Circle International

Name

Circle International

Legal name

CIRCLE VIRTUAL COLLEGE LIMITED

Website

https://circleinternational.co.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Online International & Cross-Border Universities (Global/Transnational Providers) (EDAHALAL)

akta.pro secondary industries

International Branch Campus & Offshore Program Partnerships (EDAIABAI), International & Global Research Universities (Multi-Campus/International Footprint) (EDAHABAI)

Keywords

• Online doctoral programs
• Online MBA degrees
• Transnational higher education
• Blended learning platforms
• Academic journal publishing

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - PhD Programs: PhD programs charge £500 deposit, £200 initial payment to Bosnian Ministry of Higher Education, £600 final year viva exam fee, and annual tuition payments. Interest of 4% above base rate charged for late payments.
2. Tuition Fees - MBA Programs: MBA programs follow similar fee structure with £500 deposit, £200 to Bosnian Ministry, and annual tuition payments. 5% discount offered for full payment before commencement.
3. Journal Article Processing Charges (APC): Standard APC of GBP 400 for publishing in IJMC and IJSRM journals. Waivers and discounts available for CIRCLE conference delegates, PhD students, reviewers, and authors from developing countries.
4. Conference Revenue: Annual CIRCLE conferences generate revenue through conference certificates and participation fees. Certificates available for purchase online.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Circle International delivers online PhD and MBA programs in partnership with University Vitez in Bosnia and Herzegovina, providing European Higher Education Area-recognized qualifications through flexible blended learning. Beyond degree programs, the organization publishes two open-access academic journals (IJMC and IJSRM), organizes the annual International CIRCLE Conference series, and operates the Transnational Education and Students' Mobility Centre (TESMC) supporting transnational higher-education partnerships.

Product overview

Circle International operates as an educational services provider offering online PhD and MBA programs in partnership with University Vitez in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The organization delivers flexible blended learning through its Pharos LMS (Moodle-based) platform, featuring courses in business management, research methodology, and various specializations. Beyond degree programs, the portfolio includes two open-access academic journals (IJMC and IJSRM) published under the CIRCLE Research Centre, the annual International CIRCLE Conference series, and the Transnational Education and Students' Mobility Centre (TESMC) for partnership development. All offerings are aligned with the European Higher Education Area standards.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CIRCLE Research Centre: Research centre representing over 70 universities worldwide, overseeing academic journals and conference activities
• CIRCLE (Centre for International Research Consumers, Locations and their Environments)

Products and services

• PhD Programs
• MBA Programs
• Pharos LMS (Moodle-based Learning Platform)
• International Journal of Management Cases (IJMC)
• International Journal of Sales, Retailing and Marketing (IJSRM)
• International CIRCLE Conference
• Transnational Education and Students' Mobility Centre (TESMC)

Quantifiable outcome

• Some students have completed PhD in 2 years (submission)
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

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

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University VitezcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCircle International is proud to be associated with University Vitez and delivers the university's courses online. University Vitez is part of the European Higher Education Area created by the Bologna Accord of 1999, meaning degrees are recognized throughout Europe and beyond and carry European credits (ECTS).
• CIRCLE Research Centre (70+ Universities)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCIRCLE (Centre for International Research Consumers, Locations and their Environments) represents a dynamic virtual network encompassing over 70 universities worldwide. The network supports academic research collaboration and publishes the IJMC journal.
• TESMC Partner InstitutionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTransnational Education and Students' Mobility Centre established to encourage partnership in higher education. Focus on internationalisation, social dimensions of higher education, and sustainability of strategic international partnerships. Connects partners in dynamic collaboration models to maximise effectiveness of transnational HE programmes.
• West African Institute for Financial and Economics ManagementminorOthersPhD graduate Dr. Baba Musa serves as Director-General; demonstrates alumni career progression from Circle International programs to senior academic/government positions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Unicaf: Unicaf delivers fully online degree programs from partner European/UK universities (including some non-EU-accredited institutions) to students in Africa and other emerging markets — a near-identical transnational online-degree model to Circle International.
• INTO University Partnerships: INTO partners with universities globally to deliver pathway, foundation, and international student programs — directly comparable to Circle's model of being an international delivery partner for University Vitez.
• StudyGroup: StudyGroup delivers international foundation, pathway, and study abroad programs in partnership with universities — overlapping with Circle's transnational education delivery and student mobility focus.
• QS Global Education Group: QS operates global education networks, rankings, and study abroad pathway services — overlapping with Circle's CIRCLE Research Centre network of 70+ universities and conference-based academic community building.
• Navitas: Navitas operates transnational education pathway programs and university partnerships worldwide, including online and blended delivery for international students — comparable business model to Circle's University Vitez partnership.
• Kaplan International: Kaplan offers online and blended pathway, English language, and university preparation programs globally — comparable in transnational delivery and online learning infrastructure to Circle.
• London School of Business and Finance (LSBF Global): LSBF offers transnational online and campus-based professional programs (MBAs, professional qualifications) to international students, including via partner institutions — closely comparable to Circle's delivery model.

Broad incumbents

• Hult International Business School: Hult delivers global online and blended MBA programs targeting working professionals — a larger, more established competitor in the same online-MBA-for-professionals segment as Circle.
• University of Phoenix: University of Phoenix is a large established online university offering PhD and MBA programs to working professionals — a broad incumbent competing for the same target customer as Circle, though at much larger scale.
• Laureate International Universities (online division): Laureate operated a global network of for-profit universities including significant online degree programs for international students — overlapping with Circle's transnational online degree model at much larger scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/circle-international

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Subsidiaries4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Circle International