Cardiff University Programs, Fees, Rankings, Admissions 2023, Scholarships

Cardiff, WalesLocation
UniversitySchool type
Estd1883established year
24245enrollment
Public
8.1/10

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.

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Cardiff University comparison

Cardiff UniversityUniversity of LiverpoolUniversity of BathLancaster UniversityCardiff Metropolitan UniversityUniversity of NottinghamSwansea UniversityUniversity of South WalesUniversity of BirminghamUniversity of SheffieldSwansea University
Collegedunia Score5.2 Out of 105.6 Out of 105.1 Out of 105.5 Out of 104 Out of 106 Out of 104.3 Out of 104.1 Out of 106.1 Out of 106 Out of 10-
Overall Ranking
  • 154 QS World University 2024
  • 190 Times Higher Education 2024
  • 166 US News 2023
  • 168 Times Higher Education 2024
  • 176 QS World University 2024
  • 155 US News 2023
  • 148 QS World University 2024
  • 251 Times Higher Education 2024
  • 179 QS World University 2023
  • 122 QS World University 2024
  • 155 Times Higher Education 2024
  • 122 Times Higher Education 2023
  • 1201 Times Higher Education 2024
  • 1001 Times Higher Education 2023
  • 1001 Times Higher Education 2022
  • 100 QS World University 2024
  • 130 Times Higher Education 2024
  • 114 QS World University 2023
  • 251 Times Higher Education 2024
  • 307 QS World University 2024
  • 251 Times Higher Education 2023
  • 1001 Times Higher Education 2024
  • 1001 Times Higher Education 2023
  • 1001 Times Higher Education 2022
  • 84 QS World University 2024
  • 101 Times Higher Education 2024
  • 91 US News 2023
  • 104 QS World University 2024
  • 105 Times Higher Education 2024
  • 96 QS World University 2023
-
Subject Strength
  • 151 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 117 for Medicine by QS World University 2023
  • 126 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 151 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 72 for Medicine by QS World University 2023
  • 101 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 201 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 400 for Medicine by QS World University 2023
  • 151 for Law by Academy Ranking of World Universities 2021
  • 176 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 122 for Medicine by Times Higher Education 2023
  • 126 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 1001 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2023
  • 907 for Medicine by US News 2022
  • 1001 for Law by Times Higher Education 2023
  • 98 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 57 for Medicine by QS World University 2023
  • 45 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 251 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 251 for Medicine by Times Higher Education 2023
  • 151 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 601 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 1001 for Law by Times Higher Education 2023
  • 100 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 62 for Medicine by QS World University 2023
  • 99 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 94 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2024
  • 114 for Medicine by Times Higher Education 2023
  • 151 for Law by Times Higher Education 2024
-
Programs
  • UG Programs- 224
  • PG Programs - 169
  • Doctorate Programs -209
  • UG Programs- 25
  • PG Programs - 36
  • UG Programs- 78
  • PG Programs - 89
  • Doctorate Programs -6
  • UG Programs- 29
  • PG Programs - 97
  • UG Programs- 59
  • PG Programs - 58
  • UG Programs- 104
  • PG Programs - 139
  • Doctorate Programs -1
  • UG Programs- 155
  • PG Programs - 78
    • UG Programs- 55
    • PG Programs - 154
    • Doctorate Programs -57
    • UG Programs- 60
    • PG Programs - 59
    -
    Acceptance Rate75.2 %14.0 %20.0 %18.7 %64.0 %11.0 %53.0 %20.0 %13.5 %85.6 %-
    Exam Score--
    Cost to Study
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 2653216.96 [For UG Program]
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 3039952.08 [For PG Program]
    • Hostel + Meal:INR 909656.4 Per Year
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 2570540 [For UG Program]
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 2628246 [For PG Program]
    • Hostel + Meal:INR 4177389.8 Per Year
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 2180342.52 [For UG Program]
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 2715119.76 [For PG Program]
    • Hostel + Meal:INR 1687008.68 Per Year
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 2512277.924 [For UG Program]
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 2172683.36 [For PG Program]
    • Hostel + Meal:INR 1315906.64 Per Year
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 1606786.848 [For UG Program]
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 1722545.084 [For PG Program]
    • Hostel + Meal:INR 74807.96 Per Year
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 2853824 [For UG Program]
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 3619740 [For PG Program]
    • Hostel + Meal:INR 1500041.24 Per Year
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 1851733.08 [For UG Program]
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 3120740.48 [For PG Program]
    • Hostel + Meal:INR 873459 Per Year
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 1416420 [For UG Program]
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 1521340 [For PG Program]
    • Hostel + Meal:INR 2269419.6 Per Year
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 2851725.6 [For UG Program]
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 2795068.8 [For PG Program]
    • Hostel + Meal:INR 2281275.56 Per Year
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 3239405 [For UG Program]
    • Average Tuition Fees:INR 3239405 [For PG Program]
    • Hostel + Meal:INR 2693506.24 Per Year
    -
    -Read Full ComparisonRead Full ComparisonRead Full ComparisonRead Full ComparisonRead Full ComparisonRead Full ComparisonRead Full ComparisonRead Full ComparisonRead Full ComparisonRead Full Comparison

    Cardiff University Ranking

    20242023202220212020201920182017

    Times Higher Education logo

    Overall 190 out of 1600 in Global Ranking

    Engineering 151 out of 1374 in Global Ranking
    Law 126 out of 329 in Global Ranking
    Arts 101 out of 691 in Global Ranking
    Humanities 101 out of 691 in Global Ranking

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    Cardiff University Ratings

