Cardiff University is an internationally renowned institution with more than 25,000 students from over 100 countries. We offer a range of undergraduate and postgraduate degrees to students of all levels and backgrounds.
Our programs not only provide students with knowledge, but also the skills needed to be successful in the 21st century. Cardiff is located in Wales, UK and has been rated top ten in the UK for teaching quality by The Complete University Guide. For those looking to gain admission at Cardiff University, these are some quick tips on how to get there.
The Cardiff University is a public research university located in the city of Cardiff, Wales. Established in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, it became one of the founding colleges of the University of Wales in 1893 and in 1997 received its name as an independent university.
It is composed of three faculties: Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; and Physical Sciences and Engineering.
The university is ranked among the top universities in Britain. It was ranked 78th by QS World Rankings with five subjects ranked within the top 100 worldwide. Cardiff has been recognised for its student experience, which includes being runner up for The Sunday Times’ UK university of the year for 2017-18.
What you should know about Wales
Every picture of the country Wales is like a snapshot on a glossy postcard with breathtaking sceneries. The country is actually that way. It is part of the United Kingdom and is located in southwest Britain.
International students who love nature would love the ruggedly beautiful hills and mountains, a coastline that is an adventurer’s dream, an exotic culture that seems out of place in Britain, and a distinct language. All these look like good reasons to study in Wales.
Bordered by the Irish Sea to the north and west and England to the south and east, this country of just over 3 million inhabitants promises high-quality education for international students. Students can also look forward to a relatively low cost of living, several world historic sites dotting the landscape, and an international community with two highly cosmopolitan cities of Swansea and Cardiff.
Cardiff University History
Established in 1883, Cardiff University is a public research university in Wales, United Kingdom. It was initially known as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, which became one of the founding colleges of the University of Wales in 1893 and in 1997 received its own degree-awarding powers.
It was merged with the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) in 1988. The college adopted the public name of Cardiff University in 1999, and in 2005 this became its legal name when it became an independent university awarding its own degrees. It is the third oldest university institution in Wales.
Cardiff is the only Welsh member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities. The university is consistently recognized as providing high-quality research-based university education and is ranked between 100 and 200 in the world by the four major international rankings, and in the top 60 in all three UK tables.
The university has an undergraduate enrolment of 23,085 and a total enrolment of 31,595 making it one of the ten largest universities in the UK. University is the 10th-largest university in the United Kingdom by enrolment.
Cardiff is a global, ambitious, and innovative university with a bold and strategic vision located in a beautiful and thriving capital city.
Additionally,
With over 7,000 international students from more than 100 countries, the school offers a diverse and truly international environment attracting the best students and staff from around the world.
The University develops and supports a culture that encourages international exchanges and collaborations, with over 17% of our undergraduate students spending time abroad.
Its partnerships span more than 35 countries including 40 across China, nine in Malaysia, and over 20 in the US.
Cardiff University Courses
Cardiff University has broad academic power, with major courses that cut across different undergraduate and postgraduate schools, which offers disciplines like;
Business, English, Communication and Philosophy, Geography and Planning, History Archaeology and Religion, Journalism, Media, and Cultural Studies, Law and Politics, Modern Languages, Music, Welsh, Dentistry, Medicine, Optometry, Pharmacy, Medical, and Dental Education (Wales Deanery), Psychology, Architecture, Chemistry, Computer Science & Informatics, Earth and Ocean Sciences, Engineering, Mathematics and Physics, and Astronomy
Cardiff University Ranking
Rankings of Universities has always been a structure of ascertaining and recognizing the institutions that offer worth education and have a track record of sustained quality over a prolonged period of time. Cardiff University is not left out as it made its way as one of the top-notch institutions in the world based on the research statistics of the following agencies;
Cardiff University was ranked 188th in Best Global Universities internationally and 19th nationally.
Cardiff University is ranked 101-150 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities, an influential league table of global institutions.
Cardiff University has been named Welsh University of the Year in The Times & The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2018. We climbed 11 places in the guide and are now ranked 35th.
The University is ranked 33rd in The Complete University Guide 2018 and tops the league table in Wales.
