Cranfield School of Management
Cranfield School of Management is the business school of Cranfield University, a UK specialist postgraduate institution delivering MSc, MBA, PhD, executive education, and applied research in technology and management to 4,500 students, 20,000 professional learners, and nearly 1,500 industry partners annually.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1967
- HeadquartersCranfield, United Kingdom
- Headcount—
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Cranfield School of Management does
Cranfield School of Management is the business school of Cranfield University, a specialist postgraduate university located in Cranfield, United Kingdom, with origins dating to 1946 as the College of Aeronautics and university status granted in 1993. The institution delivers postgraduate taught degrees (150+ programmes including MSc, MBA, MDes, PgDip, PgCert), research degrees (PhD, DBA, EngD), Level 7 Apprenticeships, and over 400 professional development short courses, teaching approximately 4,500 registered students and serving 20,000 professional development participants annually. It is differentiated by its exclusive postgraduate focus on technology and management, supported by world-class large-scale national facilities including a dedicated airport, the National Flying Laboratory Centre, ocean systems laboratory, and prototyping infrastructure, and conducts applied research co-designed with industry and government across hydrogen, water, aerospace, agrifood, robotics, and defence.
Revenue is generated through four primary streams: postgraduate tuition fees, competitive research grants and contracts (from UKRI councils, Wellcome Trust, Defra, BBSRC, NERC, EPSRC, Innovate UK, MoD, and charitable organisations), professional development and customised executive programmes, and knowledge transfer activities including Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, technology licensing, consultancy, and a spin-out portfolio (e.g., WAAM3D, Blast EcoShield). The institution manages relationships with nearly 1,500 organisations through a sales-led enterprise engagement model combining business development, recruitment services, and bespoke programme delivery. Operations span two UK campuses (Cranfield and Shrivenham for defence/security) with international reach across Europe, North America, and the Middle East, and the institution reported £200M in global annual turnover for FY2025. Recent strategic positioning includes a proposed merger with King's College London (announced May 2026) and partnerships with Lotus Cars, Ofwat, Metro Bank, and international engineering group Accuron Technologies.
Cranfield School of Management firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Cranfield School of Management
- Legal name
- Cranfield University
- Website
- https://cranfield.ac.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1967
- Operating status
- Operating
- Short description
- Cranfield School of Management is the business school of Cranfield University, a UK specialist postgraduate institution delivering MSc, MBA, PhD, executive education, and applied research in technology and management to 4,500 students, 20,000 professional learners, and nearly 1,500 industry partners annually.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Cranfield School of Management industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Higher Education and Management Research
- NAICS
- Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (611310), Professional and Management Development Training (61143), Professional and Management Development Training (611430)
- SIC
- Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Management Consulting Services (8742), Services-Management Services (8741)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Strategy, Consulting & General Management Institutes (EDAHAHAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- International Business & Global Management Schools (EDAHAHAJ), Management Research Institutes & Doctoral (PhD/DBA) Programs (EDAHAHAO)
Keywords
Where Cranfield School of Management is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Cranfield
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Cranfield School of Management business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Supply Chain
Revenue model
- Postgraduate Education: Tuition fees from MSc, MBA, PhD and other postgraduate programmes. The university teaches approximately 4,500 registered students.
- Research Grants and Contracts: Funding from UKRI, Wellcome Trust, Royal Academy, Defra, BBSRC, NERC, EPSRC, IUK, MoD, and charitable organisations. Research grants and contracts for collaborative projects with industry and government.
- Professional Development: Short courses and executive development programmes serving 20,000 individuals annually. Customised programmes for organisations. Level 7 Apprenticeships.
- Knowledge Transfer and Consultancy: Revenue from Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, business incubation, licensing of technology, and consultancy services to industry.
- Events and Conferences: Hosting conferences including CLAWAR 2026, ICRES 2026, and other academic and industry events.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Subscription | Annual | Graduate Programmes |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Cranfield School of Management product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Cranfield School of Management, as a constituent school of Cranfield University, delivers postgraduate management education and applied research. Its core offerings include 150+ degree programmes (MSc, MBA, MDes, PhD, DBA, EngD), 400+ short courses and executive development programmes reaching 20,000 individuals annually, Level 7 Apprenticeships, and industry-facing research, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, and technology licensing services.
Product overview
Cranfield School of Management is a constituent school of Cranfield University, a specialist postgraduate university. As an academic institution, its offerings consist of postgraduate degree programmes (MSc, MBA, PhD, DBA, EngD), executive education and professional development courses, and research capabilities in technology and management disciplines. The school does not operate as a software product company with distinct commercial product lines; instead it provides educational programmes, research services, and executive development offerings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- MSc, MBA, MDes, PgDip, PgCert and PhD Degree Programmes Full-time and part-time postgraduate degree programmes in management, technology and engineering disciplines, delivered on campus to individual students and sponsored employees. More than 150 degree offerings across Cranfield and Shrivenham campuses.
- Executive Education and Professional Development Short Courses 400+ open and customised short courses and executive development programmes for individual professionals and organisations. Reaches 20,000 individuals annually.
- Level 7 Apprenticeships Apprenticeship programmes (including MKU Apprenticeships) designed for individuals and their sponsoring employers, combining on-the-job training with academic study.
