Longford International College

What Longford International College does

Longford International College is a private, Ireland-based online higher education institution registered as Longford International College Limited (Reg. No. 670711), founded in 2020 and headquartered in Longford, Ireland. The college delivers a portfolio of postgraduate and professional programmes — including an Executive MBA (120 ECTS), MBA specialisations in Women's Leadership, Sports Business, and Gaming Management, a Professional Sports MBA (60 ECTS), multiple MSc programmes (Education Management, Sports & Exercise Psychology, Advanced Sports Performance, Musculoskeletal Medicine), a DBA, and a suite of professional diplomas — primarily through a Moodle-based LMS using a blended online model. The institution is differentiated by a 'pracademic' pedagogy and a niche focus on professional athlete career transition, evidenced by a high-profile alumni roster of Champions League winners, World Cup champions, and Olympic medallists.

The college operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market: students apply via longfordcollege.com or email, admissions are processed through HubSpot, and tuition is paid via an integrated e-commerce store, bank transfer, or employer/grant invoicing. Programmes are certified by Rushford Business School (Geneva) under the Swiss eduQua quality label rather than under the Irish NFQ/QQI framework. Revenue streams include degree tuition (subscription/annual, e.g., €6,500/year for the EMBA), professional diplomas (one-time fees ranging from €49.99 to €595), short courses and microcredentials via the LongfordX sub-brand, and a €500/€1,300 deposit mechanism. The college also operates LongfordX as a self-paced short-course platform and supports employer sponsorship invoicing.

The business is small (12 employees, no disclosed revenue or external funding), with revenue sourced across five customer segments: professional athletes, women leaders, ambitious working professionals, post-primary science teachers, and gaming industry professionals. Geographic reach is formally Irish/EU and Non-EU, and the institution is GDPR-compliant under Irish data protection law. The college is privately held with no parent company, no venture or private equity investment disclosed, and no public listing.

Name

Longford International College

Legal name

Longford International College Limited

Website

https://longfordcollege.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Longford International College is a private Irish online college offering MBAs, MScs, a DBA, and professional diplomas — with a niche focus on elite athlete career transition — delivered via Moodle LMS and certified by Rushford Business School (Geneva) under the eduQua label.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Services

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Fully Online Universities (Online-First, Degree-Granting) (EDAHALAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Specialized Master’s in Management (MiM) & Business Analytics (EDAHAHAC), University/College Continuing Education (Extension) Programs (EDAAAEAA), Course Authoring, Hosting & Delivery Tools (LMS for Creators) (MPACALAJ)

Keywords

• Online higher education
• Executive MBA programmes
• Sports business degrees
• Professional development diplomas
• Blended distance learning

Headquarters

HQ city

Longford

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - MBA and Master's Programmes: The college generates revenue primarily through tuition fees for its degree and professional programmes. Students pay annual or per-module fees for programmes such as the Executive MBA (€6,500/year for 2 years = €13,000 total), the MBA for Women (€6,500/year for 2 years), the Professional Sports MBA (price referenced to fees page), and the Executive MBA in Gaming Management (€5,850). Payment options include annual payment, monthly instalments, and per-module payment plans. Scholarships are available for certain programmes.
2. Professional Diploma and Short Course Fees: Revenue is generated from professional diploma programmes and short courses sold directly through the college's online store. Examples include the Women's Professional Diploma in Strategic Leadership & Management (€49.99), LC Science Investigations (€595 per teacher with discounts for group bookings), and the Professional Diploma in Leadership & Management for Women (€150 next course). Short courses are delivered through the LongfordX platform.
3. Course Deposits: The college collects refundable course deposits (e.g., €500 to secure a place, with original price listed as €1,300 on certain applications) to confirm student enrolment and manage demand.
4. Corporate/Employer Sponsorship: The college offers employer sponsorship arrangements where companies can be invoiced directly for employee education. The fees page states 'I am currently being funded by my company. Can you send my company an invoice? Yes, of course.'

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Longford International College is an Ireland-based private higher education institution that delivers accredited postgraduate and undergraduate programmes (Executive MBA, specialised MBAs, MSc, DBA and professional diplomas) primarily through blended online learning via a Moodle-based LMS. Its portfolio focuses on sports business, women's leadership, gaming management, education management and related specialisations, with programmes certified by Rushford Business School (Geneva) under the eduQua quality label.

