Why study with us as an undergraduate?
From world-class campus facilities to excellent career prospects, here are six key reasons to choose Cardiff University for your undergraduate studies.
Career prospects
With a Cardiff University degree, you’ll be amongst the UK’s most sought-after graduates. 95% of our graduates were in employment and/or further study, due to start a new job or course, or doing other activities, such as travelling. Source: Graduate Outcomes 2020/21 survey.
Cardiff students demonstrate the talent, motivation and enthusiasm that employers are seeking.
- Top 12 UK University for employability in the Global University Employability Ranking (Times Higher Education 2024)
From the very beginning of your time here, throughout your studies and after graduation, our Student Futures can help you to develop your employability skills and achieve your career goals.
Global opportunities
Ready for an adventure? Broaden your horizons with our opportunities to study, work or volunteer abroad. We have links with over 300 institutions and can provide you with the opportunity to embark on an overseas placement in Europe or beyond as part of your degree, or on a summer placement.
A year abroad during your studies is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and it is such a great one at that. You have the chance to travel, and see new cultures, and it is all part of your degree. I can honestly say it was the best time of my life.
Flexible study options
From spending time abroad to experiencing a year in industry as part of your degree, our ultimate aim is to offer you flexibility.
Tailor your degree to suit you
Our range of modules mean that you can effectively tailor your degree programme to suit your particular interests and career ambitions.
In some degree programmes, successful completion of your degree will earn you partial or complete exemption from professional examinations. Some courses even allow you to delay your final degree choice until the end of your first year.
Choosing one of our part time undergraduate courses means you can study alongside other commitments.
Study through the medium of Welsh
Welsh speaker? Up to 100 of our courses – including Medicine, Law and Journalism – offer some or all of their modules through the medium of Welsh. Regardless of whether you’ve been taught in Welsh, you have the option to submit your work and take exams in Welsh if you wish, and can request a Welsh language tutor. Studying in Welsh can boost your career prospects too.
Study another language alongside your degree
Want to brush up on your French? Interested in Arabic? Whether you’re an absolute beginner or looking to improve your existing skills, you can study another language with our Languages for All programme.
Research-informed teaching
- Top 20 university in the UK for the overall quality of our research (Research Excellence Framework 2021).
- 11th for impactour research has real-world benefits for the academic environment and our society (REF 2021).
Research annually earns Cardiff University grants and investments totalling many tens of millions of pounds and also attracts top researchers from around the world.
As an undergraduate, you’ll work alongside international scholars at the forefront of their subject, studying in a vibrant, research-intensive environment. You’ll be given a flavour of the research activities going on within your subject and will have the opportunity to take part in learning activities influenced by staff research interests. For example, optional modules based on staff research interest may be offered and case studies or experiments used in class may derive from live research projects.
You’ll also have the chance to contribute to a research project through paid work experience as part of our on-campus internship opportunities.
At Cardiff, I’ve been able to explore one of the causes of an irregular heartbeat, something that affects millions of people and, if left untreated, can be fatal. My findings form part of a significant body of research that could help to treat patients in the future and I feel proud to have contributed to this work.
Improved campus facilities
- £600m invested in our future.
We’re undertaking our biggest campus upgrade for a generation. From improvements to our student’s union to a new, state-of-the-art home for the School of Journalism, Media and Cultural Studies, we’re providing our students with world-class facilities.
One of our most ambitious projects is the newly built £50m Centre for Student Life which provides a central hub for our student support services as well as offering modern, flexible social learning spaces and a 550-seat lecture theatre.
Student life
- 2nd best Students' Union in the UK (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024).
There are so many reasons to love Cardiff – especially for students. Our Students’ Union is one of the biggest, best and most active in Britain (The Complete University Guide 2019). Ranked top 3 Students’ Union in the UK (Whatuni Student Choice Awards 2024). With more than 200 cultural, political, religious, social and sporting societies to cater for all types of interests, you can be sure of a lively social experience at Cardiff University.
We pride ourselves on the level of engagement we have with our students and work closely with student representatives to make sure your views are heard. Each year we also ask for student feedback through a variety of surveys, using the data gathered to improve and enhance your experience here.
We guarantee you accommodation in your first year and we’re here to support you throughout your whole degree, offering free advice, guidance and counselling via our student support and wellbeing services.
Want to hear more about student life in Cardiff? See what our digital ambassadors have to say.
Contains HESA Data: Copyright Jisc 2023. Jisc cannot accept responsibility for any inferences or conclusions derived by third parties from its data.
Find out more about life at Cardiff University from our staff and students on 15 January.
