Cardiff University is a Russell Group university in the Welsh capital and the country's largest. It is best known for journalism, medicine, architecture and business, with a triple-accredited business school. Choose it for a research-intensive degree in a compact, affordable capital city.
Cardiff, United Kingdom
Official website: cardiff.ac.uk
#186
Member — 24 research-intensive UK universities
AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA triple-accredited
90% world-leading or excellent (REF 2021)
Top 50 in the world (QS by Subject)
£21,000 – £29,000
International students, undergraduate and taught Master's
£10,000 – £12,500
Rent, food and local transport
Approximate figures for 2026-27, please verify. Fees change every year and vary by course, so check the latest amount on cardiff.ac.uk before you apply.
MSc Computer Science
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep, Jan
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MSc Business Management
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MA International Journalism
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
MSc Data Science and Analytics
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MSc Finance
Masters DegreeDuration
12 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 6.5, TOEFL: 90
MBBCh Medicine
Bachelors DegreeDuration
60 Months
Intake
Sep
Exam Score
IELTS: 7.0, TOEFL: 100
School of Journalism — among the UK's best known, with alumni across the BBC, Sky and Reuters.
Cardiff Business School — triple-accredited and the largest in Wales.
Welsh School of Architecture — ranked in the world's top 50.
Cathays Park campus — civic buildings next to Bute Park and a 10-minute walk from the centre.
Journalism graduates work at the BBC, ITV, Sky News and national newspapers.
Business and finance alumni join the Big Four, Admiral, Lloyds and Cardiff's growing fintech sector.
Medicine and dentistry graduates take NHS Wales training posts.
Computer science graduates move into Cardiff's and Bristol's software firms and government digital services.
Undergrad
14 Jan 2027
Postgrad
Rolling
Undergrad
No UG intake
Postgrad
Rolling
The main campus sits in Cathays Park, a cluster of Edwardian civic buildings next to Bute Park and the National Museum. Most halls, libraries and teaching buildings are within a 15-minute walk.
Cardiff is small enough to walk across in under an hour, with Cardiff Bay, the Principality Stadium and the Brecon Beacons close by. Rent is well below London and Bristol.
CAS from Cardiff University
Proof of funds for fees and living costs
English test at B2 level or above
TB test certificate, if required
Immigration Health Surcharge payment
Valid passport with blank pages
Undergraduate applications go through UCAS with an equal-consideration deadline of 14 January 2027 for September 2027 entry; medicine and dentistry close on 15 October 2026. Taught Master's courses accept applications on a rolling basis, with most closing by July once places fill.
September is the main intake for all undergraduate and most postgraduate courses. A selection of taught Master's programmes, including computer science and some business degrees, also start in January. Check the course page for the current January list.
You need a Student route visa. Cardiff issues your CAS once you accept an unconditional offer and pay the deposit. Apply online up to six months before your course starts, showing proof of funds, and pay the Immigration Health Surcharge with the application.
Computer science, business management, international journalism, data science and finance are the most applied-for programmes. Most Master's courses ask for a 2:1 or equivalent and IELTS 6.5, with journalism requiring 7.0. Undergraduate offers typically range from AAA to ABB, with medicine requiring AAA and the UCAT.
Yes. Cardiff offers Vice-Chancellor's international scholarships that reduce tuition for high-achieving undergraduate and Master's applicants, plus country-specific awards and school-level scholarships in business and engineering. Most are assessed automatically from your application. Check the university's scholarships page for current amounts and eligibility.
