National Motorsport Academy (NMA)

What National Motorsport Academy (NMA) does

National Motorsport Academy (NMA) is a Nottingham-based, not-for-profit online education provider operating under the NDA Foundation, delivering the world's only fully online motorsport engineering and motorsport business degree programs. Founded in 1989 (with online motorsport degrees launched in 2017), NMA offers BSc (Hons) Motorsport Engineering, MSc Advanced Motorsport Engineering, MA Business of Motorsport, and associated Postgraduate Certificate and Diploma pathways, all awarded by academic partner De Montfort University Leicester (DMU). All programs are delivered through NMA's proprietary Virtual Learning Studio (VLS) online platform, with students receiving free licenses for industry-standard motorsport engineering software including Star-CCM+, GT Suite, Motec, and AIM data systems, plus access to RACE Software for multibody dynamics simulation.

The business model centers on tuition-based revenue from degree programs (pricing £3,950-£11,975 depending on program and residency), supplemented by standalone CPD modules at £975 each and Business of Motorsport Masterclasses at £295-£425 per delegate, delivered in association with Tactic Connect. NMA operates a direct-to-consumer go-to-market targeting working motorsport professionals, automotive engineers seeking transition, school leavers, Armed Forces personnel using ELCAS funding, and motorsport business professionals, with UK students accessing undergraduate and postgraduate student loans. The Academy reports graduate placements across 10 of 11 Formula 1 teams alongside World Rally Championship and World Endurance Championship roles, supported by partnerships with Racestaff.com for job placement and Careers in Motorsport for career development tooling.

Operationally, NMA runs with 23 employees from a single Nottingham headquarters, deploys no physical retail presence, and delivers all instruction online with flexible start dates. Strategic priorities evidenced by 2026 partnerships (RACE Software, Careers in Motorsport, Divebomb) point toward ecosystem expansion and tooling depth rather than scale expansion, consistent with a specialized niche educational institution.

Name

National Motorsport Academy (NMA)

Legal name

National Motorsport Academy

Website

https://motorsport.nda.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1989

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

NMA is a Nottingham-based not-for-profit online education provider delivering the world's only fully online motorsport engineering and business degrees, awarded by De Montfort University Leicester and serving working motorsport professionals, automotive engineers, school leavers, and Armed Forces personnel globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Online Motorsport Education

NAICS

Technical and Trade Schools (61151), Technical and Trade Schools (6115), Other Technical and Trade Schools (611519)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Motorsport Driver Training Schools & Racing Academies (MPAKAJAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automotive (EDABALAB), Motorsports Events (F1, NASCAR, Rally, Moto) (MPAGAMAD), Motorsports & Racing Experiences (THAJAFAF)

Keywords

• Online motorsport degrees
• Motorsport engineering education
• Motorsport business programs
• Continuing professional development
• Online higher education

Headquarters

HQ city

Nottingham

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate Tuition Fees: Revenue from BSc (Hons) Motorsport Engineering degree programs for UK and international students, with fees varying by student domicile and payment plan options including student loans for UK students.
2. Postgraduate Tuition Fees: Revenue from MSc Advanced Motorsport Engineering and MA Business of Motorsport degree programs, with monthly payment options and postgraduate student loans available for UK students.
3. CPD Module Fees: Individual continuing professional development modules priced at £975 per module, allowing students to study specific topics without completing full degrees.
4. Masterclass Sessions: Business of Motorsport Masterclasses delivered in association with Tactic Connect, priced at £295-£425 per delegate depending on session type, delivery method, and tutor.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

National Motorsport Academy delivers online motorsport engineering and business qualifications including BSc (Hons), MSc, MA, Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma, and CPD modules and masterclasses, all accessed through its proprietary Virtual Learning Studio (VLS) platform. Degrees are awarded in partnership with De Montfort University Leicester, and students gain free access to industry-standard software (Star-CCM+, GT Suite, Motec, AIM) plus hands-on racing experience through Team NMA.

Product overview

The National Motorsport Academy offers a portfolio of online motorsport degrees and professional development programs. The Engineering School provides BSc (Hons) and MSc degrees in Motorsport Engineering along with CPD modules, while the Business School offers the MA Business of Motorsport and associated Postgraduate Certificate/Diploma qualifications. All degrees are awarded by De Montfort University Leicester (DMU). Programs are delivered through the proprietary Virtual Learning Studio (VLS) online platform. Additional offerings include Masterclasses, Team NMA racing team participation for hands-on experience, and career support through partnerships with Racestaff.com and Careers in Motorsport.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NDA Foundation: Parent not-for-profit organisation committed to widening access to higher education through flexible, affordable online learning.