    Based on 5 Students Rating

    8.1 out of 10
    8.8/10Academic
    7.6/10Accommodation
    8.4/10Faculty
    8.0/10Infrastructure
    7.6/10Placement
    8.4/10Social Life

    Cardiff University Reviews


    StreamDegree TypeStudent StatusNationalityBatchCourse
    Sort By :
    Newest First

    Journalism (1)
    Finance (1)
    Public Relations (1)
    Cardiff (3)
    Accommodation (2)
    Course (2)
    Coursework (2)
    Faculty (2)
    Section (2)
    Structure (2)
    Thousand (2)
    Change (1)
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    Entrance (1)

    5 Reviews Found

    Fees:

    £18,700

    academic: 9/10
    faculty: 9/10
    infrastructure: 9/10
    accomodation: 9/10
    placement: 8/10
    extracurricular: 9/10

    S
    9.0 /10

    Initially, I went to the consultant and she helped me for all the documents required , then I contacted my friends in UK that is this beneficial or worth for money or not.

    Fees:

    I am not very sure about exact number but it?s around £21,000 per annum.

    academic: 8/10
    faculty: 8/10
    infrastructure: 9/10
    accomodation: 10/10
    placement: 9/10
    extracurricular: 10/10

    L
    8.2 /10

    Because it was a Russel group uni and research is important/ what I want to do, it also specializes in semiconductors which I wanted to do and it was the best I got an offer for based on my predicted A-level grades.

    Fees:

    The total cost is maximum at nine thousand pounds a year. The only additional costs are not really university related e.g accommodation. Books are provided first year and readily available across libraries in other years but not needed.

    academic: 10/10
    faculty: 10/10
    infrastructure: 7/10
    accomodation: 6/10
    placement: 7/10
    extracurricular: 9/10

    L
    7.7 /10

    It is a Russel group university and I am interested in semiconductors which it specializes in as there are a large group and a lot of funding going into this and it was far from where I was living which was a benefit for me.

    Fees:

    There were charges for university halls the first year but I am in private accommodation now, I didn't have to pay for the books given to me and the course is nine thousand pounds paid over three tuition installments.

    academic: 10/10
    faculty: 9/10
    infrastructure: 8/10
    accomodation: 5/10
    placement: 6/10
    extracurricular: 8/10

    CB
    7.0 /10

    I love the city! It is quite near my home but far enough away that it feels away but still, I can be home if I need to! I also think the course is really good here for what I wanted to do (eg a year in the industry that counts towards a degree).

    Fees:

    The fee structure is ?9000 per year but it is given as a loan by the government.

    academic: 7/10
    faculty: 6/10
    infrastructure: 7/10
    accomodation: 8/10
    placement: 8/10
    extracurricular: 6/10

    Cardiff University Scholarships


    NameScholarship Per StudentLevel of StudyType
    Cardiff Vice-Chancellor's International ScholarshipScholarship per student₹ 2.1 L/Yr$2,485Level Of StudyBachelorTypeCollege-Specific
    BrokerFish International student scholarshipScholarship per student₹ 82,890/Yr$1,000Level Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
    UWL International Ambassador ScholarshipScholarship per student₹ 5.3 L/Yr$6,447Level Of StudyBachelorTypeCollege-Specific
    ASID Foundation Legacy ScholarshipsScholarship per student₹ 3.3 L/Yr$4,000Level Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
    QS scholarshipsScholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyBachelorTypeMerit-Based
    Bharat Petroleum Scholarship 2020Scholarship per studentVariable AmountLevel Of StudyMasterTypeMerit-Based

    Cardiff University Admissions

    • UCAS Application Deadlines

      Important Date: January25 (Application deadline)
    • Closing date for late applications Deadlines

      Important Date: June30 (Application deadline)

    Cardiff University Exam Scores

    ExamsAvg. ScoreMin ScoreMax. Score%Submitted'
    Undergraduate
    SAT1280---
    Graduate
    GMAT590570800-
    Language Proficiency
    PTE72.57075-
    TOEFL10990120-
    IELTS7.579-

    Attendance Cost

    ₹2,653,217

    attendance cost

    The table shows average yearly cost of attendance for international students. Amount may vary with the course opted, nature of accommodation, and personal spending habits of a candidate.Check Program wise Fees

    Tuition fees
    Undergraduate Programs
    ₹2,653,217 / Year
    Post Graduate Program
    ₹3,039,952 / Year
    On Campus
    Rooms
    ₹705,062 / Year
    Meals
    ₹204,594 / Year
    Transportation
    ₹31,791 / Year
    Books and Supplies
    ₹40,919 / Year

    Faculty

    Total FacultyFull TimePart TimeGraduate Assistants
    6032---

    Cardiff University Campus Location


    +44-29-2087-4000
    Telephone
    Cardiff CF10 3AT
    Address

    Comments



    No Comments To Show
    A
    Anonymous
    Assalam o Alaikum. I am Adeel Ahmad from Pakistani. Now i am M phil scholar. I have done my course work and recently working in IRCBM on colorimertic sensors. My thesis work is also on colorimetric sensors. I am interested to do PhD from Cardiff University. Kindly guide me properly. Thanks you.
    S
    Sinbad Chongtham

    Cardiff University offers four types of Ph.D programs: Practice-based Ph.D, Ph.D by published works, Integrated Ph.D and Collaborative degrees. The admission criteria differ. Please visit the “Postgraduate application process” on the university’s website to know the steps to apply for Ph.D admission.

    A
    Anonymous
    I was taught with English during the time of bachelor programs Which I have my English proficiency regards to that! Did I still need the TOEFL test?

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