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The overall ranking is decided by students from this institution rating them in a 2026 Whatuni review. This forms the basis of the Whatuni Student Choice Awards (WUSCAs for short).
5.04.04.63494 Student reviews
Sort:Latest reviews18-24 years
The facilities at Cardiff uni cater for everyone and everything that is needed is available, however there are a few places that are a bit outdated and run down. despite this the new Centre of Student life building is very modern and a great place to study and meet with friends. Personally I think the location of Cardiff is great, especially the closeness of the majority of student housing. It is easy and assessable and for most the need of public transport is not required. I persoanlly have never had to use the student support but I do believe that it is of a good standard and that those who need need extra support are supported in the best way that the uni can provide. Student life in Cardiff is very enjoyable with lots going on and the student union has something for everyone. When I first came to uni I didn't expect much from the student union but it has hugely exceeded my expectorations. Cardiff uni is a great place to study and as lectures and staff are very helpful and passionate about what they do.
18-24 years
Cardiff University is an amazing place to go and I'm very glad I ended up making the choice to study there! One of the best aspects of Cardiff University is its Students' Union! There are lots and lots of activities to do, most are free, and their use of social media such as Instagram means its extremely easy for students to find out about current events, talks and more! The Cardiff SU is also a perfect place to study - they've created an extremely comforting environment in which I personally find hugely helpful to my concentration and focus when studying, revising and reading! The SU also has student club nights on Wednesdays and Saturdays, often doing a full SU takeover, and introducing silent disco (which is most definitely my favourite aspect of student nights). Although I have a lot of love for the SU nights, I have to say that Cardiff Uni should be much, much more aware of the security they use, and how they handle students - there's been a handful of incidents in which my friends and myself have been manhandled by security without any warrant for them to do so; I think they also need to be more aware of how many students they can let in - yes the SU is big, but Cardiff has a lot of students and there's not enough room for all of us! Besides the above, I've experienced very few problems with the SU and student life in general. Cardiff University has amazing facilities, especially the library! As a student that uses the John Percival building (a building mainly used by the ENCAP department), I'm lucky to be next to the Arts and Social studies library! This library is a perfect place to go to find what you need for your course, or when you need to get work done! It offers the options to book out rooms in the library (as well as other areas in the SU) so you cand your friends can study together in a closed off room, as well as having areas such as the 'quiet study' area, which I use a lot to get my work done! Cardiff Uni also has a huge benefit of being located right near the city centre! The SU is directly beside the Cathay's train station, which heads to the Cardiff Central train station so it's super easy to get to places, including travelling back to home! Cardiff city centre has so much to offer, and many places offer student discount. There's a variety of independent shops, many located in the Cardiff arcades and in the Cardiff market (both of which are worth the visit). There is also a bunch of charity shops and independently run cafes and restaurants located on Crwys and Albany road, roughly a 15 or so minute walk from the Cardiff SU. The university also run a mentor scheme, in which students post first year help new university students adjust to their courses and uni lives! This is something I didn't expect a uni to offer but it is very helpful when you feel lost and confused! Overall I have to say that Cardiff Uni is an amazing place to study, and offers great facilities and opportunities to everyone! I would definitely recommend studying at this university!
Positives Lots of societies Good lecture quality What could be improved Staff on strike a lot they need more pay Modules often don't communicate with one another so we all get assessments due the same time Maybe have a bit of wetlab experience for third year integrated masters students before there 4th year so it doesn't feel to daunting
It is an amazing place to study, the lecturers are so helpful and understanding. Everyone is there to help us reach our goals. Alot of diversity so it's easy to make friends with differing personalities and hobbies. Wonderful environment, Cardiff has alot to offer. There is a shop for everything and plenty of leisure activities to do with friends.
The course staff are amazing. The healthcare campus is located within the hospital, so isn't the most aesthetically pleasing.
there are so many great places to go and study, open and bright makes it easier to get work done! if there were more 24 hour places that could help, or maybe more obvious opening and closing times for each of the cardiff uni buildings! I think the students union is fab, especially the 3rd floor and how you can order drinks and food to any table, such a good idea again makes studying so much easier.