- Customised Executive Programmes Bespoke management and leadership development programmes co-designed with individual client organisations, delivered by the School of Management.
- Research and Consultancy Services Funded research, consultancy, and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships for industry, government and charitable organisations, supporting collaborative research, business incubation, and spin-out companies.
- Technology Licensing and Spin-out Support Licensing of Cranfield-developed technology and incubation of spin-out companies such as WAAM3D Ltd and Blast EcoShield.
Quantifiable outcome
- Top 5% global university ranking
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Cranfield School of Management
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments1 record
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Cranfield School of Management technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Cranfield School of Management partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.
- Lotus CarscoreCranfield University is a key academic partner in the new Hethel Performance Hub, officially launched by Chris McDonald MP, Industry Minister. Lotus Cars created the UK partnership platform for innovation in automotive engineering, advanced manufacturing and low-volume industrial production.
- King's College LondonflagshipProposed merger to support UK national capability and resilience. The proposed merger will create a UK university especially equipped for the changing world.
- SUPC (Southern University Purchasing Consortium)coreCranfield's primary pathway for collaborative procurement through SUPC frameworks, who are members of Electronics Watch protecting labour rights for workers of electronic manufacturers.
- The University Caterers Organisation (TUCO)minorCranfield is a member of TUCO and purchases catering services through this organisation.
- Metro BankminorSecond cohort of Knowledge Transfer Partnership launched with Metro Bank, supporting innovation and knowledge exchange.
- International University PartnerscoreExtensive international partnerships through European Partnership Programme, international collaborations in research and teaching across multiple continents.
- OfwatcoreCranfield University has significant role in four projects awarded funding through Ofwat's sixth Water Breakthrough Challenge (£58m), demonstrating leadership in water innovation research.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Cranfield School of Management competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Henley Business School: UK business school with strong executive education, MBA, and DBA portfolio, including apprenticeships. Most direct UK competitor in custom corporate programmes and Level 7 Apprenticeships.
- Judge Business School, University of Cambridge: Cambridge's postgraduate business school with MBA, Masters, and executive education. Comparable in postgraduate-only model and applied research positioning.
- London Business School: UK-based, postgraduate-only business school offering MBA, Masters, PhD, and executive education with strong international brand. Closest UK competitor to Cranfield School of Management in target programmes and applicant pool.
- IMD Business School: Switzerland-based business school focused on MBA and executive education. Comparable in postgraduate-only positioning and executive programme emphasis; competes in the European executive education market.
- Imperial College Business School: London-based postgraduate business school within a science-and-technology university. Strongly comparable to Cranfield's technology-and-management positioning and similar target applicant profile.
- Bath School of Management: UK postgraduate-focused management school with strong AMBA/EQUIS/ AACSB credentials. Comparable in scale, postgraduate focus, and applied research orientation.
- Warwick Business School: Large UK business school offering MBA, Masters, and executive education with significant research output. Competes for UK and international postgraduate applicants and corporate programme clients.
- Saïd Business School, University of Oxford: Oxford's postgraduate business school offering MBA, Masters, DBA, and executive education. Competes directly for UK and international MBA candidates and for executive programme contracts.
- Alliance Manchester Business School: Major UK business school offering MBA, Masters, DBA, and executive education. Competes for postgraduate applicants, executive education contracts, and research funding in the UK market.
Broad incumbents
- INSEAD: Global, multi-campus business school with large MBA, executive education, and research operations. Comparable in postgraduate model and international recruitment; significantly larger and more established globally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Cranfield School of Management social profiles
Digital presenceCranfield School of Management compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Cranfield School of Management financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Cranfield School of Management leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Cranfield School of Management subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries7 records
Cranfield School of Management funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Cranfield School of Management 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 Cranfield School of Management
What does Cranfield School of Management do?
Cranfield School of Management, as a constituent school of Cranfield University, delivers postgraduate management education and applied research. Its core offerings include 150+ degree programmes (MSc, MBA, MDes, PhD, DBA, EngD), 400+ short courses and executive development programmes reaching 20,000 individuals annually, Level 7 Apprenticeships, and industry-facing research, Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, and technology licensing services.
Is Cranfield School of Management a public or private company?
Cranfield School of Management is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Cranfield School of Management founded?
Cranfield School of Management was founded in 1967.
Where is Cranfield School of Management based?
Cranfield School of Management is headquartered in Cranfield, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Cranfield School of Management make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Postgraduate Education is the primary driver. The others are research Grants and Contracts, professional Development, knowledge Transfer and Consultancy and events and Conferences.
Who are Cranfield School of Management's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Henley Business School, Judge Business School, University of Cambridge, London Business School, IMD Business School, Imperial College Business School, Bath School of Management, Warwick Business School, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford and Alliance Manchester Business School. INSEAD is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Cranfield School of Management have an API?
No public API is recorded for Cranfield School of Management.
What industry is Cranfield School of Management in?
Cranfield School of Management's product category is Higher Education and Management Research. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAHAHAI, Strategy, Consulting & General Management Institutes, with a secondary code of EDAHAHAJ, International Business & Global Management Schools. Its NAICS code is 6113 and its SIC code is 8200.