The only wholly-postgraduate university in the UK, Cranfield is a unique learning environment with world-class programmes, unrivalled facilities and close links with business, industry and governments, all combining to attract the best students and teaching staff from around the world.

Research at Cranfield takes place in three broad categories. As well as studying for the research degree of your choice, there are many collaborative projects carried out by groups of researchers or institutions and research projects commissioned by business to address a specific industry or societal need.

In 2021, 88% of research at Cranfield was rated as world-leading or internationally excellent in the Research Excellence Framework (REF). We are ranked in the top five of UK universities for income from commercial research and consultancy commissions from business and industry.

Cranfield is a significant contributor to global innovation. Our influence on specialised sectors including AerospaceDefence and SecurityEnergy and SustainabilityEnvironment and AgrifoodManufacturing and MaterialsTransport Systems and Water – as well as Leadership and Management – has changed the way that society thinks, works and learns.

Our distinctive learning environment allows you to develop as a professional and apply your knowledge and skills in the global economy. Our work informs policy and brings new technologies and products to the market. Our students and academics have developed solutions to real world problems – for example, in water and sanitation and aviation safety – that have improved the lives of millions of people worldwide.

We generate and transform knowledge, translating it for the benefit of society, for diverse organisations from micro small and medium enterprises to the largest blue-chip multinationals, from national governments to not-for-profit organisations and charities. We invest heavily in research facilities, such as our Aerospace Integration Research Centre, an innovative £35 million development that will change the design of future aircraft.

To ensure Cranfield's research continues to be focused on identifying and meeting the challenges of today and tomorrow, we have identified five cross-cutting discipline research areas where a critical mass of capability and expertise is emerging across the academic community.

Employability and career development

A unique learning environment for researchers

Unrivalled links with business, industry and government

Global impact

International development

World-class, large-scale facilities

A global outlook and an international community

Comprehensive support