Cardiff University is UK’s public research university, which is also a member of the Russell Group. Established in 1883, the university is the 13th largest university in UK in terms of student numbers. Both Cardiff University campus in Wales are home to 8,400 international students, representing 130+ countries. Along with its diverse student body, Cardiff University is recognised for its 100+ global partnerships and research projects.
Courses at Cardiff University are available in wide-range of subjects including Business, Architecture, Psychology, Pharmacy, etc. There are 300+ undergraduate and 200+ graduate courses to choose from. Cardiff University recorded an acceptance rate of 19.14%, even though the academic score need to apply for courses is around 60%-65%. This indicates that admissions at Cardiff University are competitive and the selection criteria is not solely based on academic profile of the applicants.
In terms of tuition and fees, the university is moderately high-end. The average cost to study at Cardiff University is 32,000 GBP (~30.78 lakhs INR). With living expenses of around 10 lakhs per year, Indian students should be prepared to spend up to 45 lakhs per year at the university. Cardiff is also a good choice for indian students seeking UK universities with great return on investment. The university have a employment rate of above 90%. Not just this, around 80% of Cardiff graduates employed in UK were working in highly skilled jobs, just after 15 months of their graduation. Check: Cardiff University top employers
Likes:
- Research Opportunities: Cardiff University has research contracts worth £500M.
- Employment: Cardiff University has a graduate job rate of 96%. Top recruiters for the university include KPMG, BBC, Unilever, PwC, HSBC, Google, and SkyNews.
- International Collaboration: Cardiff has developed a culture that encourages international exchanges and collaborations. Around 17% of undergraduate students spend time abroad. The university has strategic partners and links with 200+ global institutions.
Dislikes:
- Weather: With an average of 149 days of rain per year, Cardiff is officially the wettest city in the UK.
- Connectivity: Due to its location Cardiff University is a bit distant from London and other major cities.
Cardiff University Rankings
Cardiff University ranks amongst the top 2% universities in the world. Recent QS world university rankings for 2023 places Cardiff University at #166 in the world. Some other world and UK rankings for the institution are as follows:
- #166 among Best Global Universities by US News in 2022
- #22 among Best Global Universities in United Kingdom by US News in 2022
- #189 World University Rankings 2022 by THE
- #101-200th THE Impact Ranking
- #176-200 World Reputation Ranking by THE
- #159 World Rank by CWUR 2022
Following is a subject-specific ranking comparison of the university with other top universities in UK like University of Bath and University of Dundee:
| Subject | Cardiff University | University of Bath | University of Dundee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture | #151 | #176 | #401 |
| Business and Management | #126 | #101 | #401 |
| Electrical and Electronic Engineering | #151 | #151 | #501 |
Cardiff University Programs
For prospective students, Cardiff University offers 300+ undergraduate and 200+ postgraduate taught courses. These include degree, certificate as well as diploma programs. The university courses are available through 3 colleges, comprising over 15 academic school and departments:
Out of its wide-range of courses, Cardiff University is globally recognised for its courses in Architecture, Civil Engineering, Dentistry, Business, and Pharmaceutical sciences. The Cardiff University fees for popular are mentioned below:
Cardiff University Admissions
Applicants must check the program's specific requirements and qualifications before applying to the course. International applicants must fulfill the following requirements to be eligible for Cardiff University admissions.
Application Portal: UCAS for UG and for PG- University’s online application
Application Fees: 25 GBP (2,400 INR)
Undergraduate Requirements:
- Official high school transcripts
- A min. GPA of 2.8/4 (80-82%) is required
- Official degree completion certificate
- Letter of Recommendations
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- Language Proficiency Scores
Graduate Requirements:
- Official undergraduate transcripts
- A min. GPA of 2.6/4
- Official degree completion certificate
- Letter of Recommendations
- Resume
- Statement of Purpose
- Language Proficiency Scores
English Language Proficiency Requirements
English language test varies for the most program even though they are at the same level, minimum required English language test is presented on the table below
| Test | Undergraduate Score | Postgraduate Score |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS | 6.0 overall with a minimum of 5.5 in each section | 6.5 with a 5.5 in each sub skill or a GCSE in the Welsh language |
| PTE | 62 overall with no less than 51 in all communicative skills | 62 overall with a minimum of 51 in all communicative skills |
| Duolingo English Test | 110 | 110 |
Cardiff University Cost of Attendance
Cardiff University fees is course dependant, both at undergraduate and graduate programs. The table below showcases the estimated Cardiff University tuition fees for international students:
| Programs | Cost (in GBP) |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate Degree | 17,700 GBP-23,450 GBP |
| Postgraduate-Taught Degree | 19,450 GBP-24,950 GBP |
| MBA Fees | 28,450 GBP |
Monthly accommodation expenses in Cardiff are moderately high. The average monthly rent is around 468.4 GBP, which is slightly lower than the national average of 518 GBP. The overall cost of living for Cardiff’s international student population is discussed in the following table. Please note that this is the estimated cost.
