Cranfield Defence and Security is the University’s embedded capability at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Shrivenham. The School represents the wider defence and security-related interests across the whole of Cranfield University.

Cranfield has always been at the forefront of defence and security. Its strategic partnership with the UK’s Ministry of Defence (MOD) dates back to 1984 when Cranfield was awarded a contract to provide education for the Royal Military College of Science. Since the establishment of the UK’s Defence Academy, in 2002, Cranfield now offers a unique gateway for teaching, research and consultancy utilising a unique set of capabilities, expertise and facilities to deliver practical solutions that make a real difference to the lives of military personnel and civilians across the world.

At Cranfield Defence and Security, we have three priorities: 

  • delivering a world-class postgraduate education for our military and civilian students,
  • utilising our thought-leading experts and our unrivalled set of facilities to develop new insights and understandings into the fundamental and practical challenges facing the defence and security research community around the world,
  • building on Cranfield’s outstanding track record of engagement with industry and other organisations through partnerships which address knowledge sharing, skillset development, commercial opportunities and wider policy and practice for the defence and security sector.

As well as its work on defence and support to the UK MOD, Cranfield Defence and Security provides education and carries out research in the wider security sector: resources, environmental, governance, information and matters of interest not just to the military but also to non-military officials and members of civil society in countries, regions and international institutions across the globe.

We offer special capabilities and competencies within a single organisation, which are rarely found elsewhere.

Whether you are a prospective student, already in the defence and security sector or a governmental or commercial organisation, we have the competencies, the resources and, above all, the attitude to help you make the difference.

Professor Mark Richardson, Pro-Vice-Chancellor – School of Defence and Security