Sheffield International College

What Sheffield International College does

Sheffield International College is a UK-based international college providing degree preparation, degree admission, and pathway services for international students seeking to study at universities in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. The company operates as part of Kaplan International Pathways (the trading name of Kaplan International Colleges UK Ltd, a private limited company registered in England, company number 05268303), which is itself a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kaplan Inc., a diversified education conglomerate. The broader Kaplan International Pathways network partners with more than 20 universities across five English-speaking countries and operates multiple wholly-owned international college subsidiaries embedded within partner campuses, including Kaplan International College London, UWE Bristol International College, Nottingham Trent International College, University of Liverpool International College, University of Brighton International College, and overseas operations (Kaplan Pathways China, Kaplan Higher Education UK).

The core product offering is organized into two pillars: Degree Preparation (pathway courses — including foundation, International Year One, pre-master's, English language preparation, doctorate preparation, and high school courses — that bring students up to the academic and English entry requirements of partner universities) and Degree Admission (application and admissions advisory services for students applying directly to partner universities). Adjacent services include pre-arrival support, accommodation (Kaplan Living), English testing (Kaplan Testing Services), and English language training (Kaplan International Languages). Distribution is primarily sales-led, executed through field representatives, international offices, and a global network of education agents, with a self-serve online application layer and supporting digital marketing across major social platforms. The business model is tuition-based (subscription/recurring revenue from pathway programs) plus professional-services revenue from degree admission support; specific pricing is not publicly disclosed and varies by destination country and program.

The recorded Sheffield International College entity is small (17 employees, founded 2005, Sheffield), suggesting the headcount and operational data reflect a single campus unit rather than the broader Kaplan International Pathways network, which spans five countries and dozens of partner relationships. Recent strategic activity includes the November 2025 launch of ASU London (a dual-country ASU/London degree pathway), 2025 expansion of digital/online degree preparation options, and the 2023 launch of an International Year One in Law specialization — collectively signaling continued product, channel, and geographic expansion within the Kaplan Pathways platform.

Name

Sheffield International College

Legal name

Kaplan International Colleges UK Ltd

Website

https://kic.org.uk

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Sheffield International College is a UK-based international college providing degree preparation, admission, and pathway services for international students through Kaplan International Pathways' network of more than 20 university partners across the US, UK, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Pathway Programs

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Private Pathway & Foundation Providers (EDAIAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Online/Hybrid Overseas Pathway & Bridging Programs (EDAIAJAK), STEM/Business/Discipline-Specific Foundation Pathways (EDAIAJAH), Pre-Master’s / Graduate Pathway Programs (EDAIAJAD), Conditional Offer / Package Programs (Language + Pathway + Progression) (EDAIAJAJ)

Keywords

• University pathway programs
• Degree preparation courses
• International student admission
• English language preparation
• Study abroad support

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, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Degree Preparation Programs: Tuition fees from pathway/preparation courses that help international students meet academic and English entry requirements for undergraduate and graduate degrees abroad
2. Degree Admission Services: Application support and university admission services for international students seeking to study abroad

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Sheffield International College, trading as Kaplan International Pathways, delivers degree preparation pathway courses and degree admission services for international students seeking to study at partner universities in the USA, Canada, UK, Australia, and New Zealand. Offerings include pathway programs for bachelor's, master's, and doctorate programs, English language preparation, International Year One (IYO) accelerated pathways, online study options, and high school preparation courses. Supporting services span pre-arrival guidance, visa support, accommodation assistance, career preparation, and student welfare services.

Product overview

Kaplan International Pathways operates as a platform-plus-modules architecture offering educational pathway services to international students. The core offerings include Degree Preparation (pathway courses meeting academic and English requirements) and Degree Admission (application support services), supported by comprehensive Study Abroad Support. Students can access University Pathway Programs across multiple countries (USA, Canada, UK, Australia, New Zealand) with partner universities, as well as Online Study Options and specialized International Year One programs. The company also provides High School Courses for secondary education pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kaplan Living: Student accommodation services
• Kaplan International Languages
• Kaplan Testing Services

Products and services

• Degree Preparation Pathway courses that help international students meet academic and English entry requirements for undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral degrees at partner universities abroad. Includes bachelor's preparation, master's preparation, doctorate preparation, and English language preparation.
• Degree Admission Application support and expert advisory services that guide international students through the university application process for bachelor's, master's, and transfer admissions at partner universities.
• Online Study Options Digital and online study pathways enabling international students to begin degree preparation remotely before transferring to on-campus pathway study at partner universities.
• International Year One (IYO) Accelerated pathway program enabling international students to fast-track to degree programs in specialized fields such as Law at partner universities.
• High School Courses High school preparation courses offered in the USA and UK for international students seeking to continue their secondary education abroad.
• ASU London Dual-Country Degree Program Dual-country degree program offered in partnership with Arizona State University, allowing students to earn a degree spanning two countries (US and UK) in four years.