Product overview

Longford International College operates as a multi-product higher education institution offering programmes from professional diplomas through to doctorates. Its portfolio is anchored by an Executive MBA (120 ECTS, 2-year part-time) with multiple specialisations — Women's Leadership, Sports Business, Gaming Management, and the standard EMBA. Above the MBA level, the college offers a Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA). Below the MBA, it provides MSc programmes in Education Management, Sports & Exercise Psychology, Advanced Sports Performance, and Musculoskeletal Medicine, along with professional diplomas in areas such as Leadership & Management for Women, Athlete Recovery & Regeneration, Football Agency, and LC Science Investigations (with 10 ECTS articulation to the MSc in STEM Education). The college also operates LongfordX as a self-paced short-course sub-brand. All programmes follow a 'pracademic' philosophy blending academic rigour with practical application, and are primarily delivered online via Moodle with blended elements. Programme certification is through Rushford Business School (Geneva) under the Swiss eduQua quality label, not under the Irish NFQ/QQI framework.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• LongfordX: A platform for short courses and self-paced learning offerings.

Products and services

• Executive MBA (EMBA) A 120 ECTS part-time Executive MBA over 2 years, designed for ambitious professionals, entrepreneurs, athletes, and emerging leaders, covering strategic management, leadership, innovation, and organisational performance.
• MBA Women's Leadership (MBA in Strategic Leadership and Management for Women) A 120 ECTS part-time MBA over 2 years combining business education with a specialised focus on women's leadership development, covering strategy, HRM, finance, digital marketing, coaching, mentoring, and project management.
• MBA Professional Sports (MBA in Leadership and Business Strategy for Athletes) A 60 ECTS one-year part-time MBA tailored for current and former professional athletes transitioning to business careers, covering strategic management, financial literacy, HRM, and process management, with a pathway to the full 120 ECTS Executive MBA.
• MBA Sports Business An MBA tailored for the sports industry, providing skills and insights to navigate and excel in the competitive sports business sector, covering leadership, management, strategy, and commercial awareness.
• Executive MBA in Gaming Management An Executive MBA specialising in the international casino, gaming, and gambling industries, combining core MBA disciplines with industry-specific knowledge in strategic management, compliance, customer experience, and organisational performance in regulated gaming markets.
• Doctorate of Business Administration (DBA) A doctoral programme for senior professionals and aspiring thought leaders seeking to make a lasting impact in business and management through rigorous academic study, research capabilities, and data-driven decision-making.
• MSc Education Management and Leadership A master's programme equipping students with knowledge and skills to drive innovation and excellence in educational settings, covering leadership, management, policy, and organisational development in education.
• MSc Sports & Exercise Psychology A master's programme exploring psychological principles underlying athletic performance, motivation, and behaviour in sports and exercise contexts, covering stress management, goal setting, team dynamics, and mental health.
• MSc Advanced Sports Performance A master's programme offering cutting-edge strategies and scientific approaches to enhance high-level athletic performance, positioning graduates at the forefront of sports science for training elite athletes.
• MSc Musculoskeletal Medicine (Sports Exercise and Musculoskeletal Medicine) An MSc programme covering sports medicine and musculoskeletal health through an 8-module curriculum spanning epidemiology to sports law, designed to develop leaders in healthcare, research, and sports medicine.
• Professional Diploma in Leadership and Management (Women's) A 6-week professional diploma (blended online) designed to empower women with strategic insight, confidence, and leadership influence, covering strategic management, breaking barriers, networking, mentorship, and decision-making. Certified by Rushford Business School (Geneva) under eduQua quality label.
• Professional Diploma in Athlete Recovery and Regeneration A professional diploma exploring recovery strategies and technologies used to enhance performance, prevent injury, and support athlete wellbeing, covering nutrition, cryotherapy, mindfulness, and physical rehabilitation.
• Professional Diploma in Football Agency A professional diploma covering football management, negotiation, and representation, designed to prepare students for the FIFA Agent Exam with a focus on ethical representation, strategic career management, and football legislation.
• Professional Diploma in LC Science Investigations An 8-week online professional diploma for post-primary teachers of Physics, Biology, Chemistry, and Agricultural Science, teaching the design of valid experiments, Vernier data-logging, calibration, statistical analysis, and Department of Education-compliant student investigation assessment. Carries 10 ECTS from Rushford Business School, Geneva, applicable toward the MSc in STEM Education.
• Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) / Bachelor of Business in Sports Business Three-year undergraduate degree programmes in business and sports business, covering core business domains with a semester-long work placement in Year 3. Marketed as 'coming soon' at time of data collection.
