Where it ranks in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, what it’s really like to study there, and what halls and living costs look like.
Cardiff Met is a mid-sized university with two suburban campuses in the Welsh capital: Llandaff in the west, and Cyncoed in the north, which is the home of its big sport offer. It's a separate institution from Cardiff University, and it's best known for sport, art and design, education, health and hospitality.
First years live in university halls at Cyncoed or Plas Gwyn in Llandaff, or in partner halls nearer the centre. Rooms for 2026/27 run from £156 to £225 a week, with catered options at Cyncoed. Campuses are a bus or bike ride from town, so you won't be in the thick of it, but Cardiff is a compact, affordable capital city.
Known for
Cardiff Metropolitan University is 38th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 52, above the UK median of 48.5. Our rankings are built around the student experience, combining employability, freshers experience, happiness, nightlife, sustainability, inclusion, innovation and societies. That means big research names don’t automatically top the table. See how we score universities.
Marker shows the UK median across all ranked universities.
| Rank | University | Score |
|---|---|---|
| 36 | University of Surrey | 52.5 |
| 37 | University of Warwick | 52.1 |
| 38 | Cardiff Metropolitan University | 52 |
| 39 | University of Sheffield | 52 |
| 40 | Falmouth University | 51.9 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
8th of 124 · Sustainability Score 72.6
28th of 124 · Societies Score 61.7
29th of 123 · Happiness Score 55.4
32nd of 124 · Social Score 58.7
36th of 124 · Safety Score 50.7
37th of 124 · Affordability Score 60.1
38th of 124 · Nightlife Score 55.9
39th of 124 · Innovation Score 60.6
47th of 124 · Inclusion Score 65.6
51st of 124 · Balance Score 44
58th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 51.8
84th of 124 · Freshers Score 50
84th of 124 · Value Score 40.9
104th of 122 · Careers Score 21.5
107th of 124 · Employability Score 21
Cardiff as a student city
Ranked 12th of 72 UK university cities in our Best University Cities 2027 ranking, with a score of 60.2.
Cardiff Metropolitan University appears in 31 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graphic Design | 1st | of 68 | 186 |
| Animation (2D/3D) | 1st | of 52 | 160 |
| Photography | 1st | of 44 | 115 |
| Robotics | 1st | of 32 | 121 |
| Economics | 4th | of 85 | 179 |
| Fashion Design | 3rd | of 49 | 138 |
| Electrical Engineering | 5th | of 67 | 154 |
| Psychology | 10th | of 108 | 196 |
| Criminology | 9th | of 94 | 193 |
| Teaching | 8th | of 79 | 174 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sociology | 10th | of 86 | 181 |
| Computer Science | 12th | of 102 | 195 |
| Software Engineering | 7th | of 58 | 146 |
| Architecture | 7th | of 55 | 128 |
| Politics | 10th | of 78 | 152 |
| Primary Education | 8th | of 59 | 148 |
| Human Resource Management | 8th | of 58 | 138 |
| Business and Management | 16th | of 114 | 203 |
| Biomedical Science | 15th | of 93 | 168 |
| Sports Science | 13th | of 78 | 160 |
| International Relations | 12th | of 71 | 143 |
| Fine Art | 10th | of 58 | 142 |
| Product Design | 8th | of 43 | 114 |
| Marketing | 17th | of 88 | 167 |
| Data Science | 10th | of 50 | 114 |
| Social Work | 17th | of 67 | 155 |
| Cyber Security | 17th | of 58 | 127 |
| Accounting and Finance | 9th | of 30 | 176 |
| Artificial Intelligence | 26th | of 66 | 95 |
| Hospitality and Hotel Management | 2nd | of 4 | – |
| Interior Design | 18th | of 36 | 69 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Cardiff Met Students' Union is a combined Students' and Athletics Union, with its head office on the Cyncoed campus. Sport is central: Cyncoed has the National Indoor Athletics Centre and extensive outdoor facilities, and teams compete in BUCS and Welsh Varsity. Nights out happen in Cardiff city centre, with Cathays nearby as the main student area shared with Cardiff University. The city has a big gig scene, from small venues to the Principality Stadium.
