1980s-1990s: Founding Previously acquired by businessmen Andrew Colin and Duncan Greenland in 1989, the company dates the origin of Study Group as British Study Group, with centres in
Hastings and
Brighton, England. A second language school was opened in
Hove shortly after. Colin had previously acquired
Bellerbys College, a
sixth-form college for international students and was later incorporated in 1994 by Colin and Greenland, adding a third shareholder/director John Collyer with the merger. For its initial offerings in the
United Kingdom, Study Group's international students on pathway programmes were taught at an "International Study Centre" in partner university premises before starting their degree courses. As of 2021, it also offers its own online pathway programme. In 1996, 40% of the business was acquired by the
Daily Mail Group, becoming Study Group International. The same year, it expanded to the United States and Australia.
1999-2010: Acquisitions In 1999, the Daily Mail Group paid an estimated GB£44 million to take over 100% ownership of Study Group. The company is now known as Study Group. As part of its expansion to the United Kingdom and Australian operations, Study Group acquired the Center for English Studies (CES) chain of language schools in the United States and Canada, In 2007, the Brighton school and UK head office moved to purpose-built premises in the
New England Quarter, next to
Brighton station, costing an estimated GB£28 million. On July 1, 2010,
Providence Equity Partners took ownership of Study Group for $660 million Australian dollars.
2011-2025: Recent years The accreditation of Study Group Australia Pty Limited, including
Taylors UniLink, was cancelled by the Australian Government effective 16 January 2019. In February 2019,
Ardian, a private investment house, announced that it had acquired a majority stake in Study Group. In February 2020, Study Group acquired the
learning experience platform insendi to help develop its online pathway program offering. In 2022, Study Group closed its Brighton-based Bellerbys College, reflecting changing patterns of international student mobility, and in 2024 launched Bellerbys Global to provide Foundation programs for international students nearer to their home countries. ==Key people==