Arden University Secures Major AI Investment to Drive Global Expansion

Arden University, one of the UK’s largest for-profit higher education providers, has sold a 50% stake to Brightstar Capital Partners in a landmark deal led by former SoftBank executive Marcelo Claure.

With approximately 40,000 students currently enrolled, the university is poised for significant transformation. Plans include the rollout of AI-driven tutoring systems and the translation of its full curriculum into more than 150 languages—a move aimed at accelerating international growth and accessibility.

As part of the investment, Claure will take over as chair of Arden’s board and oversee a wave of new AI-focused developments. The university is also preparing to widen its student base by accepting international applicants with UK study visas and expanding both its remote and on-campus offerings.

The deal marks a bold step toward reshaping Arden’s educational delivery model and reflects growing investor confidence in AI-enhanced learning as a tool for global scalability.