University halls cost £156–£225 per week (Cardiff Met halls, 42-week contracts; matches the university's 2026/27 cost figures) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
Cardiff Met guarantees an offer of accommodation to first-year students on full-time Cardiff-based courses who firmly accept Cardiff Met as their first choice on UCAS and apply for accommodation by 31 May (for 2026/27: 31 May 2026). The guarantee is for an offer only: it doesn't cover a specific hall, location, room type or price point. You must book for the full letting period as a single occupant and accept the offer and pay the pre-payment by the offer deadline. A separate Clearing guarantee had a 17 August 2026 deadline.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Plas Gwyn (Self-Catered Ensuite Classic) | Llandaff (Llantrisant Road, CF5 2XJ) | en-suite | £156/wk | 390 en-suite rooms near Llandaff campus. Classic £156, Classic Plus £157, Premium £168, Premium Plus £175 a week, 42-week contracts. Bills included. |
| Cyncoed Halls (self-catered) | Cyncoed campus | en-suite | £156/wk | On the sport campus. Self-catered en-suites at £156 (Classic), £165 (Classic Plus) and £175 (Premium) a week, 42-week contracts. |
| Cyncoed Halls (catered) Catered | Cyncoed campus | shared bathroom or en-suite | £196/wk | The only catered option: shared-bathroom rooms £196 a week, en-suites £223–£225, 42-week contracts. |
| Blackweir Lodge (Unite Students, partner hall) | Near Llandaff campus | en-suite | Not published | Partner hall with over 400 en-suite rooms. Price not published on the university's page. |
| North Court (Now Students, partner hall) | Near Llandaff campus | en-suite | Not published | Partner hall with over 230 en-suite rooms. Price not published on the university's page. |
| The Bakery (Unite Students, partner hall) | City centre | en-suite | Not published | City-centre partner option. Price not published on the university's page. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Cardiff's main student district, busy and packed with shared houses; shared with Cardiff University students.
Lively, with cafés and bars, and handy for Cyncoed campus.
Quieter suburbs close to Llandaff campus.
Popular area west of the centre with independent shops, between town and Llandaff.
Top tip
Firm Cardiff Met on UCAS and apply for accommodation by 31 May to qualify for the guarantee. When you get your offer, accept it and pay the pre-payment by the deadline in the offer, or you lose your place. If your course is at Llandaff, Plas Gwyn is the closest university hall; sport students usually prefer Cyncoed.
Cardiff is one of the cheaper UK capital cities for students. The university's 2026/27 figures put Cardiff Met self-catered halls at £7,056 for a 42-week year (about £168 a week) and catered halls at £9,450. A private house share including bills is about £700 a month. Groceries are estimated at £129 a month and travel at £36.
Getting around
Llandaff and Cyncoed campuses are in the suburbs, a few miles apart, so most students use Cardiff Bus or cycle. The university's 2026/27 budget puts travel around Cardiff at about £36 a month. Cardiff Central and Queen Street stations have trains across Wales and to Bristol and London.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
Cardiff Metropolitan University is 38th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 52. Its strongest results are for sustainability (8th), student societies (28th), student happiness (29th).
In our 2027 subject rankings, Cardiff Metropolitan University places highest for Graphic Design (1st of 68), Animation (2D/3D) (1st of 52), Photography (1st of 44), Robotics (1st of 32). Across our awards, it also stands out for sustainability.
No. Cardiff Metropolitan University is a separate university with its own campuses at Llandaff and Cyncoed. Cardiff University is based mainly in Cathays Park in the city centre.
Yes, an offer of accommodation is guaranteed if you firmly accept Cardiff Met on UCAS, apply for accommodation by 31 May and are on a full-time Cardiff-based course. It doesn't guarantee a particular hall, room type or price.
Cardiff Met's own halls cost £156–£175 a week for self-catered en-suites and £196–£225 a week for catered rooms at Cyncoed, all on 42-week contracts with bills included. These match the university's 2026/27 cost estimates.
Yes, at Cyncoed: shared-bathroom rooms at £196 a week and en-suites at £223–£225. Plas Gwyn in Llandaff and the partner halls are self-catered.
It depends on your course. Sport, education and some other schools are based at Cyncoed, while art and design, management, health sciences and others are at Llandaff. Check your course page, and choose halls near your campus if you can.
It's cheaper than most capitals. The university estimates a private house share at about £700 a month including bills for 2026/27, and travel around the city at about £36 a month.
About this guide. Rankings data comes from the Unifresher Rankings 2027 (methodology). Facts, hall prices and costs come from the university and official sources listed below. Last updated 23 October 2026.