| Expense Type | Undergraduate Students (in INR) | Postgraduate Students (in INR) |
|---|---|---|
| Rent (including bills) | 4.88 lakhs | 6.47 lakhs |
| Food | 1.75 lakhs | 1.75 lakhs |
| Books and copying | 0.37 lakhs | 0.37 lakhs |
| Social | 1.01 lakhs | 1.35 lakhs |
| Clothes | 0.21 lakhs | 0.28 lakhs |
| Laundry and toiletries | 0.33 lakhs | 0.45 lakhs |
| Travel | 1.15 lakhs | 1.21 lakhs |
| Telephone/mobile and TV license | 0.37 lakhs | 0.37 lakhs |
| Total | 9.65 lakhs | 12.32 lakhs |
Cardiff University Campus
Cardiff University is housed on two large innovative campuses at Cathays Park and Heath Park. The Cathays Park campus is home to 22 out of 26 academic Schools, ongoing £200m investment in state-of-the-art facilities, libraries, and other facilities.
- Presently there is a 600 million GBP development going on at Cardiff University to transform the campus into a 21st Century campus.
- Cardiff City is a nice place to study as it proudly bags the 2nd friendliest city in the UK and the top 5 most welcoming cities in the UK.
- Cardiff University Students' Union supports over 200 student societies and 60 sports clubs with more than 10,000 members.
Cardiff University Accommodation
All full-degree international students are guaranteed accommodation in Cardiff University residences for the duration of their studies. The annual cost of accommodation at the university is based on the choice of the residence hall and it ranges from 113 GBP – 156 GBP per week. The residence halls and available rooms are mentioned below:
Source: Cardiff University
The USP of Cardiff residence halls is that they are within walking distance to both campuses:
Cardiff University Scholarships
There are several funding opportunities and financial aids available to international students at Cardiff University Scholarships offered by Cardiff University are focused on rewarding outstanding talent amongst international students. The following scholarships are available at Cardiff University for international students:
| Scholarship | Eligibility | Award |
|---|---|---|
| Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarship | Only self-funding international students are eligible and you must be confirmed as an overseas student for fee-paying purposes | 1,92,000 INR |
| Cardiff India scholarships | Applicants must accept your offer and meet all the offer conditions, including any English Language conditions as stated in your offer by 20 August 2021. | 4,80,300 INR |
| Commonwealth Scholarship | To apply for these scholarships, students must be postgraduate applicants from low and middle-income Commonwealth countries only. | Full tuition fee with 1,08,800 INR |
| Chevening Scholarships | Holds an undergraduate degree that will enable you to gain entry onto a postgraduate program, along with 2-year work experience | A monthly living allowance to cover accommodation and living expenses. |
Cardiff University Alumni Network
Being part of a network of 195,000 alumni around the world and getting access to events for alumni meet-ups and reunions is what the alumni association does. As an alumni one has access to the university’s libraries and can borrow up to 6 items at a time, not including short loan items. One can also access certain electronic resources by using the Walk-In Access to the Electronic Resources service.
Some of the notable alumni of the University include:
- Susmita Bhattacharya : Writer, Poet
- Sir Karl Jenkins : Composer and Musician
- Professor Karen Holford: First female Director of Cardiff University
- Pooja Misal : Founder and Executive Director of The SMEF's Brick Group of Institutes.
- Manish Bhasin : Sports journalist and Presenter.
Cardiff University Placements
Around 96% of Cardiff University graduates receive full-time employment within 15 months of their graduation. Cardiff graduates are counted amongst the most employable in the UK. Top-notch companies like JLL, Deloitte, KPMG, BBC, Pfizer, Unilever, etc offer job opportunities to Cardiff graduates on a yearly basis. List of other top recruiters for the university is mentioned below:
Souce: Cardiff University
To ensure the recruitment of their graduating class, the university works along with the companies and alumni. There are several recruitment campaign conducted by the institution on a yearly basis, wherein:
- Cardiff students can checkout 1,000+ opportunities on ourtheir online jobs board.
- Attend careers fairs, for both general and sector -specific opportunities.
- Get access employer events and showcases to learn more about them.
FAQs
Ques: Is Cardiff University a good University?
Ans; Cardiff University is ranked 35th in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021, making Cardiff the highest-ranked university in Wales.
Ques: Is Cardiff University good for international students?
Ans: Cardiff University is widely recognized as one of the top ten universities for Indian students to study in the UK. It is home to 9,740 international students from over 130 countries. Cardiff University is widely recognized as one of the top ten universities for Indian students to study in the UK.
Ques. What subject is Cardiff Uni known for?
Ans: Cardiff University is known for the following subjects: health professions; media and film studies; engineering: mechanical; business, management, and marketing; geography and environmental studies; history; and psychology. Also in the top third were medicine; engineering: electronic and electrical; and physics.
Ques. What is the acceptance rate for Cardiff University?
Ans. The acceptance rate of Cardiff University is 19.14%.
Ques. Is accommodation at Cardiff University provided on a first come first served basis?
Ans. Cardiff University accommodates its students on the basis of Clearing, a Record of Prior Acceptance (RPA). However, late applicants are offered accommodation on a first-come, first-served basis.
