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 is a big Russell Group university in the middle of the Welsh capital. The main Cathays Park campus is right next to the city centre, and most halls are a 3–25-minute walk from the Main Building. You can be in town, at the Principality Stadium or in Bute Park within minutes. Medicine, dentistry and healthcare students are based at Heath Park, by the University Hospital of Wales.
For a capital city, it's good value: halls start at around £132 a week for 2026/27, and the university estimates living costs at about £11,700 a year in halls. If you want a city university that still feels manageable, Cardiff is a strong all-rounder.
Known for
Cardiff University is 34th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 52.6, 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Liverpool John Moores University | 52.8 |
| 33 | University of the Arts London | 52.7 |
| 34 | Cardiff University | 52.6 |
| 35 | University of Southampton | 52.6 |
| 36 | University of Surrey | 52.5 |
Each award ranks all 124 universities on one part of student life. Click through for the full table.
8th of 124 · Societies Score 67.1
19th of 124 · Nightlife Score 63.5
23rd of 124 · Social Score 63.1
26th of 124 · Balance Score 51.1
35th of 124 · Value Score 56.2
35th of 124 · Affordability Score 60.3
42nd of 124 · Innovation Score 60.3
42nd of 124 · Inclusion Score 67.5
47th of 124 · Employability Score 33.5
47th of 124 · Sustainability Score 54.9
50th of 122 · Careers Score 33.3
52nd of 124 · Safety Score 46.1
65th of 124 · Wellbeing Score 50.8
70th of 124 · Freshers Score 53.4
84th of 123 · Happiness Score 42.4
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 University appears in 42 of our subject league tables. Here’s where it places in each, best first.
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pharmacology | 1st | of 37 | 100 |
| Software Engineering | 3rd | of 58 | 161 |
| Physics | 3rd | of 45 | 128 |
| Midwifery | 4th | of 54 | 131 |
| Electrical Engineering | 6th | of 67 | 152 |
| Chemistry | 4th | of 44 | 125 |
| Pharmacy | 3rd | of 32 | 105 |
| Nursing | 8th | of 85 | 177 |
| Politics | 9th | of 78 | 153 |
| Psychology | 13th | of 108 | 190 |
| Subject | Rank | Table size | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| Civil Engineering | 7th | of 58 | 130 |
| Linguistics | 4th | of 27 | 78 |
| Biochemistry | 9th | of 60 | 138 |
| Teaching | 12th | of 79 | 166 |
| Journalism | 9th | of 59 | 130 |
| Economics | 13th | of 85 | 159 |
| Optometry | 2nd | of 13 | 53 |
| Business and Management | 18th | of 114 | 200 |
| Music | 9th | of 56 | 129 |
| Sociology | 14th | of 86 | 171 |
| Medicine | 5th | of 30 | 86 |
| Biomedical Science | 16th | of 93 | 167 |
| Criminology | 17th | of 94 | 178 |
| English Language and Literature | 10th | of 54 | 126 |
| Human Resource Management | 11th | of 58 | 135 |
| Geology | 4th | of 21 | 69 |
| Environmental Science | 9th | of 47 | 119 |
| Mathematics | 13th | of 61 | 130 |
| Occupational Therapy | 9th | of 40 | 114 |
| Computer Science | 23rd | of 102 | 174 |
| Engineering (General) | 7th | of 30 | 91 |
| Mechanical Engineering | 18th | of 77 | 153 |
| History | 18th | of 76 | 145 |
| Law | 24th | of 97 | 161 |
| Architecture | 14th | of 55 | 117 |
| Philosophy | 14th | of 54 | 119 |
| Accounting and Finance | 8th | of 30 | 179 |
| Geography | 19th | of 63 | 129 |
| Physiotherapy | 15th | of 49 | 114 |
| Archaeology | 10th | of 28 | 81 |
| Media and Communication | 29th | of 79 | 144 |
| Radiography | 18th | of 29 | 59 |
Subject tables compare universities on graduate earnings, student satisfaction, teaching quality and academic support. Scores aren’t comparable between subjects.
Cardiff University Students' Union is right next to Cathays station and the main campus. It has a nightclub, bars, cafés and shops, and supports over 200 societies and around 70 sports clubs through the Athletic Union. Student media includes the newspaper Gair Rhydd, Quench magazine, CUTV and Xpress Radio. Cathays is the main student neighbourhood. The city centre, Bute Park, Cardiff Bay and the Principality Stadium are all within easy reach.
University halls cost From £131.81 to £186.76+ per week ('from' prices for 2026/27 undergraduate residences, mostly 40-week contracts) (2026/27 prices).
