Cardiff University
Prifysgol Caerdydd
Wales's only Russell Group university, based in the civic centre of a capital city, with grade-range offers on most courses.
- Students
- 31,505
- 24,645 undergraduates
- International
- 16%
- of students
- Student–faculty
- 14:1
- ratio
- Tuition
- £25,450
- From · 2027-28
- Founded
- 1883
About Cardiff
Cardiff University opened on 24 October 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, with 13 academic staff and 102 full-time students. It merged with the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology in 1988 and with the University of Wales College of Medicine in 2004, when it gained independent university status. It is the only Welsh member of the Russell Group and the 21st largest university in the UK by student numbers.
Cardiff had 31,505 students from 142 countries in 2024/25, including 24,645 undergraduates and 5,040 international students. Degrees are taught through schools such as Cardiff Business School, the School of Law and Politics, the Welsh School of Architecture, the School of Journalism, Media and Culture, the School of Medicine and the School of Dentistry, and the university offers some courses taught in Welsh.
Research is a strength: REF 2021 placed Cardiff 19th in the UK for research quality, 11th for impact and 14th for research power. It suits students who want a large research university in a compact, affordable capital city. Most course pages publish a grade range (for example AAA-ABB for Law), and applicants with an A in the EPQ typically receive an offer one grade lower.
Gwirionedd, Undod a Chytgord
“Truth, Unity and Concord” — university motto
Why students choose Cardiff
Most courses publish a grade range rather than a single offer, and an A in the EPQ typically lowers your offer by one grade.
Home students are charged the Welsh Government's maximum fee; course pages show £9,790 for 2027 entry while the 2027/28 Welsh cap awaits confirmation, and fee loans mean nothing is paid up front.
International applicants can be considered for the Undergraduate International Excellence Scholarship (£10,000) or the Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate International Scholarship (£3,500 to £5,000).
94% of graduates were in employment, further study or other activities 15 months after their course (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2023/24), and Cardiff is 12th in the UK for employability in the Times Good University Guide 2026.
Admissions
2027 entry
Selectivity
Cardiff does not publish an overall offer rate. Course pages give 2027 grade ranges, from ABB-BBC (e.g. Computer Science, Journalism) to AAA (Medicine, Dental Surgery); applicants may be offered anywhere in the range depending on their application and contextual data.
Typical entry requirements
| A-levels | Course grade ranges for 2027 entry: AAA including Biology or Chemistry and a second science (Medicine); AAA including Biology and Chemistry (Dental Surgery); AAA-ABB (Law, Psychology); AAB-BBB including Maths (Economics); AAB-ABB in two sciences (Pharmacy); ABB-BBC (Computer Science, Journalism and Communications). An A in the EPQ typically lowers the offer by one grade. |
|---|---|
| IB Diploma | Course-specific, e.g. 36 with 18 at HL (Medicine); 36 or 666 at HL including Biology and Chemistry (Dental Surgery); 36-32 (Law, Psychology); 34-31 with 5 in HL Maths (Economics); 32-30 (Computer Science, Journalism) |
| English language | IELTS 6.5 IELTS Academic 6.5 with at least 5.5 in each subskill for many courses (e.g. Computer Science, Economics, Psychology); 6.5 with 6.0 in all subskills for Law; 7.0 with 6.0 in each for Journalism; 7.0 with 7.0 in speaking and 6.5 elsewhere for Medicine and Dental Surgery. |
Deadlines
- UCAS (Medicine and Dentistry) Non-binding Next deadline · In 9 days15 October 2026, 18:00 UK time
Medicine (A100) and Dental Surgery (A200); UCAT required.
- UCAS equal consideration deadline Non-binding In ~3 months13 January 2027, 18:00 UK time
All other courses; later applications (to 30 June) are considered at admissions tutors' discretion.
Cardiff's key-dates page confirms 15 October for Medicine and Dentistry for September 2027 entry; its other dates still describe the 2026 cycle, so the 13 January 2027 date is taken from UCAS.
How to apply
Apply through UCAS for all full-time undergraduate programmes, with a personal statement and reference; a small number of programmes require a direct application to the university. Cardiff applies a contextual score using information in your original UCAS application.
What admissions looks for
- Predicted or achieved grades within the published range, plus subject requirements such as Maths for Economics or two sciences for Pharmacy.
- A personal statement that shows why you want to study the subject.
- Your context: Cardiff creates a contextual score from your UCAS application, considering factors such as socioeconomic background and school attended.
- For Medicine and Dentistry, the UCAT and performance in the selection process, including interview.
Tips for applying to Cardiff
- 1 Take the EPQ seriously: an A grade typically earns an offer one grade below the standard offer.
- 2 Answer every question on your UCAS form carefully: Cardiff builds your contextual score only from the original application, not later updates.
- 3 Medicine applicants must take the UCAT in the year of application; Cardiff awards points by UCAT decile rather than using a minimum score.
- 4 If you want to study partly in Welsh, check Cardiff's list of courses available through the medium of Welsh.
