With an unrivalled reputation for defence and security education, research and consultancy our expertise is trusted by governments, armed forces, industry and security services around the world.

Our teaching is career-focused, providing you with both the applied knowledge and skills that employers are looking for. We offer a unique gateway to delivering defence education and solutions that make a real difference to the lives of our military, security and civilian personnel.

Utilising our world-class facilities (some of which are unique to the UK) we research, test and teach and work in close collaboration with our partners to ensure that what we do really makes a difference where and when it matters. 

Defence and Security degrees

At Cranfield Defence and Security we offer a range of MScs including:

View our full range of MSc courses

Apprenticeships

Working in partnership with business and industry to create the next leaders in technology and management, we offer an increasing range of Level 7 apprenticeships which include:

Short Courses (CPD)

To support those looking to enhance existing skills, learn something new without the commitment to full-time education, or those who are mid-career and seeking new opportunities, we offer a wide range of short courses - some of which can be taken for credit towards an MSc.

Explore our portfolio of Defence and Security CPD short courses

Accredited courses

We have courses accredited by the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) and the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) the Engineering Council and the Royal Aeronautical Society. Our Digital Forensics MSc is accredited by BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT for the purposes of partially meeting the academic requirement for registration as a Chartered IT Professional.

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Further information and facilities details

Cranfield University at Shrivenham offers unique educational opportunities to the defence and security sectors in both public and private sector organisations.

Based at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom at Shrivenham in Oxfordshire, we are an academic provider to the UK Ministry of Defence for postgraduate education at the Defence Academy. 

We deliver the highest standards of education, training and research across a range of important subject areas in defence, security, engineering, management and leadership to meet the demands of students – both Service and civilian, national and international – for the 21st Century.

We continue to be innovative in our course design: new courses are developed to reflect the changing needs of the defence sector, in particular those identified by the industrial and technology strategies, and changes in acquisition and procurement methodologies. 

Operating on a secure site (Shrivenham campus), with 80% of our staff security cleared to carry out classified work for government and industry.

Cranfield Ordnance Test and Evaluation Centre (COTEC)
Industrial-scale weapons testing and evaluation facility, testing materials and weapons for government agencies and industrial defence suppliers and manufacturers.

National Centre of Excellence for Explosives Chemistry
Used to develop explosives, propellants and pyrotechnics with improved safety and environmental performance.

Military Off-Road Vehicle Testing and Development Centre
Leading test and development facility for off-road engineering and dynamics, working in partnership with the MOD and vehicle manufacturers to maximise the performance and reliability of military vehicles.

Cranfield Forensic Institute (CFI)
A centre of excellence for science research, with exceptional facilities in ballistics, explosives, archaeology, materials science and digital forensics.

Impact and influence
We work with 1,500+ businesses and governments around the world.

Strategic relationships
We are the only university to have a strategic relationship with Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl), and one of just five universities to have a strategic alliance with the Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE).

Human capabilities for defence
We are a leading contributor to the MOD’s multi-million pound Defence Human Capability Science & Technology Centre, led by BAE Systems; supporting the application of human sciences across defence.

Urgent operational requirements
Working in partnership with the MOD and defence industry we respond to urgent requirements including weapons clearances and counter-improvised explosive device (C-IED) technologies to support UK military operations. 

Security sector reform
Our work with the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, the MOD and the Department for International Development contributes to building state capacity and conflict prevention in countries around the world from Burma to Ethiopia.

Enhancing military training
Our work on advanced landscape modelling has improved the management of MOD owned land and assets, optimising its use for military training.