First-year accommodation guarantee
Cardiff guarantees a single-occupancy room for first-year undergraduates with a firm offer, if they submit their online application by the deadline (Friday 24 July 2026 for 2026 entry) and receive or accept an unconditional offer by Monday 31 August 2026. Insurance applicants have a later deadline (19 August 2026). You must accept your room offer online within five days and arrive to collect your key within the dates given, or you lose the guarantee. Late applicants are housed first come, first served where possible.
| Hall | Area | Rooms | From | Good to know |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Student Houses (Colum Road/Place and Village) | Cathays | shared houses | £131.81/wk | The cheapest option, 10–15 minutes' walk from the Main Building: from £5,272.40 for the year. |
| Talybont (Court, Gate, North and South) | North Cathays, by the sports training village | en-suite and standard rooms | £143.64/wk | The university's largest residence complex, 15–30 minutes' walk from the Main Building. Talybont North from £143.64, South from £167.37, Court and Gate from £179.20. |
| Senghennydd Court | Cathays, near the city centre | self-catered | £143.64/wk | A large hall about 10 minutes' walk from the Main Building and very close to town. |
| Aberdare Hall | Cathays Park campus | not stated | £143.64/wk | Cardiff's only all-women residence, 3 minutes' walk from the Main Building. |
| University Hall | Llandaff North / Heath side of the city | self-catered | £143.64/wk | A large hall 35 minutes' walk from the Main Building, with a bus service to Cathays Park and Heath Park. |
| Hodge Hall | Cathays Park campus | not stated | £155.54/wk | A small hall next to the Humanities library, 5 minutes' walk from the Main Building. |
| Clodien House | Heath Park | en-suite | £178.10/wk | A modern residence 5 minutes from Heath Park campus. Ideal for medicine and healthcare students (from £7,836.40, a longer contract). |
| Senghennydd Hall Catered | Cathays, near the city centre | part-catered | £186.76/wk | A small part-catered hall, about 10 minutes from the Main Building. |
Prices are the university’s published weekly starting prices and can change. Always check the official accommodation site before applying.
Cardiff's main student area, right next to campus: rows of terraced shared houses, takeaways and corner shops.
Slightly further east, with Roath Park lake, cafés and a mix of students and young professionals.
Quieter and residential. Popular with medics and healthcare students for its closeness to Heath Park.
Top tip
Apply through the SIMS applicant portal once you've firmly accepted your offer (it can take up to 48 hours for access to come through). Applications are processed in date order, based on when your unconditional offer is confirmed and when your application arrives, so apply early. Watch your inbox (and spam folder) in late July to September: you have five days to accept your room offer.
Cardiff is one of the more affordable big student cities. The university estimates that a UK undergraduate in an en-suite at Talybont North needs about £11,743 for a 40-week year in 2026/27. That's around £1,305 a month, with rent (including bills) the biggest chunk at £6,695. Travel costs aren't included, but much of the city is walkable.
Getting around
Cathays Park campus is next to the city centre, and the Students' Union sits beside Cathays railway station. Most halls are 3–25 minutes' walk from the Main Building, and University Hall has a bus service to both campuses. Heath Park, the medical campus, is around 20–40 minutes' walk from most Cathays halls.
Weighing up your options? Here’s how nearby universities compare in the Unifresher Rankings 2027.
Cardiff University is 34th out of 124 UK universities in the Unifresher Rankings 2027, with an overall score of 52.6. Its strongest results are for student societies (8th), nightlife (19th), social life (23rd).
In our 2027 subject rankings, Cardiff University places highest for Pharmacology (1st of 37), Software Engineering (3rd of 58), Physics (3rd of 45), Pharmacy (3rd of 32). Across our awards, it also stands out for student societies.
Yes. Firm-choice undergraduates are guaranteed a single room if they apply online by the July deadline (24 July 2026 for 2026 entry) and are unconditional by 31 August. Insurance applicants have a later deadline in August.
For 2026/27, prices start at £131.81 a week for the Student Houses and £143.64 for several halls, including Talybont North, Senghennydd Court and University Hall. Most contracts are around 40 weeks. Part-catered Senghennydd Hall starts at £186.76 a week.
Medicine, dentistry and healthcare are based at Heath Park, by the University Hospital of Wales. Clodien House is 5 minutes from Heath Park, and University Hall runs a bus service to both campuses.
The university estimates about £11,743 for a 40-week year in 2026/27, for a UK undergraduate in an en-suite in halls. That's roughly £1,305 a month before travel.
Yes. Cardiff offers accommodation options for Welsh speakers, as well as LGBTQ+ and quiet living options. You can filter for them when browsing residences.
Most move into shared houses in Cathays, next to the main campus. Roath and Heath are popular alternatives, with Heath especially handy for healthcare students.
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.
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