Rankings
How every major ranking places Cardiff University. Lower is better.
Strongest subjects in the QS subject rankings (2025):
Postgraduate courses by field
Number of courses and typical yearly tuition for international students.
| Field | Courses | Typical fee | Courses in Course Explorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Humanities & languages | 41 | $28,550 | See → |
| Computer science & data technology | 32 | $40,503 | See → |
| Medicine & clinical health | 27 | $51,444 | See → |
| Natural sciences | 25 | $35,957 | See → |
| Engineering & technology | 24 | $37,977 | See → |
| Arts, design & creative studies | 17 | $30,907 | See → |
| Business & management | 17 | $39,997 | See → |
| Social sciences | 17 | $33,264 | See → |
| Law, politics & governance | 16 | $33,264 | See → |
| Life sciences & biotechnology | 16 | $39,661 | See → |
| Environment, sustainability & agriculture | 12 | $35,957 | See → |
| Public health & allied health | 11 | $33,264 | See → |
| Economics, finance & accounting | 8 | $42,691 | See → |
| Psychology | 6 | $39,661 | See → |
| Education & teaching | 5 | $28,550 | See → |
Costs and entry
199 courses mention scholarships. 207 publish an application deadline for international students.
Jobs after studying at Cardiff University
The job market for Cardiff University's biggest fields, and how graduates stay to work in the UK.
Questions students ask
How much does a postgraduate course at Cardiff University cost?
Typical tuition for international students is about $35,957 a year; half of Cardiff University's postgraduate courses with a published fee cost between $28,550 and $41,344. Most courses last 1 year. Fees vary by field: medicine & clinical health courses are typically $51,444, humanities & languages $28,550.
How is Cardiff University ranked?
Cardiff University is ranked #181 by QS (2026), #201–250 by Times Higher Education (2026) and #201–300 by ARWU (2025) in the world. In the UK it is #22 in the Complete University Guide (2026) and #37 in the Guardian University Guide (2026). Its strongest QS subjects include Dentistry (#34) and Communication & Media Studies (#50).
What IELTS score does Cardiff University need for a postgraduate course?
Most postgraduate courses (156 of the 272 that list it) ask for IELTS 6.5 overall with no band below 5.5.
How many postgraduate courses does Cardiff University offer?
267 postgraduate courses across 15 fields; the largest are humanities & languages (41), computer science & data technology (32) and medicine & clinical health (27).
Shortlisting Cardiff University?
Compare its courses side by side with other universities, or let UNIFER handle your applications for one flat fee.
Updated 6 August 2026. Courses and fees from Cardiff University's own course pages; fees converted to US dollars. Rankings: QS World University Rankings 2026, Times Higher Education 2026, ARWU 2025, Complete University Guide 2026, Guardian University Guide 2026, QS subject rankings 2025. Always confirm fees and requirements on the university's website.