• LongfordX Short Courses Platform A sub-brand platform offering self-paced short courses and microcredentials, including FIFA Football Agent, Understanding AI and the Future, AI and the Future of Education, Professional Diploma in Athlete Recovery and Regeneration, Leadership and Management, and Elite Leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students have captained Champions League-winning teams, won World Cups, and earned Olympic gold medals while studying at Longford.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Rushford Business School (Geneva)coreTechnology or IntegrationRushford Business School in Geneva is Longford International College's primary academic accreditation and certification partner. Rushford issues eduQua-certified qualifications under Swiss private higher education regulations. LIC programmes (MBA, DBA, MSc, Professional Diplomas) carry Rushford certification, including the eduQua quality label. Rushford assigns self-declared ECTS values to programmes based on Bologna Process workload conventions (e.g., 60 ECTS for standard MBA, 180 ECTS for DBA). The partnership also offers pathways such as the UCA UK Global MBA dual-degree option.
• LongfordXcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLongfordX (longfordx.com) is a sister platform operated by the same ownership group (Longford International College / LongfordX) for delivering short courses, micro-credentials, and self-paced professional development. The platform offers courses including FIFA Football Agent, AI and the Future, Professional Diploma in Athlete Recovery & Regeneration, and Leadership & Management. LongfordX is marketed as enabling study at one's own pace.
• Department of Education / State Examinations Commission (Ireland)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe LC Science Investigations diploma is designed to align with Department of Education and State Examinations Commission (SEC) requirements for the new Leaving Certificate science investigation project work. The curriculum maps to DoE/SEC expectations for investigation workflows, authentication, assessment rubrics, and compliance requirements.
• Longford College / Partner SchoolsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe college partners with schools for the LC Science Investigations programme, offering department bundle discounts (reduced rate for more than 2 teachers from the same school). Schools can access the programme collectively, with the college providing department rollout planning support as part of Week 8 deliverables.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Quantic School of Business: Fully online, mobile-first US-based business school offering MBA and Executive MBA programmes at price points well below traditional MBAs. Directly comparable to Longford in online-first, lower-cost, asynchronous-friendly MBA delivery model.
• Geneva Business School: Swiss private business school offering bachelor's, master's, MBA, and DBA programmes in Geneva and other campuses, with online options. Closest direct comparator as a Swiss private provider using the same eduQua-adjacent regulatory lane.
• Rushford Business School: Geneva-based Swiss business school and LIC's primary academic accreditation partner, issuing eduQua-certified MBA, DBA, and MSc qualifications under Swiss private higher education regulations. Operates in the same online/blended Swiss-provider niche as LIC.
• Hult International Business School: Global business school offering one-year MBA, Executive MBA, and specialised master's programmes with online and blended options across multiple campuses. Comparable to Longford in offering international, applied business programmes with specialty tracks.
• EU Business School: European private business school with campuses in multiple countries, offering MBA, DBA, and bachelor's programmes with flexible online and blended formats. Similar profile as a non-state-accredited private European business school competing on internationalisation.
• University of the People: Online-first, tuition-free (or low-cost) degree-granting institution offering accredited bachelor's and master's programmes. Comparable to LIC in operating as an online-first, lower-cost, degree-granting alternative to traditional universities serving global working professionals.

Broad incumbents

• Imperial College Business School (Online): Top-ranked UK business school offering fully online Global MBA and Executive MBA programmes with state accreditation and brand strength. Comparable broad incumbent competing for the same online executive learner in EMEA, but with a much larger resource base.
• IE Business School: Established Spanish-based international business school offering globally-ranked online MBAs, Executive MBAs, and specialised master's programmes. Adjacent incumbent with substantially larger brand, alumni network, and accreditation footprint.

Emerging players

• SBI (Sustainable Business Institute) / Geneva-based private business schools: European-based private provider of online MBA, EMBA, and doctoral programmes targeting working professionals. Comparable as a small, niche, online business school competing for European postgraduate professional learners.
• Athlete Transition Services (via Athlete Career Transition programmes at e.g. FIFPro / NFL Players Association): Players' unions and affiliated providers deliver career-transition education to elite athletes, partially overlapping with Longford's Professional Sports MBA value proposition. Competes for the same athlete-as-student wallet, though without a full MBA.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/@longfordcollege5905/featured
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/longford-international-college

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Longford International College