History
Cranfield University is specialised in science, engineering, technology and management postgraduate and research courses. It was originally founded in 1946 as the College of Aeronautics, and became a university in 1969 when it was called the Cranfield Institute of Technology.
We have many world-class, large-scale facilities, including our own global research airport, which offers a unique environment for transformational education and research, living laboratory for testing transformative technologies and new approaches to deliver enhanced social, economic and environmental outcomes.
In 2021 the University opened a £7.2 million centre of excellence with the latest forensic equipment, a mortuary, expert academic staff and innovative courses in the fields of crime scene investigation, digital forensics investigation and forensic materials analysis. The new Crime Scene House, which opened in autumn 2023, is designed to replicate crime scenes and will serve as a controlled setting for practising and enhancing investigation, evidence collection, and forensic analysis skills.
Location
Our campuses give you the best of both worlds – a spacious, quiet and mature study environment with 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, but our central location means you are only 15 minutes from Milton Keynes and an hour away from London. There is rail and road access to most major airports as well as coach and train stations. The Cranfield campus also has its own airport for private executive business travel.
Cranfield Defence and Security (CDS) is a Cranfield School based at the Ministry of Defence establishment on the Oxfordshire/Wiltshire borders. It is only seven miles from Swindon and Bath, Cheltenham, Bristol and Oxford are all within an hour’s drive and London is less than two hours away by car.
Subject Areas
Our teaching and research is grouped under eight main themes. This enables us to focus all we do on industry sectors rather than traditional academic disciplines so that you leave Cranfield with the skills and knowledge required by the employer you will join.
Experience in our themes covers many subject disciplines including: aircraft design, aviation safety, driver behaviours, crash impact testing, motorsport, renewable fuels, oil and gas exploration, all aspects of water management, soils, food processing and post-harvest research, biosensors, nanotechnology, materials manufacturing, design, business, economics and finance, defence technologies and regulation and policy development.
· Aerospace
· Agrifood
· Defence and Security
· Energy
· Environmental Technology
· Leadership and Management
· Manufacturing
· Transport Systems
Facilities
At Cranfield we have many world-class, large scale and national facilities that enhance the quality and value of our research and teaching. Here are just a few:
Aerospace Integration Research Centre (AIRC) - The AIRC is a purpose-built facility that houses cutting-edge aerospace research and development equipment. It includes a large-scale test bed for aircraft and engine systems, an engine test facility, and an advanced manufacturing workshop.
Breakthrough Innovation Hub - Providing design, build and testing spaces devoted to interdisciplinary research across science, engineering and design
Energy Materials Laboratory The EML's facilities enable the evaluation of the corrosion performance of metallic and ceramic materials in a range of environments.
Plant Growth Facility - Facility for experimental work involving plant physiology, plant phenotyping, and plant-microbe and plant-soil interactions.
Cranfield Management Development Centre - A world-class conference centre with customisable meeting facilities, comfortable accommodation, and an array of business services
Through-life Engineering Services (TES) Centre - A research centre that focuses on the development of technologies and strategies for through-life engineering services. The TES Centre was established in 2008 and is funded by several industry partners, including Rolls-Royce, BAE Systems, and Network Rail.
DARTeC (Digital Aviation Research and Technology Centre) - DARTeC is a research centre that focuses on digital aviation research and technology, launched in 2019 and is part of a collaborative effort with Boeing, Thales, and Saab. The centre has state-of-the-art facilities, including a digital control tower, a 3D printing laboratory, and a virtual reality centre.
World class Water Science facilities - Our facilities include an on-site sewage treatment works, with it’s own dedicated pilot-plant hall, and state-of-the-art clean water, fermentation, microbiology, wastewater and water chemistry laboratories that provide extensive analytical services.
Management Information and Resources - Students can access a wealth of management information, supported by our dedicated team of information professionals.