The University ranked 58th in the Guardian University Guide for 2019, scoring well in the areas of student satisfaction with their course and teaching
Cardiff University has retained its place amongst the top 150 of the world’s best 1,000 universities. Ranked 145th, we remain Wales’s highest-ranked University and 23rd amongst the 76 UK universities ranked.
Cardiff University Accommodation
The University maintains fourteen student halls and a number of student houses throughout the city of Cardiff; providing a total of 5,362 student places in accommodation. They are in a variety of architectural styles and ages, from the Gothic Aberdare Hall, built-in 1895, to the modern Talybont Halls, built-in 1995. All first-year students are guaranteed a place in Halls. The Cardiff University Halls are:
Aberconway Hall, Aberdare Hall, Cartwright Court, Colum Hall, Gordon Hall, Roy Jenkins Hall, Senghennydd Court, Senghennydd Hall, Talybont Halls, University Hall, Colum Road Houses, and Student Village Houses
Cardiff University Tuition
By and large, it is notable that tuition fee in most universities in the United Kingdom especially the top institutions are costly with some of them, relatively affordable.
Tuition fees in Cardiff University for each academic year vary in the course of study applied for and whether the student is an indigenous, EU, or international citizen. The fee is within £9,000 for local students and £17,500 for International students.
The annual academic fee covers all tuition fees, essential course costs, registration, and examinations other than the re-taking of examinations by applicants not currently registered. Charges for accommodation in University residences are additional. All fees are to be paid when the applicant has received and confirmed admission from the University.
Cardiff University Postgraduate
Academic life at the university is challenging, innovative, and rewarding. The students learn from leading researchers and teachers who are driven by creativity and curiosity.
Postgraduate fees vary depending on course, mode, and level of study and whether the student is a Local, EU, or international citizen. The fees range between £4,260 to £9,650 for EU students and £15,650 to £35,350 for international students. All fees can be paid in full or in three installments.
Cardiff University Postgraduate Courses
The following courses are some of the taught courses available in the postgraduate program
Clinical Leadership and Leading Change in Cardiology, Wireless and Microwave Communication Engineering, Digital Media and Society, Data Science and Analytics, Cultural and Creative Industries, Human Resource Management, International Planning and Urban Design, Mathematics, Advanced Chemistry, Environment and Development, Clinical Optometry, Global Culture and Creativity, Children’s Psychological Disorders, Building and Infrastructure Information Modelling (BIM) for Smart Engineering, Software Engineering, Public Leadership, Science Communication, Stem Cell Neurobiology, Therapeutic Prescribing for Optometrists, Computational Methods in Architecture, Sustainable Supply Chain Management and Clinical Leadership and Leading Change in Cardiology, Accounting and Finance, Advanced Mechanical Engineering, Advanced Surgical Practice, Ageing Health and Disease, Ancient and Medieval Warfare, Ancient History, Applied Environmental Geology, Applied Linguistics, Archaeological Science, Archaeology, Business Administration, Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship, Executive MBA, Eye Care Governance, Finance, Financial Economics, Food Politics and Sustainability, Forensic Linguistics, Genetic and Genomic Counselling, Banking and Finance, International Human Resource Management, International Journalism, International Management, International Planning and Development, International Planning and Urban Design, International Public Relations and Global Communications Management, International Relations, Islam in Contemporary Britain, Journalism, Media And Communications, Language and Linguistics, Language Communication Research, Law, Legal and Political Aspects of International Affairs
Cardiff University Admission
This University, just like other Universities in the United Kingdom and Europe, has certain requirements that must be fulfilled by the student before he is been admitted into the University. The requirements vary across the different courses and programs of study. These are the basic requirements as it applies to every applicant.
- At least five GCSEs/IGCSEs with the minimum acceptable grade being grade C/grade 4. The GCSEs must include GCSE/IGCSE English Language/Welsh (First) Language at grade B/grade 6 or above.
- All overseas applicants whose first language is not English must have a standard level of English that will enable them to benefit fully from their course of study. The majority of our courses request an IELTS score of 6.5 or 7.0.
- Minimum of two A-levels at grade C or above in the basic subject of the course they are applying for.
