Cranfield University

As the UK’s only specialist postgraduate university in technology and management, Cranfield’s world-class expertise, large-scale facilities and unrivalled industry partnerships is creating leaders in technology and management globally.

We are creating leaders in technology and management, unlocking the potential of people and organisations by partnering with business and governments to deliver transformational research, postgraduate education and professional development.

Our results are recognised in our awards and rankings, our partnerships and the success of our alumni. The experience gained at Cranfield is transformational for both individuals and organisations alike.

A number one UK University

We are a specialist postgraduate university with world-class, large-scale facilities and a staff-to-student ratio that is one of the best for any university in the UK. Our global success is reflected in our rankings and awards:

• We are ranked number one in the UK for aerospace engineering (more than five times as many master's students in the UK study at Cranfield each year than at the university in second place), HESA 2016/17.
• We are number one in production and manufacturing engineering (28% of the 90 graduates in the UK studied at Cranfield), HESA 2016/17.
• We're number one in the UK for transport and automotive postgraduates (with over twice as many students as the university in second place), HESA 2016/17.
• UK top 10 for commercial research, consultancy and professional development, HESA 2016/17.

Cranfield ranks 5th in the UK for mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering in the QS World University Rankings 2019, 39th in the world.

The Times Higher Education World Rankings, The Times World Rankings, The Complete University Guide and The Guardian, which focus on helping prospective undergraduate students to compare universities, don't list Cranfield University as we are postgraduate only.

Research rankings

Our research is industry-relevant and informed by our close links to business:

• 81% of the research at Cranfield is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent, Research Excellence Framework 2014. This score informs the allocation of research funding from the Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE).
• We are ranked number one in the UK for research income per academic by The Times Higher Education 2017.
• We're number one in aerospace engineering PhDs (22% of all aerospace engineering research degrees of the 140 graduating in the UK) HESA 2016/17.

Cranfield School of Management rankings

Cranfield School of Management consistently ranks highly for its MBAs, management qualifications and executive education:

• 1st in the UK and 7th in the world in The Economist Which MBA? Masters in Management (MiM)2017 ranking.
• In the Financial Times Executive Education rankings 2018, we are ranked among the top 15 business schools in Europe and one of the top 5 in the UK for both open and customised executive development programmes. We are in the top 10 in the world for the international reach of our customised programmes.
• 3rd in the UK and 10th in the world (outside the US) in Forbes' ranking of The Best International MBAS: One-Year Programs 2017.
• 1st outside the US and 11th globally in the Supply Chain Management World 'University 100' annual survey 2016.

Creating leaders in technology and management

Cranfield's distinctive expertise is in our deep understanding of technology and management and how these work together to benefit the world.

Our education portfolio is renowned for its relevance to business and industry. We are the largest UK provider of master's-level graduates in engineering and offer a flagship MBA, extensive world-class customised executive education and professional development programmes. Our work informs government policy and leads the way in producing cutting edge new technologies and products in partnership with industry.

The research and consultancy we carry out for industry, government and business provides our students with a real-world learning environment, allowing them to develop as professionals and then transfer their knowledge to the global economy. This has always been the 'Cranfield way' but it has never been more important than in today's world.