So many different study locations which all offer something different. In the heart of the city. Was affected my covid at the beginning of year 1 with lectures being online. Housing isn’t that great but everyone is in the same situation Could be improved by having more time 1 on 1 with teaching staff
The best aspect of my uni is that everything is really close to each other and either you want to go to the su or another building, its in walking distance (except if you're at the business building).
18-24 years
The nursing course feels very detached. A lot of us student nurses have felt like we haven’t been offered as much support as other universities and courses. The student union on a Wednesday is great! Drinks could be cheaper! The price of societies and athletics are far more expensive than I think it should be. This has deterred me from joining societies as I don’t have the funding for it. Additionally I really like Cardiff as a city and the SU is great
Cardiff is a vibrant city with great student night life. Medicine at Cardiff isn’t always done in Cardiff. The placements are spread across the whole of wales, you may go to Wrexam, Bangor or Aberystwyth. Cardiff has good access to libraries and clinical skills suites.
Cardiff University buildings are really good looking and make you excited to go to your lectures. The student union is also really nice and accommodating a great place to get food and socialise.
Good nights out and the the study areas and lecture halls are great.
Sofas in student union really comfortable to work on, music could be a bit quieter in the day for working.
Good student union, could be more events on
The people, the location, the feel, the only problem is some of the buildings look slightly run down
Best aspects are the student life and closeness of all the facilities and libraries allowing you to be able to access all of them at any given time
The placement of university buildings in the heart of the city is wonderful. The short walk from the central business district allows students to keep their fingers on the beating pulse of Cardiff, not only allowing easy access to amenity, but also the feeling that they are a part of the community, not sequestered in an isolated campus. Course specific facilities are strong, though their is a minor disparity between the quality in differing schools, where STEM students often benefit the most with cutting edge buildings and technology, where non-STEM students are left with lower quality facilities. Even with this said however, the 'lower quality' is by no means unsatisfactory, and is still excellent. Though it must be noted that some buildings aren't exactly aesthetically pleasing externally, and while this is indeed subjective, the Law building and the neighbouring Psychology building are distinguished as some of the ugliest buildings on campus. The student's union is fantastic, with wonderful facilities. The 'Taf' - the SU pub is a fantastic place to socialise and enjoy a meal or drink, playing top sporting events for students to enjoy as they relax. The 'Lodge' on the top floor of the SU is also another example of a wonderful place to relax, with access to pool, table tennis and bored games to make use of. Furthermore, the recent introduction to a state-of-the-art E-sport suite shows the SU's commitment to continuing to build on the amenities available to students. The student union also benefits from a wide range of societies which one can join, covering a diverse selection of interests, the athletic union also containing nearly 70 sports teams and clubs for students to join. The only criticisms to be levied are the confusing relationship between the Student's Union and Athletic Union - and the sometimes rather strange politics within the Union. The soul primary criticism for the University as a whole however is orientated on student support. While it is possible to self-refer for mental health support, it may take months to actually get a first appointment. Although the actual appointments are wonderful, the time taken may put significantly vulnerable students at risk. However, there are admittedly other routes a student may go down, with peer support, group sessions etc. Though the university's formal complaints procedure is a major detractor from the student experience. Through the university's procedure, it may be challenging to encourage communication about the processes taking place, which may bear the consequence of a student being left in the dark about the status of a complaint for weeks. This leads to a rather officious and cold relationship between the student and the institution itself, which harms the trust between the two. In spite of this however, the student experience at Cardiff University is wonderful, and should be celebrated for all that it's worth.
I love studying at cardiff and they did their best in the pandemic. There’s also a new student centre which is fab but the support is sometimes lacking for mental health and more niche issues.
Great study spaces and facilities More support for student mental health
4.5
The location of Cardiff uni is amazing for studying, because you’re so close to the centre of the city, and great eating places whilst still being close to all your university buildings. The scenery around the uni is also really nice. The worst aspect of Cardiff university in my opinion, would be that student support from lecturers is not good and you have almost complete independence when it comes to the highs and lows of your studying journey.
The course content is the best because the modules are all very broad and interesting which allows you to explore new aspects of religion as well as excel in what you’re confident in. The only downside I had is that all my lectures were online ‘
Really good halls to be in. Close to all the big supermarkets and food places on western avenue, but also far enough away from the university that it’s not too loud in the evenings (compared to other halls)