Before you commence the application process, it is important that you take out time and complete the following procedures.
- Search for a desired course
- Check the application deadlines
- Examine the particular entry requirements and admissions criteria for your desired course
- International students should check their qualifications by visiting the relevant country page
- Aftermath application of certain courses may involve attending an interview, sitting a test or submitting a portfolio – if required this will be stated in the entry requirements
- Be sure to meet the necessary English language requirements if you are not UK applicant or if your country is not an English-speaking country.
- Gather documents and information and ensure you have everything you need to complete the application form (eg. education history, personal statement, referee details). This information is available from the UCAS website.
- Application can be made online through UCAS site or the University website for mostly part-time students.
Cardiff University Acceptance Rate
The university is one of the relatively less competitive and easy to get Universities in the UK as long as the requirements are met. The acceptance rate is about 75% and the school opens her door to a lot of students from different nationalities and gave offers of admission to 75.2% of its applicants, which made it renowned as the 13th lowest amongst the Russell Group.
Cardiff University Address
Cardiff University
Cardiff, Wales
CF10 3AT
UK
Phone: +44 (0)29 2087 4000
Fax: +44 (0)29 2087 4000
Cardiff University Scholarships
As a way of recognizing the most outstanding and highly talented international students, Cardiff University in partnership with various local and international organizations presents a number of highly prestigious international scholarship opportunities as a means of offering financial assistance to such students and to attract them. These Scholarship opportunities include;
Cardiff University Scholarships
Cardiff University Scholarships worth £3,000 is presented to eligible students. The scholarships are cash payments and are not means-tested. They will be awarded to UK undergraduate students undertaking an eligible degree subject who start their studies in September 2022 or 2020. Visit Website
Academic School scholarships
A number of our Academic Schools also offer scholarships to some high-achieving students. Each scholarship has its own unique entry requirements.
- School of Engineering scholarships
- School of Music scholarships
- School of Welsh – Creative Minds Scholarships
Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol scholarships
The Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol is offering Welsh-medium lead scholarship schemes of £3,000 over 3 years for undergraduates studying at least 66% of their course (ie 80 credits a year) through the medium of Welsh. There are up to 35 scholarships available each year.
Incentive scholarships
The Incentive Scholarships are worth £500 a year (or up to £1,500 over three years), and are open to students who intend to study at least 33% (or at least 40 credits a year) of their degree courses through the medium of Welsh.
William Salesbury scholarship
The William Salesbury Scholarship of £5,000 over three years is offered by the William Salesbury Fund to one of the Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol’s students. Students studying 100% of their course ie 120 credits a year, through the medium of Welsh are eligible to apply. There is one scholarship available annually.
Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship
We are offering over £2M in funding awards to students across undergraduate and postgraduate taught levels of study.
Vice-Chancellor’s International Scholarship for Research Excellence
We are offering full tuition fee funding and an annual stipend to support self-funding full-time Ph.D. international students for up to three years.
International Foundation Programme Scholarships
These scholarships are available for eligible students studying on our International Foundation Programme (IFP).
Postgraduate Taught Scholarships
If you are looking to study a taught postgraduate program, funding is available from both the University and external organizations.
PhD Research Scholarships
If you are looking to study on a Doctoral program, funding is available from both the University and external organizations.
The Beacon Scholarship
This lucrative scheme is open to applicants to all undergraduate courses (excluding medicine) from Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
CONACYT Scholarship
CONACYT offers scholarships to Mexican students enrolling in postgraduate courses.
Visiting scholars funding schemes
Cardiff University offers two visiting scholar funding schemes – Fulbright and the China Scholarships Council.
Who are notable Alumni of University of Pennsylvania
Cardiff University is a significant institution in the UK that is seen as home to its numerous alumni members which comprise of individuals that have created a niche in their professions and are well-known, household figures in Wales and the UK.
Ron Davies, PC: a Welsh politician, former Secretary of State for Wales, former Member of Parliament, and former member of the Welsh Assembly.
