is part of Durham University, offering a portfolio of educational programmes including postgraduate taught Masters programmes (MA, MSc, LLM), Full-time and Online MBA programmes, and Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) programmes. The Business School, in collaboration with the wider University, provides pathway programmes through the Durham University International Study Centre including Pre-Masters and International Foundation Year. Supporting services include scholarship programmes (Alumni Fee Scholarship, Masters Achievement Awards, MBA Scholarships, DBA Scholarships), and Event Durham which offers conference and event management services with venues across the University. The institution does not operate as a traditional software product company.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Durham Business School Masters Programmes
Quantifiable outcome
- QS World University Rankings 2027: 85th globally, up 9 places from previous year
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Durham University Business School
Customer profileNamed customers2 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Durham University Business School technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Durham University Business School partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- ØrstedcoreLong-standing strategic partnership with Ørsted UK, the leading offshore wind developer. Ørsted offers annual bursaries to students on Energy-related Master's programmes including MSc in Sustainability, Energy and Development, MSc in Renewable and Sustainable Energy, and MSc Energy Engineering Management.
- Study GroupcorePartnership with Study Group to deliver Durham University International Study Centre programmes including International Foundation Year, Pre-Masters, and English Language preparation courses. Provides pathway programmes for international students not meeting direct entry requirements.
- Scott LogicminorPartnership with Scott Logic and Trevelyan College offering Global Masters Scholarship for students from low or middle-income countries studying Masters in Mathematical Sciences or Masters in Particles, Strings and Cosmology.
- Durham CathedralminorDurham Cathedral offers Choral Scholarships approximately £4,021.03 per academic year for undergraduate and postgraduate students, open to students regardless of college membership.
- NERC (IAPETUS2 Partnership)coreDepartment of Earth Sciences is lead partner for NERC funded IAPETUS2 partnership including Universities of Glasgow, Newcastle, St Andrews, Heriot-Watt, Stirling, British Geological Survey, and Centre for Ecology and Hydrology for doctoral training in Earth Sciences.
- British Royal Academy of EngineeringminorProfessor Sarah Hainsworth OBE FREng, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Research), named among UK's top engineers in special list celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Royal Academy of Engineering.
- Royal Society of ChemistryminorDurham researchers from Chemistry and Biosciences Departments recognized as part of international team awarded prestigious 2026 Horizon Prize by Royal Society of Chemistry.
- Royal Astronomical SocietyminorProfessor David Alexander from Physics Department elected as trustee of Royal Astronomical Society, one of UK's leading organisations for astronomy and geophysics.
Scale indicators7 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Durham University Business School competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- HEC Paris: Premier European business school offering MBA, Masters, DBA and Executive Education with strong brand and global applicant funnel. Comparable in targeting the same international professional learner segment as Durham Business School but operating at significantly higher scale and brand pull.
Direct peers
- Judge Business School (University of Cambridge): Cambridge's business school offering MBA, MFin, MPhil and Executive Education within another collegiate UK Russell Group university. Comparable programme portfolio, accreditation profile and employer reputation orientation.
- Cranfield School of Management: UK specialist business school focused on MBA, Executive MBA, Masters and DBA programmes with a heavy executive education book. Comparable in its MBA/DBA-led portfolio and reliance on professional learner cohorts.
- University of Edinburgh Business School: Edinburgh's business school within a Russell Group university delivering MBA, MSc and Executive Education. Comparable in Scottish/UK Russell Group positioning, Masters-heavy portfolio and international student recruitment.
- Lancaster University Management School: Triple-accredited UK business school at a research university offering MBA, MSc and Executive Education. Comparable in programme structure, accreditation profile and domestic + international applicant mix.
- Imperial College Business School: London-based business school within a STEM-focused Russell Group university offering MBA, MSc, Executive Education and DBA. Comparable international applicant base and emphasis on business analytics/finance specialisations.
- Saïd Business School (University of Oxford): Oxford's business school within a Russell Group research university offering MBA, Executive MBA, Masters and Executive Education. Same collegiate / research-intensive DNA as Durham Business School, competing for similar UK and international professional applicants.
- London Business School: Major UK-based business school offering MBA, Masters, Executive Education and DBA-style programmes to a globally recruited student body. Directly comparable to Durham Business School in programme mix, professional learner focus and international recruitment model.
- Warwick Business School: Highly ranked UK business school at a Russell Group university with strong Distance Learning MBA, MSc and Executive Education portfolios. Directly competes with Durham Business School for professional learners and international postgraduates.
- Alliance Manchester Business School: Manchester's business school at a major Russell Group university offering MBA, MSc, DBA and Executive Education with global centres. Comparable scale, programme breadth and international pathway strategy.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Durham University Business School social profiles
Digital presenceDurham University Business School financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Durham University Business School leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Durham University Business School funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Durham University Business School M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Durham University Business School
What does Durham University Business School do?
Durham University Business School offers postgraduate taught Masters programmes (MA, MSc, LLM), Full-time and Online MBA programmes, and Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) programmes as core educational offerings. It also delivers Pre-Masters and International Foundation Year pathway programmes for international students, and operates Event Durham providing conference, venue, and event management services across the university's colleges and teaching spaces.
Is Durham University Business School a public or private company?
Durham University Business School is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Durham University Business School founded?
Durham University Business School was founded in 1832.
Where is Durham University Business School based?
Durham University Business School is headquartered in Durham, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Durham University Business School make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Undergraduate Tuition Fees are the primary driver. The others are postgraduate Tuition Fees, international Student Fees, scholarships and Bursaries, conference and Event Services, college Accommodation and Catering and research Grants and Contracts.
Who are Durham University Business School's main competitors?
HEC Paris is listed as a broad incumbent. Direct peers are Judge Business School (University of Cambridge), Cranfield School of Management, University of Edinburgh Business School, Lancaster University Management School, Imperial College Business School, Saïd Business School (University of Oxford), London Business School, Warwick Business School and Alliance Manchester Business School.
Does Durham University Business School have an API?
No public API is recorded for Durham University Business School.
What industry is Durham University Business School in?
Durham University Business School's product category is Higher Education. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAHAN, Executive Education & Corporate Programs (Non-degree), with a secondary code of EDALABAI, Graduate & Professional School Preparation. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.