Wales is a friendly and historic country and a fun place to be a student. Living here, you will benefit from a world-class education and beautiful surroundings to explore in your time off.
Cardiff University is part of the prestigious Russell Group, a collection of 24 leading UK universities, renowned for their world-class research and teaching. Cardiff University is ranked among the top five universities in the UK for research excellence and this research feeds directly into teaching. As a result, you will be exposed to cutting-edge ideas and graduate with the latest knowledge in your field.
Hear why members of the Cardiff University International Study Centre team love Cardiff themselves, from the diversity of the city to the friendliness of the locals.
One of the four countries that make up the United Kingdom, Wales borders England on its east coast. Wales has a proud identity, forged around music, myths, and rugby. It has its own government and its own language - Welsh. English is the most commonly spoken language in Wales, but 28.5% of the population are able to speak Welsh too.* In Welsh, Wales is called 'Cymru' (pronounced 'come-ree').
The beautiful landscape comprises stunning coastline, gorgeous sandy beaches and rugged countryside. You will feel welcome here, as Wales has long been home to people from around the world, ever since a global community settled here to work in the busy docks and mines of the 19th and 20th centuries.
Wales is an ancient country. People called 'Celts' lived here long before it was invaded by the Romans in AD48 and it was ruled by its own kings - including the famous King Arthur - until becoming part of the United Kingdom.
The country has more than 500 castles, including the 2,000 year old city-centre Cardiff Castle. The red dragon is the national symbol of Wales, with legends telling the story of how the red dragon defeated an invading white dragon in a fierce battle. As well as being a land of legends, it is also known as the 'land of song' because of its long musical heritage.
There is so much to see and do in Wales, from hiking to surfing and beyond. You could relax on a beach at the weekend, wander around historic towns and cities, or choose to visit one of three stunning Welsh National Parks. There is a rail network stretching across the country and it’s easy to get around by car, taking only four hours to travel from the south to the north.
Wales has a reputation for being rainy, but in reality its weather is very similar to the rest of the UK. The UK has four seasons and weather can vary considerably. The average temperature in Cardiff in winter is 7°C and in summer temperatures occasionally reach as high as 30°C.
*Welsh language data from the Annual Population Survey: July 2019 to June 2020
I think it's a city that grows with you. Even though it's quite small in space, so you can get around easily, you always find new places to explore. I think it's a place that you just kind of end up falling in love with.
Dani O'Connor
Humanities Tutor
Cardiff has excellent transport links with the rest of the UK. It is only two hours from London by train, and with an international airport on the doorstep, Europe is just a short flight away.
Wales has miles of stunning coastline, as well as three national parks. At the weekends, you can explore one of many historic castles in the local area, visit the stunning Brecon Beacons or relax on the sandy beaches of The Gower.
