Cranfield University is a specialist postgraduate university that is a global leader for education and transformational research in technology and management. Cranfield is focused on the specialist themes of aerospace, defence and security, energy and power, environment and agrifood, manufacturing, transport systems, and water. The Cranfield School of Management is a world leader in management education and research. 

We are one of the top six research universities in the UK, home to many world-class, large-scale facilities which enhance our teaching and research. We are the only university in Europe to have its own airport – our global research airport offers a unique environment for transformational research. Our living laboratory is a testbed for transformative technologies and new approaches to deliver enhanced social, economic and environmental outcomes in urban, transport and infrastructure systems.

Cranfield teaches over 5,000 postgraduate students each year and employs around 1,500 academic and support staff. We have the largest number of engineering master’s students in the UK. Their staff-to-student ratio is one of the best for any university in the UK (one member of academic staff to every seven students).

Talented graduates and inquiring minds from more than 100 countries come to Cranfield each year to advance their education. This international community reflects the diversity of many global organisations and multinational companies. Cranfield's students and the businesses and governments we work with have a global outlook and we share their passion to solve global challenges.

Why Cranfield University?

Cranfield works closely with business, industry and governments around the world. Through industry partnerships, applied research projects and executive education and professional development programs, Cranfield currently works with over 1,500 companies and organisations. 

Cranfield also has the highest average contract research income with business per academic in the English higher education sector and 81% of our research is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent by the Research Excellence Framework, 2014.

• 96% of our graduates are employed or in further study DLHE longitudinal, 2017.
• Cranfield is ranked second in the UK for employment of our graduates. DLHE longitudinal, 2017.
• Of the 5,097 students at the University, 54% were from the UK, 17% from EU countries and 29% from the rest of the world.  
• There is one member of academic staff to every seven students, one of the best ratios for any university in the UK.
• Cranfield ranks 5th in the UK and 39th in the world for mechanical, aeronautical and manufacturing engineering in the QS World University Rankings 2019
• 81% of the research at Cranfield is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent, Research Excellence Framework 2014.
• Six-time winner of the Queen's Anniversary Prize
• 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.