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

29 partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Arizona State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPathway program partnership providing international students access to ASU degrees through preparation courses. ASU London program allows students to earn degrees spanning two countries in four years.
• Pace UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university partnership offering pathway programs for international students to progress to Pace University degrees.
• University of OregoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPathway program partnership for international students seeking to study at University of Oregon.
• University of ConnecticutcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPathway program partnership providing access to University of Connecticut degrees for international students.
• Simmons UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUS university partnership offering pathway programs for international students to progress to Simmons University degrees.
• University of AlbertacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian university partnership providing pathway programs for international students to University of Alberta.
• University of VictoriacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCanadian university partnership offering pathway programs for international students at University of Victoria.
• Queen Mary University of LondoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership providing international college programs for progression to QMUL degrees.
• University of BrightoncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership offering pathway programs for international students to University of Brighton.
• University of GlasgowcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership providing pathway programs for international students to University of Glasgow.
• University of WestminstercoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership with Kaplan International College London for pathway programs.
• Bournemouth UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership offering international college pathway programs.
• University of BristolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership with UWE Bristol International College for pathway programs.
• University of LiverpoolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership offering pathway programs including new IYO in Law program.
• University of YorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership offering pathway programs for international students.
• University of BirminghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership providing pathway programs for international students.
• City, University of London (City St George's)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership offering pathway programs at City St George's, University of London.
• University of EssexcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership offering international pathway programs.
• University of NottinghamcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership with Nottingham Trent International College for pathway programs.
• UWE BristolcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership with UWE Bristol International College.
• Nottingham Trent UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership with Nottingham Trent International College.
• Cranfield UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerUK university partnership offering specialized pathway programs.
• Adelaide UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian university partnership offering pathway programs for international students.
• Murdoch UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian university partnership offering pathway programs.
• University of NewcastlecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAustralian university partnership offering pathway programs.
• Massey UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand university partnership offering pathway programs.
• Kaplan LivingsupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated site offering student accommodation services for Kaplan students.
• Kaplan International LanguagessupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated Kaplan brand offering English language training programs.
• Kaplan Testing ServicessupportingChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRelated Kaplan brand offering English language testing services.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• QS Global Education Group: Broader international education services company running QS Stars university ratings, QS Quacquarelli Symonds rankings, student recruitment fairs, and pathway-adjacent services. Adjacent rather than directly competitive, but operates in the same international-student decision journey.
• IDP Education: Australian-listed international student placement and English language testing company (co-owner of IELTS). A leading channel for international student recruitment to destination universities and a competitor/partner for student placement flows.

Direct peers

• Navitas: Australian-listed global education provider running university pathway programs (Navitas College of Public Safety, CRICOS-registered colleges) across multiple destinations including the US, UK, Australia, Canada and Asia. Direct competitor in pathway/pre-master's products.
• Shorelight Education: US-headquartered pathway and student success platform partnering with American universities to recruit and support international students. Competes directly for US university pathway contracts with comparable first-year experience and degree preparation products.
• Study Group: Global pathway and foundation program provider offering international students university preparation courses at partner institutions in the US, UK, Canada, Australia and Europe. Operates the same B2B2C model (pathway colleges embedded at partner universities) targeting the same international student segments.
• INTO University Partnerships: Joint-venture pathway provider partnering with universities in the US, UK, China and elsewhere to deliver foundation, international year one, and English language programs. Closest direct competitor with comparable university partnership model and product portfolio.
• Cambridge Education Group (CEG): UK-based pathway and pre-university provider operating CEG Digital, CEG Foundation, and CEG ONCampus brands. Competes in the UK and international pathway market with both on-campus foundation programs and digital delivery models.

Emerging players

• ApplyBoard: Canadian edtech platform connecting international students, recruiters, and institutions — increasingly offering pathway and direct admission services. Represents a tech-enabled distribution model competing with traditional agent networks for the same international student funnel.

Others

• Kaplan International Languages: Sibling Kaplan Inc. brand offering English language training globally. Provides a complementary channel for international students and could be considered an internal peer within the Kaplan ecosystem rather than an external competitor.
• University of Nottingham International College (NTIC): Nottingham-based pathway college included in the source data as a wholly owned subsidiary. Functions both as an internal campus and as a comparable peer benchmark for pathway college economics at a major UK research university.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/kaplanpathways
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@KaplanPathways
• Facebookfacebook.com/KaplanPathways
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/school/sheffield-international-college
• Instagraminstagram.com/kaplanpathways

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Subsidiaries7 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 Sheffield International College