Why Cranfield University UK is a good place to study - first-hand review by an Indian student
Are you wondering if Cranfield University, Bedford, UK is a good place to study for Indian students? This article provides feedback from an Indian student who completed the M.Sc. Strategic Marketing program at Cranfield University, Bedford, UK. A first-hand insight is provided into the campus infrastructure, activities, and the course in particular.
Indian students aspiring to study a marketing program in the UK may look up Cranfield University and ask themselves, "Is Cranfield University UK a good place to study for Indian students?" Yes, it is! It is a good place to study not just for students from India, but also from other countries. If you check out online sources, you will likely find that courses in the fields of aerospace, finance, and marketing are a few of the most popular courses at Cranfield University.
Let me share with you some first-hand information (and photos) from an Indian student who completed a course in Strategic Marketing. Earlier this student had given useful tips for Indian students starting their studies in the UK, so now I will share feedback about the academic year at Cranfield University (the initial details of the campus infrastructure are also sourced from the official website of the university).
Naturally, the feedback given in this article is based on the specific program, namely, Strategic Marketing MSc. Students pursuing other courses would have had different experiences, and every student should do due diligence in checking out the university facilities, course curriculum, tuition fee and other expenses, eligibility requirements, scholarships, etc.
Cranfield University Campus
Location and infrastructure
The Cranfield University campus is located in a lovely rural place with plenty of beautiful green spaces in and around it. During winter you may find that there is not much to do in terms of heading outdoors. However, in summer one can roam around and explore the trails in the fields and forest. There are biodiversity walks arranged for students and staff. You can also avail of the helpful maps available at the Cranfield Community Centre that will aid you in exploring the local area.
The learning experience is enhanced by the superb infrastructure with spacious lecture rooms, computer studios, excellent vast libraries with printed and electronic resources, a cafeteria, etc. There is a sports centre with a gym and courts for basketball, squash, and badminton, as well as outdoor sports facilities for tennis, cricket, and rugby. A plus point is that the college bus will pick up the students from London's Heathrow Airport to take right into the campus.Accommodation
[Campus accommodation where my student contact stayed]
The campus accommodation is good. There are campus personnel who come regularly to clean the premises and there are various types of accommodation for families and individuals. Please check the details on the official website. There is a cafe which holds regular events during the week. Various clubs such as sports, music, astronomy, photography, etc keep a person busy - and help in networking!
The campus has one canteen and food from there is part of the accommodation rent if you stay in Mitchell or Stringfellow. As mentioned in the post on tips, you can order groceries online and cook your meals to avoid expenses. The grocery shops in the Indian market of Milton Keyes include Aldi, Lidl, and Sainsbury's.
Recreational activities
In addition to participating in the activities of various clubs, you can head off campus, too, to have fun. You can avail of the travel passes for students to head to other places. For example, there is a monthly pass of 39 Pounds that one can use an unlimited number of times. This can be purchased on the Uno Buses app. There are other packages of 5 to 15 passes, with different passes for buses that you can board to Cranfield Village and Bedford.
As part of the course, you may be taken on a trip for which you don't need to pay. However, if it is a trip arranged outside of the course, such as by the university café, then you have to pay the relevant fee which is a subsidized amount for the transportation. My student contact had a wonderful time, with Christmas lunch, a trip to London & Birmingham, a bowling night in Milton Keynes and a BBQ lunch as part of the course. About the Course and Faculty
The Strategic Marketing MSc course that my student contact pursued at Cranfield University is a one-year residential full-time Master's program. It begins in September and by September of the following year, you have to submit the final thesis. For example, if you start the program in September 2024, by September 2025 you have to submit the final thesis. Then in November 2025, the results will be declared and by June/July of 2026, you will have the final graduation ceremony.
The Faculty who taught the Strategic Marketing MSc is really good. They are easily approachable for guidance and clarifications and you can communicate with them by email and through apps like Team, and Canva.
Coming to specifics, the overall strength of the class was 135 which was separated into two batches. As part of the course, you need to work on an equal number of individual projects as well as group projects. Although most of the group projects are not given marks, these are the foundation to work on individual projects and help in honing your presentation skills. The thesis that you need to work on at year-end can be of your own choice, or from one of the topics given by the teacher. A third option is to take up a company project. You can check out the compulsory and elective modules of the course at the official website.End note
Overall the course was value for money, and you will find it so if you put in the effort to make good use of the resources and study material that has been provided.
Enjoy your academic life at Cranfield University! Contact information
Cranfield University Campus address-
College Road
Bedford, Cranfield
MK43 0AL
UK
Tel Ph: +44 (0)1234 750111
Website: https://www.cranfield.ac.uk/
Here's some useful additional information while you study at Cranfield University-Work Options while Studying in the UK
On a student visa you can work for 20 hours/week. Do not think, though, that you will easily get a part-time job so that you can earn while studying abroad in the UK. You must make an effort to aggressively apply on reputed portals such as LinkedIn and Indeed. Some students have even gone in person to submit their CVs at, for example, a local shop, and got selected! Part-time jobs available for students include working as waiters or bartenders in restaurants, sales assistants in retail shops, jobs at the Amazon warehouse, etc. You need to check the average hourly pay on the UK government's official website which displays the rates of National Minimum Wages in the UK.
Follow
This is an exhaustive article regarding the M.Sc. Strategic Marketing course at Cranfield University, Bedford, UK. The author has well presented the details including the information as got from a student contact.
We get a lot of information about the courses and the universities in the internet but when the information is through a student contact then it becomes very reliable and transparent and becomes useful for the candidates interested to pursue the same stream there.