Costs & financial aid
2027-28 · figures in GBP
Home students can take a tuition fee loan so nothing is paid up front, and Cardiff offers a fee waiver for undergraduate asylum seekers. International undergraduates can be considered for the Undergraduate International Excellence Scholarship (£10,000) and the Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate International Scholarship (£3,500 to £5,000), with smaller awards for students progressing from the International Study Centre or NCUK.
- £10,000
- Undergraduate International Excellence Scholarship
- £3,500 to £5,000
- Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate International Scholarship
- £1,955
- Home placement year fee (UK placement, 2026/27)
Academics
Journalism and Communications (BA)
Taught by the School of Journalism, Media and Culture; ABB-BBC with IELTS 7.0 for international students.
Medicine (MBBCh)
Patients are part of teaching from the first year; AAA plus UCAT, scored by decile.
Dental Surgery (BDS)
AAA including Biology and Chemistry, UCAT, and a five-year programme at the School of Dentistry.
Law (LLB)
AAA-ABB range with a one-grade EPQ reduction; £25,450 overseas fee.
Psychology (BSc)
Accredited by the British Psychological Society; AAA-ABB.
Pharmacy (MPharm)
Includes interprofessional learning alongside other healthcare students; AAB-ABB in two sciences.
Research
- REF 2021: 90% of research rated world-leading or internationally excellent; 19th in the UK for quality, 11th for impact and 14th for research power.
- Research grants and contracts exceed £126 million, and Cardiff has won seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
- Cardiff is 8th in the UK for total intellectual property income and 2nd in the Russell Group for IP licences granted to non-commercial organisations (2023/24).
- Nobel laureates Sir Martin Evans (Physiology or Medicine, 2007) and Robert Huber (Chemistry, 1988) have worked at Cardiff.
Schools & faculties
- Cardiff Business School
- School of Law and Politics
- Welsh School of Architecture
- School of Journalism, Media and Culture
- School of Medicine
- School of Dentistry
- School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences
- School of Engineering
- School of Psychology
- School of Biosciences
- School of Healthcare Sciences
- School of Welsh
94% of graduates were in employment and/or further study, or other activities such as travelling, 15 months after their course ended (HESA Graduate Outcomes 2023/24). 12th in the UK for employability (Times Good University Guide 2026).
Student life
Cardiff's city-centre campus is centred on Cathays Park, where the Main Building (opened in 1909 as the "New College") stands, with the Students' Union next to Cathays railway station. First-year undergraduates who meet the deadlines are guaranteed university accommodation, with en-suite rooms and shared flats, a Residence Life team and a 24/7 security team; there are also options for Welsh speakers, families, LGBTQ+ students and quiet living. With 205,000 alumni in 202 countries and students from 142 countries, the community is large and international, and the university says Cardiff is one of the UK's most affordable university cities.
- Guaranteed accommodation for first-year undergraduates who meet the deadlines.
- Residences offer dedicated spaces for Welsh speakers, families, LGBTQ+ students and quiet living.
- Students come from 142 countries, and the alumni network numbers 205,000 in 202 countries.
- 82% overall satisfaction in the National Student Survey.
Housing. Cardiff guarantees a place in university accommodation for first-year undergraduates joining in September, provided they meet the application deadlines.
Location
Cardiff is the capital of Wales. The university's main campus is at Cathays Park near the city centre, with playing fields elsewhere in the city. The university describes it as one of the most affordable UK university cities and provides a living costs calculator for applicants.
Nearest airport: Cardiff Airport (CWL)
Notable alumni
- BS Barham SalihFormer President of Iraq
- FA Faisal Al-FayezFormer Prime Minister of Jordan
- ML Martin LewisPersonal finance journalist, television presenter and website entrepreneur
- SR Susanna ReidTelevision presenter
- TH Tim HetheringtonPhotojournalist and co-director of the Academy Award-nominated Restrepo
- JR Jamie RobertsWales and British and Irish Lions rugby union player
- GL Gwilym LeeActor
Frequently asked questions
What grades do you need for Cardiff University?
Cardiff publishes grade ranges for 2027 entry, from ABB-BBC (e.g. Computer Science) and AAB-BBB (Economics, with Maths) to AAA-ABB (Law, Psychology) and AAA for Medicine and Dental Surgery. An A in the EPQ usually lowers the offer by one grade.
How much are tuition fees at Cardiff University?
Home students are charged the Welsh Government's maximum fee: course pages show £9,790 for 2027 entry, but the 2027/28 Welsh cap is not yet confirmed and could rise. Overseas fees range from £25,450 (e.g. Law, Economics) to £31,700 (e.g. Computer Science), and up to £48,950 a year in the later years of Dental Surgery.
What is the application deadline for Cardiff for 2027 entry?
15 October 2026 for Medicine and Dentistry, and 13 January 2027 for all other courses, via UCAS.
Does Cardiff guarantee accommodation for first-year students?
Yes. First-year undergraduates starting in September are guaranteed a place in university accommodation if they meet the application deadlines.
Does Cardiff offer scholarships for international students?
Yes. Undergraduates can be considered for the Undergraduate International Excellence Scholarship (£10,000) and the Vice-Chancellor's Undergraduate International Scholarship (£3,500 to £5,000).
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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