About us

With an international reputation for excellence in research and teaching, we give students the opportunity to pursue their interest in languages in an exciting, interdisciplinary environment.

Located at the heart of the University, we offer an impressive range of degree courses for those with an active interest in language and culture. Proven teaching expertise in Chinese, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Portuguese and Spanish means that students will gain an in-depth understanding of their chosen language, literature, culture and history.

With over 800 students and 40 academic staff, we offer a friendly, diverse environment, and personal tutors ensure support throughout a degree course. Regular events, lectures and organised activities provide a lively atmosphere and students are encouraged to get involved.

Close links with top universities across Europe provide exciting options for a year abroad immersed in a foreign culture. Through our our partnership with Beijing Normal University students can also travel further afield to China when they sign up to our Chinese programmes.

Students can also become part of the Student Language Ambassador scheme, which offers a fantastic opportunity to work with schools across Wales to promote the importance of languages.

We are very committed to promoting equality and diversity among our staff and students and have achieved Bronze level in the Equality Challenge Unit (ECU) trial gender equality charter mark. Although we are international in outlook, we have built up strong links with our local community, making the most of living and working in the capital city of Wales.

Confucius Institute

We are home to the Confucius Institute. The institute’s Cardiff base aims to promote Chinese language and culture in Wales and support collaboration between Wales and China. The Institute was launched in 2008 and is a partnership between Xiamen University in south-east China and Cardiff University. It is supported by the Hanban – China’s Office of Chinese Language Council International.

There are almost 500 Confucius Institutes around the world, and each one serves its community in a different way. The focus of the Confucius Institute at Cardiff University is upon language teaching and is built upon our vast breadth of expertise. Further information can be found on the Confucius Institute website.