Adam Price: a politician in Wales, and former Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr. He was elected to Parliament in the 2001 general election and re-elected in 2005
Parvez Sharma: a New York-based Indian writer and documentary filmmaker. Sharma is best known for the 2007 film A Jihad for Love which documented the lives of gay and lesbian Muslims
Neil Gordon Kinnock, Baron Kinnock is a British Labour Party politician. He served as a Member of Parliament from 1970 until 1995, first for Bedwellty and then for Islwyn.
Kevin Dennis Brennan is a British Labour Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament for Cardiff West since 2001, and was a Minister of State at both the Department for Business
Faisal al-Fayez was the Prime Minister of Jordan from 25 October 2003 to 6 April 2005. He took office following the resignation of Ali Abu al-Ragheb.
Guto Harri is Director of Communications at News UK. A former BBC Chief Political Correspondent, in May 2008 he was appointed as Communications Director for the Mayor of London Boris Johnson’s campaign.
Vedhika is an Indian film actress who has appeared in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, and Kannada films. She made her breakthrough portraying Angamma in Bala’s period film Paradesi.
Karl William Pamp Jenkins, CBE is a Welsh musician and composer known for “Adiemus”, The Armed Man, and his Requiem.
Julie Morgan AM is a British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Cardiff North from 1997 until 2010; she is married to former First Minister of Wales, Rhodri Morgan
Martin Steven Lewis OBE is an English journalist, television presenter, and author. He also created the website MoneySavingExpert.com
Alan Graham Johnston is a British journalist working for the BBC. He has been the BBC’s correspondent in Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, the Gaza Strip, and Italy.
John Warwick Montgomery is a noted lawyer, professor, Lutheran theologian, and prolific author living in France. He was born October 18, 1931, in Warsaw, New York, United States.
David Craig Owen Thomas was a Welsh author of thrillers, most notably the Mitchell Gant series and Kenneth Aubrey series.
Norman Witchell Biggs was a Welsh international rugby union wing who played club rugby for Cardiff and county rugby for Glamorgan. Both Biggs and his brother Selwyn played international rugby
Suw Charman-Anderson is the former Executive Director of the Open Rights Group, a campaign group based in London. She is also a journalist, social software consultant, blogger.
Barham Ahmed Salih is an Iraqi Kurdish politician. He is the former prime minister of the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraqi Kurdistan and a former deputy prime minister
Hywel Williams is a Welsh politician and Plaid Cymru Member of Parliament for Arfon. He previously represented Caernarfon.
Elin Jones AM, is a Welsh politician, born in Lampeter, who has represented Ceredigion for Plaid Cymru as a Member of the National Assembly for Wales since 1999.
Brian David Henderson Wilson is a politician in the United Kingdom. He was a Labour Party Member of Parliament from 1987 until 2005 and served as a Minister of State from 1997 to 2003.
William Moelwyn Merchant was an academic, novelist, sculptor, poet, and Anglican priest. He was born in Port Talbot, Glamorgan, Wales, and his first language was Welsh.
Celia Anne Barlow is a British Labour Party politician who was the Member of Parliament for Hove from 2005 to 2010. She also worked as a home news editor at the BBC.
Yehuda Bauer is a Czechoslovak-born Israeli historian and scholar of the Holocaust. He is a professor of Holocaust Studies at the Avraham Harman Institute of Contemporary Jewry at the Hebrew University
Glenys Elizabeth Kinnock, Baroness Kinnock of Holyhead, FRSA is a British politician. She was a Labour Party Member of the European Parliament from 1994 to 2009.
Claire Victoria Marshall is a British journalist who works for BBC News. After leaving Blundell’s School, Devon in 1993, she read for a law degree at Balliol College, Oxford.
Jon Owen Jones is a Welsh politician. He was a Labour and Co-operative Member of Parliament for Cardiff Central from 1992 to 2005.
Dr. Stephen John Murgatroyd is a writer, broadcaster, and consultant. Murgatroyd was educated at St. Bede’s Grammar School and University College Cardiff, wherein 1972 he graduated with honors
Emma Catherine Crosby is a British television newsreader and journalist, currently acting as the main anchor for 5 News on Channel 5 every weekday.
Tom Smith is a Welsh rugby union player. A flanker, he currently plays for Welsh regional team Ospreys having previously played for Neath RFC and the Ospreys academy.
