The merged institution will build on King’s world-class education and research and Cranfield’s strengths in technology, engineering, applied research and management, as well as its strong partnerships with business and industry.
Following the merger, Cranfield will become King’s new and tenth faculty and its original title – the Cranfield Institute of Technology – will be restored, preserving its history and heritage.
The new institute will be home to Cranfield Defence and Security which will continue its success in applied research and collaborate with colleagues in King’s School of Security Studies to continue building world-leading capabilities in this sector.
Cranfield’s School of Management will join King’s Business School combining the two schools’ expertise, resources, and networks across the public and private sector.
Joining King’s strengths with Cranfield’s will create an institution that is more than the sum of its parts, representing a significant step towards the goals in Strategy 2030.
“Our goal in starting this process was to enhance the impact that King’s and Cranfield already have on our society. Whether that is through research that responds to the challenges facing the UK or education that equips our students with the skills needed to succeed in whatever walk of life they choose.
“I’m confident that welcoming Cranfield with all its unique strengths, world class facilities and deep industry partnerships into our community will help us achieve that and support our Strategy 2030 to build a bigger, better King’s.
“The focus now moves to the detail of how that merger will happen and how we can make our ambitions a reality. Our guiding principle will be to take the time it needs to get it right and minimise disruption to the service we provide our students and staff.”
“Cranfield has a very proud history, and for 80 years our people have created a legacy of impact through their advanced research using deep subject matter expertise, their world-renowned teaching and by working very closely with industry to enable progress and change.
“We now embark on a new chapter, joining our specialisms with King's world-class education, research and scale. Together, we'll build a nationally significant asset and a global university that will bring even more positive impacts to people's lives.”
“For nearly two centuries King’s has grown its academic scope and global impact partly by providing a vibrant, welcoming and secure intellectual home for other specialist institutions. At a time of considerable uncertainty in UK higher education, this joint decision to bring Cranfield’s specialist expertise into King’s College London is a shared vote of confidence in the educational excellence, research logic and public benefit that together we can deliver.”
“This merger is the beginning of an exciting new chapter for both Cranfield and King’s, bringing huge opportunities to advance knowledge and strengthen the UK’s future competitiveness. Retaining the Cranfield name reflects the value of our deep specialisms and global reputation and confirms our ongoing impact in the world.”
Competition and Market Authority rules mean that until this agreement was signed, the universities have only been able to exchange information related to due diligence. The signing of the agreement means that more detailed integration planning can now begin.
While students and staff will see some immediate changes after the merger completes in August 2027, as Cranfield becomes part of King’s College London, full integration will be phased over a longer period of time to ensure the quality of service for students is not affected.
Cranfield students at the point of merger and prospective students who have an accepted offer to join Cranfield before the merger completes will have the option of a King’s degree certificate or Cranfield University certificate.
Any students accepting an offer to study at Cranfield after the merger completes will receive a King’s certificate.
