Cardiff University is the capital city university of Wales and a member of the Russell Group of 24 research-intensive UK universities, ranked 179th in the QS World University Rankings 2027. It is one of the UK's largest universities, with more than 30,000 students, and it is particularly strong in medicine, engineering, journalism, business, law and the sciences. For international students it offers a Russell Group education in a compact, affordable capital city — with tuition and living costs well below London.
At a glance
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Cardiff, Wales, UK |
| Type | Public research university (founded 1883; Russell Group member) |
| Ranking | 179th, QS World University Rankings 2027 |
| Best known for | Medicine, engineering, journalism (Cardiff School of Journalism), business, law, computer science |
| Application route | UCAS (undergraduate); direct to the university (postgraduate) |
| UCAS deadline | 13 January 2027 at 18:00 (equal consideration); 15 October 2026 for medicine |
| English requirement | IELTS 6.5 overall typically (check the course page) |
Fees and costs (reported, confirm on the official page)
International undergraduate tuition at Cardiff is reported at about £26,000–£33,200 a year depending on the course, with medicine at about £45,450 a year (reported in our Study in Wales guide). Postgraduate taught fees vary by programme and are usually in the £22,000–£30,000 range. A deposit of about £2,000 is usually required to confirm an international place. Cardiff is one of the UK's most affordable student cities: a realistic monthly budget is about £900–£1,200 including rent, food, transport and personal costs. 2027-28 fees are not yet published — confirm the exact figure on the course page when your offer arrives. UK Student visa costs £558, the Immigration Health Surcharge is £776 a year, and maintenance is £1,203 a month outside London from 30 November 2026.
Programmes
Cardiff offers more than 300 undergraduate degrees. Its strongest programmes are medicine and dentistry, engineering (civil, mechanical, electrical), journalism and media (the Cardiff School of Journalism, Media and Culture is one of the best in the UK), business at Cardiff Business School, law, computer science and data science, architecture, and the sciences. Postgraduate programmes are strong across the same fields, and the university's research income supports extensive laboratory and clinical facilities. Most undergraduate degrees are three years; medicine is five years.
Admission
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS, with equal consideration by 13 January 2027 (medicine closed 15 October 2026). Competitive applicants typically need strong A-level or equivalent grades — AAA–ABB for popular programmes — plus IELTS 6.5 overall for most courses. Cardiff considers applications holistically: the personal statement (answering UCAS's three questions, up to 4,000 characters) and the academic reference matter. Postgraduate applications go directly to the university and are usually decided within a few weeks. International students should also check the university's scholarship deadlines, which are often earlier than the application deadline.
Scholarships and campus life
Cardiff offers international scholarships including Vice-Chancellor's International Scholarships and country-specific awards; Chevening and Commonwealth Scholarship places are also available for eligible Pakistani applicants. The campus sits in Cardiff's civic centre, next to parks, museums and the city centre — everything is walkable. Cardiff is a small, friendly capital with a strong student culture, live music, sport (rugby is a religion in Wales) and easy access to the Welsh coast and countryside. The university has more than 200 societies, and the Students' Union is one of the largest in the UK.
Frequently asked questions
Is Cardiff a Russell Group university? Yes — it is Wales's only Russell Group university.
What is the UCAS deadline? 13 January 2027 at 18:00 for most courses; medicine closed on 15 October 2026.
Is Cardiff affordable? Yes — tuition of about £26,000–£33,200 and living costs of about £900–£1,200 a month make it one of the cheapest Russell Group options.
To be confirmed: the exact 2027-28 tuition fees — confirm on the course page when your offer arrives.
Related guides on Pakunii
UCAS Application Guide 2027 · Fully Funded Scholarships 2027 · IELTS Academic Guide · FAFSA 2027-28 Guide
Sources and verification: Cardiff University QS World University Rankings 2027 (#179); international UG tuition about GBP 26,000–33,200 and medicine about GBP 45,450 as reported in our Study in Wales guide (2026-11-07); UCAS equal-consideration deadline 13 January 2027. 2027-28 fees to be confirmed on the official course pages.