Stephen Bird is Chief Executive Officer of Citi’s Consumer Banking in the Asia Pacific, responsible for the Retail Banking, Credit Card and Consumer Finance businesses in Australia, China
Rhodri Williams appeared in 2011 film Dragon Crusaders.
Emeritus Professor Robert Maynard Jones, generally known as Bobi Jones, is a Welsh Christian academic, one of the most prolific writers in the history of the Welsh language. A versatile master of poet
Catherine Thomas born in 1963 is a Welsh politician and former Labour Welsh Assembly Member for the constituency of Llanelli. She narrowly beat Helen Mary Jones of Plaid Cymru at the 2003 Assembly elections
Hilary Tann is a Welsh composer now based in the United States. Tann holds degrees in music composition from the University of Wales, Cardiff, and Princeton University.
Glyn Edmund Daniel was a Welsh scientist and archaeologist who taught at Cambridge University, where he specialized in the European Neolithic period. He was appointed Disney Professor of Archaeology.
Others include
Senior Editor Jiang Heping is a prominent executive at China Central Television, the state broadcaster of the People’s Republic of China.
David Evans was a Welsh musician and composer. Evans was born at Resolven, Glamorgan. He worked in the coal industry as a teenager, but the music was always his primary interest.
Jeffrey Lewis is a Welsh composer. Lewis studied at the University of Wales, Cardiff; with György Ligeti and Karlheinz Stockhausen at Darmstadt;
Sir Thomas Williams, QC was a British Labour Co-operative politician. Williams was educated at University College, Cardiff and St Catherine’s College, Oxford. He was President of the South Wales University
Amanda Sergeant is a British newsreader. Before breaking into the world of journalism, Amanda was a part of Radio City 1386AM a Swansea-based Hospital Radio Station.
Alfred Ernest Jones, FRCP, MRCS was a British neurologist and psychoanalyst, and Sigmund Freud’s official biographer. Jones was the first English-speaking practitioner of psychoanalysis
Jonathan Cook is a British writer and a freelance journalist based in Nazareth, Israel, who writes about the Middle East, and more specifically, the Israeli–Palestinian conflict.
William Gareth Davies is a former Wales and British and Irish Lions international rugby union player.
Nicholas “Nick” Broomfield is an English documentary filmmaker. During his career, Broomfield has shifted from classic cinéma vérité, to a more self-reflexive style in the late 20th century
Alhaji Ahmad Tejan Kabbah was the third President of Sierra Leone from 1996 to 1997 and again from 1998 to 2007. An economist and attorney by profession, Kabbah spent many years working for the United Nations
Why Study in Cardiff University?
The university is reputed to be one of Britain’s major teaching and research universities. It prides itself on the quality of the teaching and the support given to postgraduates.
Excellence in Teaching
Cardiff University maintains a high standard of teaching to ensure students gain knowledge, skills and experience which are of lifelong value.
Excellent teaching informed and led by world-leading research and scholarship – teaching staff is directly involved in research.
Recognized and well-regarded by employers and professional bodies, we maintain strong partnerships with more than 60 professional bodies.
Many of our programs are developed in close collaboration with employers.
In addition to program-specific skill development, you can take advantage of a range of other training opportunities to further enhance transferable generic skills which are highly valued by employers.
Career prospects
Cardiff has an impressive graduate employment record which is underpinned by relevant Master’s Programmes and high-quality teaching.
Languages for All
Our Languages for All program runs alongside your degree so you can fit your language learning around your study.
Postgraduate facilities
Complementing our Academic Schools by offering additional resources of space, study, and social facilities, as well as workshops and events for students.
Cost of living in Cardiff for students
For students, depending on the particular choice, the fee, accommodation is between £3600 and £4400 per year. For private accommodations in the university, students should expect to pay between £2650 and £3200 per year.
Other expenses
Transportation (monthly regular pass) – 45
Internet – 21.23
Food at a decent restaurant – 10
Milk – 0.85/liter
Rice – 1.18/kg
Beef – 13.01/kg
Utilities – 119.38/month
Study in Wales
Pursuing an academic dream in Wales is an excellent choice for students seeking quality education across all spheres of life. The nation of Wales, which has a lot of breathtaking mountains and coastal locations, boast of a very rich culture that trickles down to the quality of education.
