Address: Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, United Kingdom
Journalism, Engineering, Healthcare
Cardiff University stands in the Welsh capital and dates its opening to 24 October 1883. A royal charter followed in 1884, and in 1893 the college became a founding member of the University of Wales, whose degrees its students received until the university gained independence in the 2000s.
Mergers shaped the present institution. In 1988 it joined with the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST), and in 2004 it reunited with the University of Wales College of Medicine, which had split off in 1931. A supplemental charter approved by the Privy Council in December 2004 granted university status and independence from the University of Wales, and degrees awarded from 2005 onward are Cardiff University degrees.
Cardiff is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive UK universities and enrolled 31,505 students in 2024/25, from more than 130 countries. It is described as the first Welsh university to admit women, and two Nobel Prize winners, Sir Martin Evans and Robert Huber, are counted among its researchers. Course lists, entry requirements and tuition fees are published on the official website, school by school.
Domains taught:
AI and Machine Learning, Chemistry, Engineering, Life Sciences, Mathematics, Physics, Software Engineering
Diplomas*:
Bachelor, Doctor, Master, MBA
Status:
Public
Partnerships:
Strong partnerships with Welsh Government, NHS Wales, industry (e.g. Airbus, GE Healthcare), and international institutions. Member of the Russell Group.
Research:
Research-intensive across a broad range of subjects including medical research (neuroscience, cancer), engineering (compound semiconductors), social sciences, and humanities.
Famous Alumnis:
Huw Edwards, Neil Kinnock, Nicole Cooke, Martin Lewis, Roy Jenkins
International recognition**:
Number of staff***:
6200
Current students***:
33500
Foreign students***:
25%
Cumulative former students***:
205000
Pros
Russell Group university, leading Welsh university, strong research profile, vibrant capital city location, wide range of courses.
Cons
Large student population, some older facilities alongside new developments, can be competitive.
Best For
Students seeking a research-led education at a Russell Group university in the capital city of Wales, offering diverse academic programs and strong career prospects.
Swansea University is a public university in Wales with engineering, materials science and health sciences as main fields, which overlaps with Cardiff in engineering and health.
University of Bristol is a public university whose main fields are engineering, medicine and the sciences, a close match to Cardiff's mix of health and engineering subjects.
University of Birmingham lists medicine, engineering and business as main fields and is a public university, so it suits applicants weighing the same health and engineering strengths.
Bangor University is a public Welsh university with marine science, environmental science and psychology as main fields, a smaller-town option within Wales.
Aberystwyth University, also public and in Wales, works in international politics, earth and environmental sciences and agriculture, which broadens the Welsh choices beyond Cardiff.
Most Similar Schools Abroad
McMaster University in Canada is a public university with health sciences, engineering and nuclear science as main fields, comparable to Cardiff's health and engineering emphasis.
Monash University in Australia is a public university covering medicine, engineering, information technology, business, law and pharmacy, a broad profile similar to Cardiff's.
University of Auckland in New Zealand lists medicine and health sciences, engineering, business, law and arts among its fields, and is a large public city university like Cardiff.
University of Galway in Ireland is a public university with biomedical engineering, marine science and data analytics as main fields, linking health and engineering.
Universiteit Leiden in the Netherlands is a public research university working in life sciences, natural sciences and data science, an option for those who value research-led teaching in health-related fields.
*our own picks (our criteria: a mix between domains, diploma delivered, reputation and size), but obviously too many criteria for an apple-to-apple ranking.
FAQ
When did Cardiff University open and who chartered it?
The university opened its doors on 24 October 1883 and was established under a royal charter in 1884. Nine years later it became one of the founding members of the University of Wales.
Is Cardiff University still part of the University of Wales?
No. Following a supplemental charter approved in December 2004, the university became independent of the University of Wales, and degrees awarded from 2005 are Cardiff University degrees.
What mergers formed the university as it is today?
It merged with the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology (UWIST) in 1988. In 2004 it reunited with the University of Wales College of Medicine, a body that had split off in 1931.
How many students attend and where do they come from?
The university reports 31,505 enrolled students in 2024/25, and students come from more than 130 countries.
Is Cardiff a Russell Group university?
Yes, it is a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive UK universities, which has 24 members.
Have any Nobel Prize winners worked at Cardiff?
The university names two Nobel Prize winners among its researchers, Professor Sir Martin Evans and Professor Robert Huber. Both are listed on the official facts page.
Was Cardiff a pioneer in admitting women?
It is described as the first Welsh university to admit women, and its 1884 charter is recorded as the first in Wales to allow women to enrol. Applicants can find current admission routes and fees on the university website.
*: without any judgment of the quality, readers are strongly encouraged to check the official status of the exact diploma envisioned as many universities have a mix of recognized diplomas, not recognized, “co-delivered,” “equivalent to”, “some pathways” (…), can change over time, and can be named differently from one country to another.
**: international reputation: is based on some criteria that do not mean much in some domains or specialties (number of researchers, of scientific publications, on budget ….). Our approximate 1-4 scale:
known locally
known locally and internationally
is listed in some of the world university’s classifications
is listed among the 20 firsts in some of world university’s classifications
***: estimated numbers, based on online sources and/or feedbacks. The numbers can vary greatly depending on school organisation (ex.: school is part of a group, it employs internal staff or external consultants or has public staff without employing them …). Refer to all the links provided to have accurate and updated numbers.
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