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Cardiff University

🇬🇧 United Kingdom / Wales / Cardiff
Public Russell Group Est. 1883

About

Cardiff University is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and became a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893. It was renamed University College, Cardiff in 1972 and merged with the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology in 1988 to become University of Wales College, Card...

Cardiff University is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and became a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893. It was renamed University College, Cardiff in 1972 and merged with the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology in 1988 to become University of Wales College, Cardiff and then University of Wales, Cardiff in 1996. In 1997, it received degree-awarding powers, but held them in abeyance. It adopted the operating name of Cardiff University in 1999; this became its legal name in 2005, when it became an independent university awarding its own degrees.

Ranking Overview

Ranking Snapshot

Ranked Top 200 worldwide across 4 major ranking systems

QS #181 (2026)
US News #192 (2026)

Ranked in 101 subject rankings

QS QS World University Rankings
# 181
98
57.8
2026
THE Times Higher Education World University Rankings
# 201–250
56.4
2026
ARWU Academic Ranking of World Universities
# 201-300
50
2025
US News U.S. News Best Global Universities Rankings
# =192
8
64.8
2026

Key Facts

Students
27,880
Student-Staff Ratio
13.7 : 1
Int'l Students
24%
Female : Male
59 : 41
Staff
5,510

Historical Trend

Longitudinal View
QS QS
THE THE
ARWU ARWU
US News US News
1 51 101 151 201 251 300 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 Rank
:
Score:

Top Subjects

Best-performing areas
35
Geography
Top 50
37
Communication & Media Studies
Top 50
=41
Dentistry
Top 50
46
Public Administration
Top 50
47
Biological Sciences
Top 50
49
Mineral & Mining Engineering
Top 50
=50
Architecture
Top 50
51-75
Law & Legal Studies
Top 100
51-75
Business Administration
Top 100
51-100
Archaeology
Top 100
51-100
51-100
Marketing
Top 100
=62
English Language & Literature
Top 100
76-100
Sociology
Top 100
=79

Subject Rankings

Detailed breakdown

ARWU

45 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Geography 35 178.9 2025
Public Administration 46 120.6 2025
Biological Sciences 47 184.9 2025
Law & Legal Studies 51-75 - 2025
Business Administration 51-75 - 2025
Nursing 76-100 - 2025
Sociology 76-100 - 2025
Earth & Marine Sciences 101-150 - 2025
Water Resources 101-150 - 2025
Artificial Intelligence 101-150 - 2025
Human Biological Sciences 101-150 - 2025
Public Health 101-150 - 2025
Dentistry 101-150 - 2025
Medical Technology 101-150 - 2025
Management 101-150 - 2025
Hospitality & Tourism Management 101-150 - 2023
Oceanography 151-200 - 2025
Mechanical Engineering 151-200 - 2025
Computer Science 151-200 - 2025
Civil Engineering 151-200 - 2025
Transportation Science & Technology 151-200 - 2020
Clinical Medicine 151-200 - 2025
Pharmacy & Pharmacology 151-200 - 2025
Economics & Econometrics 151-200 - 2025
Statistics & Operational Research 151-200 - 2023
Politics 151-200 - 2025
Communication & Media Studies 151-200 - 2025
Psychology 151-200 - 2025
Finance 151-200 - 2025
Ecology 201-300 - 2025
Electrical & Electronic Engineering 201-300 - 2025
Biomedical Engineering 201-300 - 2022
Chemical Engineering 201-300 - 2025
Energy Science & Engineering 201-300 - 2025
Environmental Sciences 201-300 - 2025
Mathematics 301-400 - 2022
Physics & Astronomy 301-400 - 2025
Chemistry 301-400 - 2025
Atmospheric Science 301-400 - 2025
Telecommunication Engineering 301-400 - 2025
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology 301-400 - 2024
Education & Training 301-400 - 2025
Materials Science 401-500 - 2024
Biotechnology 401-500 - 2023
Agricultural Sciences 401-500 - 2021

QS

43 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Communication & Media Studies 37 79.8 2026
Dentistry =41 76.8 2026
Mineral & Mining Engineering 49 63.0 2020
Architecture =50 70.4 2026
Archaeology 51-100 - 2026
Nursing 51-100 - 2026
Geography 51-100 - 2026
Marketing 51-100 - 2025
English Language & Literature =62 72.3 2026
Psychology =79 71.2 2026
Modern Languages 101-150 - 2026
Anatomy & Physiology 101-170 - 2025
Pharmacy & Pharmacology 101-150 - 2026
Earth & Marine Sciences 101-150 - 2026
Geology 101-150 - 2026
Geophysics 101-150 - 2026
Hospitality & Leisure Management 101-150 - 2023
Social Policy & Administration 101-150 - 2026
Statistics & Operational Research 101-150 - 2026
Arts & Humanities =120 72.7 2026
Life Sciences & Medicine =121 72.8 2026
Medicine =127 66.9 2026
Business & Management Studies =141 66.7 2026
Biological Sciences =144 67.8 2026
Linguistics 151-200 - 2026
History 151-200 - 2026
Civil & Structural Engineering 151-200 - 2026
Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering 151-200 - 2026
Environmental Sciences 151-200 - 2026
Accounting & Finance 151-200 - 2026
Education & Training 151-200 - 2026
Law & Legal Studies 151-200 - 2026
Politics 151-200 - 2026
Social Sciences & Management =153 69.9 2026
Chemistry =188 67.1 2026
Philosophy 201-225 - 2026
Electrical & Electronic Engineering 201-250 - 2026
Physics & Astronomy 201-250 - 2026
Engineering & Technology =228 68.1 2026
Natural Sciences =239 69.6 2026
Mathematics 251-300 - 2026
Computer Science 301-350 - 2026
Economics & Econometrics 301-350 - 2026

THE

11 subjects
Subject
Rank
Score
Year
Psychology =80 60.3 2026
Social Sciences 126–150 50.8 2026
Arts & Humanities 126–150 44.9 2026
Law & Legal Studies 126–150 44.4 2026
Clinical & Health 176–200 49.8 2026
Life Sciences 176–200 52.5 2026
Business & Economics 176–200 47.3 2026
Computer Science 201–250 47.1 2026
Engineering & Technology 201–250 47.5 2026
Physical Sciences 201–250 50.6 2026
Education & Training 201–250 43.1 2026

Organization Structure

Related units
University 1
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ranking of Cardiff University?

Cardiff University's performance in the latest university rankings: QS Rank 181, THE Rank 201–250, ARWU Rank 201-300, US News Rank =192.

When was Cardiff University founded?

Cardiff University was founded in 1883.

What are the top subjects at Cardiff University?

Top subjects at Cardiff University include: Geography, Communication & Media Studies, Dentistry, Public Administration, Biological Sciences.

Where is Cardiff University located?

Cardiff University is located in Cardiff, United Kingdom.