The country has 12 educational institutions that are respected worldwide by employers thus ensuring that students who study here get nothing short of top quality and world-class education.
In addition to that, the top-quality education available in Wales is also relatively affordable. The intending student does not need to worry so much about the cost of getting a university education in Wales.
General Admission Requirements in Wales
To secure admission into any of the universities in Wales for a degree program, It is necessary for you to possess college credit or have 2 years of working experience in a related field before the time you are applying for admission into that course of study.
The particular course of study you are interested in will decide the specific subjects you must have passed in entrance examinations.
However, all students applying for any course in any of the universities in Wales must have, in addition to the two points mentioned above, graduated from high school with good grades.
The grades you are required to present are determined by your course of study. It is also interesting to note that application is processed multiple times in a year.
Admission Application in Wales
Application for university education in Wales is done online or by post. Most tertiary institutions in Wales have an online portal to apply for any course of study.
During the application process, you will have to submit various documents, like your post-secondary or high school certificates, diploma certificate, and transcript. Getting your transcript across to the university authorities earlier will ensure faster processing of your application.
Some institutions may prefer to have the application form downloaded then sent via email or print. Pay attention to the specific instructions of the school as this will help prevent any error on your part.
In certain instances, some universities will request that your former school or the school you are transferring from, send the transcript directly to them instead of sending it through you. You will, therefore, have to contact your former school and impress it on them the need to send the transcript across fast enough.
Cost of living in Wales
In the United Kingdom, Wales generally has some of the lowest average costs of living while at the same time enjoying a high standard of living.
Living costs depend on location with those living in the big cities having to pay more for goods and services.
Applying for Tier 4 Visa to study in Wales
All students from outside the European Union (EU) or outside the European Economic Area (EEA) will be required to apply for a Tier 4 visa.
The United Kingdom (UK) Government Home Office is the authority that manages visas and immigration in Wales. Please ensure you visit the UK Visas and Immigration website for up-to-date information on visa requirements and applying for Wales visas.
The type of visa needed to study in Wales depends on the type, of course, you are studying, the length of the course, and your age.
The Tier 4 – Student (Adult) visa is for students who intend to undertake any post-16 education at a United Kingdom institution in a full-time course. The Tier 4 – Student (Adult) visa is flexible and allows students to participate in both short and long-term courses of at least 6 months in duration.
To qualify, students must have a confirmed offer of enrolment from a licensed education provider (sponsor), be able to maintain and accommodate themselves (or be maintained and accommodated by a host) while they are studying, and show that they are able to pay their course fees.
Tier 4 – Student (Adult) Visa Basic Requirements
The UK Home Office has set specific requirements that all applicants must meet in order to apply for a Student visa under the Tier 4 (Adult) category.
Applicants will be required to show that they have been accepted into a recognized course of study at an approved UK institution, licensed by the UK Home Office. Applicants will also be required to provide evidence that they have sufficient funds (maintenance) available to support themselves whilst in the UK without undertaking employment, other than part-time and vacation work permitted for adult students.
Tier 4 – Student (Adult) Visa Entitlements
Successful applicants will be granted a visa in line with the length of their initial course of study.
The Tier 4 – Student (Adult) visa offers the student the benefit of developing an educational base in the UK while being permitted to work between 10 to 20 hours per week during term periods, depending on the course of study. Tier 4 – Student (Adult) visa holders are permitted to work full time during vacation periods without seeking further permission from the UK Home Office.
In some instances, graduate-level students may be able to switch into a working visa category that could lead to settlement in the UK.
To apply for a UK visa in your home country, you need to:
Apply online and follow the instructions to:
- pay your fee
- book your appointment
You have the option to pay your fee online using a credit card when making your application. Alternatively, you can make payment in cash when attending your appointment at the visa application center.
Your appointment will be at the British embassy in your country. There you will:
- submit your application form and supporting documents
- have your photo and fingerprints (known as ‘biometric information’) taken