Cranfield School of Management

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.

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

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

• Postgraduate business education
• Executive development programs
• Management research services
• MBA and MSc degrees
• Apprenticeship training

Headquarters

HQ city

Cranfield

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Postgraduate Education: Tuition fees from MSc, MBA, PhD and other postgraduate programmes. The university teaches approximately 4,500 registered students.
2. 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.
3. Professional Development: Short courses and executive development programmes serving 20,000 individuals annually. Customised programmes for organisations. Level 7 Apprenticeships.
4. Knowledge Transfer and Consultancy: Revenue from Knowledge Transfer Partnerships, business incubation, licensing of technology, and consultancy services to industry.
5. Events and Conferences: Hosting conferences including CLAWAR 2026, ICRES 2026, and other academic and industry events.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core 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

Named customers4 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

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

• Lotus CarscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 29 June 2026Cranfield 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 LondonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 May 2026Proposed 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)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCranfield'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)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCranfield is a member of TUCO and purchases catering services through this organisation.
• Metro BankminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond cohort of Knowledge Transfer Partnership launched with Metro Bank, supporting innovation and knowledge exchange.
• International University PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExtensive international partnerships through European Partnership Programme, international collaborations in research and teaching across multiple continents.
• OfwatcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCranfield 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

Direct 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

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/CranfieldUni
• Facebookfacebook.com/155
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cranfield-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/cranfielduni
• TikToktiktok.com/@cranfielduni
• Xx.com/cranfieldmngmt

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Cranfield School of Management