Cranfield University

Discover Cranfield

Cranfield University is a wholly postgraduate science, technology and management institution, known the world over for high-quality teaching, research and exceptional facilities.

We offer a wealth of master's and research degrees in the specialist areas of:

• Aerospace
• Automotive
• Energy
• Environment
• Healthcare
• Manufacturing
• Management
• Security and defence

We are closely aligned to the needs of industry and work with many global corporate partners such as BAE Systems, Boeing, Rolls-Royce, GlaxoSmithKline, Nissan, Wateraid and Unilever.

You can choose from a range of full- and part-time postgraduate degrees and qualifications designed to equip you to achieve your career aspirations. Cranfield is one of the top five research intensive UK universities and our courses consistently gain the highest accolade possible from the UK's Quality Assurance Agency.

Our taught programmes are informed by the research we carry out on behalf of our industrial clients and partners. We offer exciting project work, and on many of our MSc programmes these are carried out in industry. These allow you to put your specialised skills and knowledge into action in a real-world setting.

Cranfield has its main campus in Cranfield, Bedfordshire and another near Swindon, where students on our security and defence programmes are based. Home to around 3,500 postgraduate students, Cranfield University offers a mature study environment with teaching and learning support, social opportunities and supportive arrangements for everyday living.

Facilities

You will find exceptional facilities, equipment and software here at Cranfield, including a fully functional airfield - the only university with its own airfield!

We have a wide range of facilities which include: cabin evacuation laboratories; crash testing equipment; multi- phase flow rig; icing tunnels; off-road testing facility; soil dynamics laboratory; flying and welding laboratories; a £1 million fight deck simulator; biomechanics laboratories - the list goes on!

We offer excellent computer facilities with an extensive network of workstations available in open- access areas across campus. The Cranfield campus houses the Kings Norton Library and Management Information and Resource Centre, located within the School of Management. Our information and library services include over 8,500 electronic journal titles and over 200 databases. At our Shrivenham campus, the Barrington Library provides students with an extensive collection of books, journals and digital content to support their studies.

An international University

Cranfield offers you the opportunity to be part of a truly global university. Our teaching and research links us with businesses and opportunities around the world and our students represent more than 100 countries. This means you will be exposed to many different cultures, attitudes and experiences during your time with us, equipping you with valuable skills and knowledge to take with you into your future career.

You can find out more about what being a student at Cranfield is like, including information for international students at www.cranfield.ac.uk/students. 

Student story

"I chose this course as it is one of the very few courses in the UK which specialises in structural design with a strong emphasis on composite materials. Being able to study a subject of my choice really attracted me.

"I came to Cranfield University during an open day and was impressed by the facilities, the links with the industry and the staff. Students have plenty of computers with all the latest aerospace programs such as Catia, Nastran Patran and more. Several student projects were on display and I noticed they were sponsored by large aerospace companies and the aim of the course was to prepare us for future work. The theory is critical but a large element of the course focuses on learning the tools and gaining practical skills.

"I met some really interesting people from all over the world. People at Cranfield are passionate about aircraft! The course was challenging but there was always someone from the staff to help out.

"In my new role I am responsible for the structural calculations of an entire boat. I really feel my postgraduate qualification has helped my career. In my opinion, the main reason is that it teaches how to analyse and work independently and gives you the confidence to solve problems. I started working one week after handing in my thesis - the reputation of Cranfield is really good and several employers had actually done the course themselves!

"I would recommend this course - it is the perfect choice and it clearly makes you stand out when looking for a job"

Thomas Tison,
Aerospace Vehicle Design MSc (Structural Design), 2011

Come and meet us - Open Days

Attend one of our regular Open Days where you can tour our facilities, meet with academics and current students and find out what it's like to be part of Cranfield.

We are holding Open Days at our Bedfordshire campus during 2013 on the following days:

• Saturday 11 May
• Wednesday 10 July
• Saturday 31 August
• Wednesday 13 November

All our Open Days run from 10am to 3.30pm Find out more and register at: http://www.cranfield.ac.uk/OpenDay

In addition we attend many student recruitment events where you can come along and meet our team. View our event calendar here.

Location

Cranfield's location gives you the best of both worlds - a spacious, mature study environment with no inner-city commuting but the advantage of being conveniently close to many towns, cities and facilities.

We have everything you need on-campus for day-to-day life and studying. When you do want to venture off-campus, here are some example distances for our Bedfordshire campus:

• Milton Keynes and Bedford - by car - approximately 15-20mins
• Luton airport - by car - approximately 30mins
• Central London - by train from Bedford or Milton Keynes - approximately 40min train time
• Birmingham - by train from Milton Keynes - approximately 45min train time

Milton Keynes is a modern, fast-growing city with a great central location in North Buckinghamshire, just 40mins from London by train. It's a popular choice with our students who choose to live off-campus and for its wide range of entertainment facilities and activities to suit every taste.

Bedford is also a popular nearby town. It's known for its riverside location and wealth of leisure opportunities and historical attractions, another place that students choosing to live off-campus are attracted to.

Our Shrivenham campus is located on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire border, just a 20 minute car or bus ride from the large town of Swindon, in the picturesque Vale of the White Horse. Close to the M4 Motorway which links London and South Wales, it is eight miles (12 km) from Swindon. The Shrivenham campus is well positioned for the rest of the country too, with Bath, Cheltenham, Bristol and Oxford all within an hour's drive and London less than two hours away.