Products and services

• BSc (Hons) Motorsport Engineering Full online undergraduate honours degree in motorsport engineering delivered via VLS for working professionals and aspiring motorsport engineers seeking a recognised academic qualification without attending campus.
• BSc (Hons) Motorsport Engineering - Final Year Top-Up Online final-year top-up degree for holders of an HND, foundation degree, or equivalent qualification, completing the BSc (Hons) Motorsport Engineering award.
• MSc Advanced Motorsport Engineering Online postgraduate masters degree in advanced motorsport engineering for graduates and professionals seeking to deepen technical expertise via VLS.
• Engineering CPD Modules Standalone Continuing Professional Development modules in motorsport engineering priced at £975 per module, designed for working engineers seeking targeted upskilling without committing to a full degree.
• MA Business of Motorsport Online postgraduate masters degree in the business of motorsport for working professionals in commercial, sponsorship, marketing, and management roles within the motorsport industry.
• Postgraduate Certificate Business of Motorsport Online postgraduate certificate in the business of motorsport, providing a shorter qualification pathway for working professionals seeking to enhance their business credentials.
• Postgraduate Diploma Business of Motorsport Online postgraduate diploma in the business of motorsport, providing a more advanced postgraduate qualification for working professionals.
• Postgraduate Diploma Top-Up (Business of Motorsport) Online top-up pathway allowing Postgraduate Certificate Business of Motorsport holders to convert to the Postgraduate Diploma award.
• Business CPD Modules Standalone Continuing Professional Development modules in the business of motorsport for professionals seeking targeted business skills development without committing to a full postgraduate degree.
• Business of Motorsport Masterclasses Online single-session masterclasses on focused motorsport business topics delivered via Zoom, priced from £295 to £425 per session, with bespoke in-house delivery available for organisations.

Quantifiable outcome

• Students working across the majority of F1 teams, World Rally Championship, World Endurance, and various racing series
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Careers in MotorsportminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 July 2026Digital career-development platform partnership providing students with career profiling, skills-gap analysis, career mapping, and job feeds. First 100 NMA students receive free full access to all platform features.
• DivebombminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Partnership with fast-growing motorsport journalism platform Divebomb.com for content collaboration and student exposure to motorsport media.
• De Montfort University Leicester (DMU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAcademic partnership where DMU awards degrees for NMA's online motorsport engineering and business programs. DMU is ranked in Times' top 3% of world universities, providing academic credibility and degree conferral for NMA graduates.
• Tactic ConnectcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation with Tactic Connect for delivering Business of Motorsport Masterclasses. Masterclasses are fully interactive and delivered by module tutors or outside experts with specialist knowledge in their specific areas.
• Motor Industry Communicators Association (MICA)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerNMA students receive discounted MICA membership at £15 per year (standard membership £50-£150), providing access to specialist industry training, mentoring, and networking events in the automotive sector.
• Racestaff.comcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPrimary job placement partnership connecting NMA graduates with motorsport career opportunities. With students working across majority of F1 teams and various racing series, Racestaff.com serves as the dedicated job board for NMA alumni placement.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Oxford Brookes University (Motorsport Engineering): UK university with motorsport engineering programs and active motorsport team partnerships. Competes for engineering undergraduates and postgraduates targeting motorsport careers.
• Coventry University (Motorsport Engineering programme): Offers well-established Motorsport Engineering undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in the UK, including work-based learning. Direct competitor to NMA's BSc and MSc Motorsport Engineering programs, serving the same working-professional and school-leaver segments with comparable DMU-style academic award.
• University of Bolton (Motorsport & Automotive Engineering): Offers motorsport engineering degrees with strong relationships with UK race teams. Direct competitor to NMA for undergraduate motorsport students, with established industry placement networks similar to NMA's Racestaff.com partnerships.
• Bucks New University (Motorsport / Automotive Engineering): Provides motorsport engineering degrees with industry placement years. Competes for similar UK undergraduates and postgraduates looking to enter motorsport careers.
• Cranfield University (Motorsport / Automotive Engineering): Provides advanced motorsport and automotive engineering postgraduate degrees with deep industry ties to F1 and motorsport manufacturers. Targets the same MSc-level working-professional audience as NMA, with a more traditional on-campus model.
• Brunel University London (Motorsport Engineering): One of the UK's longest-running motorsport engineering degree providers, with strong F1 team employer links and placement records. Competes head-to-head with NMA for the same UK student cohort seeking motorsport engineering credentials.

Others

• De Montfort University Leicester (DMU): Academic partner that awards NMA degrees and ranks in Times top 3% of world universities. Indirect peer — DMU itself delivers a broader portfolio of academic programs and could in principle expand its own motorsport offerings, posing a vertical competitive threat to NMA.

Broad incumbents

• SAE Institute: Global vocational and creative-media education provider offering specialised engineering, audio, and creative technology courses. Comparable to NMA as a specialist, for-fee technical education institution with online and on-campus delivery, though not motorsport-specific.
• FIA (Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile) Training & Education: The global motorsport sanctioning body operates its own training, certification and education programs (e.g., for officials, stewards, and increasingly technical roles). Comparable to NMA as a motorsport-specific educational authority, though focused on sanctioning and officiating rather than engineering or business degrees.

Emerging players

• Coursera (motorsport / automotive engineering courses): Global MOOC platform hosting engineering, automotive, and motorsport-adjacent courses from universities worldwide. Emerging threat to NMA's online motorsport education category via lower-cost, flexible alternatives for self-directed learners.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/NMA_Motorsport
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC7hMKecqmAVENYPRX0nhV4g
• Facebookfacebook.com/NationalMotorsportAcademy
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/national-motorsport-academy
• Instagraminstagram.com/nationalmotorsportacademy

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 National Motorsport Academy (NMA)