Is Cardiff University public or private?

Cardiff University is a public, Russell Group research-intensive university, founded in 1883 as University College South Wales and Monmouthshire. It is the only Welsh member of the 24-university Russell Group.

What language are Cardiff University's programmes taught in?

All the programmes in this catalogue -- Law LLB, MBA, LLM, MA Journalism, MSc Finance and PhD Engineering -- are taught fully in English. International applicants must meet Cardiff's academic English requirement, typically IELTS 6.5 overall with a course-specific subskill minimum (5.5 for MBA/MSc Finance, 6.0 for Law/LLM/MA Journalism), or an approved equivalent such as TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic.

Can I get direct admission to Cardiff straight after Class 12 (India) or equivalent school-leaving qualifications?

Yes, for the Law LLB undergraduate route, which typically asks for A-level grades of AAA-ABB or equivalent. Cardiff assesses equivalent international qualifications, including Indian Class 12 boards, against this UK grade profile on a case-by-case basis, so applicants should check the course's international qualifications page before applying. The other programmes in this catalogue (MBA, LLM, MA Journalism, MSc Finance, PhD Engineering) are postgraduate and require a relevant undergraduate degree first.

What is the total cost of studying at Cardiff, including tuition, fees and living costs?

Confirmed 2026/27 overseas tuition is GBP 24,700/year for Law LLB and the one-year LLM, GBP 34,700 for the one-year full-time MBA, GBP 24,950 for the one-year MA in Journalism, Media and Communications, GBP 31,700 for the one-year MSc Finance, and GBP 26,700/year (2025/26 published PGR rate, pending 2026/27 update) for PhD Engineering. On top of tuition, budget roughly GBP 131.81-186.76/week for official university halls in 2026/27 (per Cardiff's published List of Rents) plus personal living costs; Cardiff is consistently cited by third-party cost trackers as one of the more affordable UK capital cities to live in, though students should verify current figures independently.

How do I apply to Cardiff University as an international student?

The undergraduate Law LLB applies through UCAS using course code M100. Postgraduate taught applicants (MBA, LLM, MA Journalism, MSc Finance) apply directly through Cardiff's own online postgraduate application portal linked from each course page. PhD Engineering applicants apply through Cardiff's postgraduate research application route and are expected to identify a proposed supervisor and research area in advance.

What English-language test scores does Cardiff accept?

Cardiff accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Trinity ISE II/III, among other approved tests. The undergraduate Law LLB asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with a 6.0 minimum per subskill, or TOEFL iBT 90 overall with component minimums; postgraduate courses in this catalogue ask for IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5 (MBA, MSc Finance) or 6.0 (LLM, MA Journalism) minimum in all subskills.

Are there entrance exams or interviews for any of these programmes?

There is no standalone entrance exam for the undergraduate Law LLB beyond standard UCAS academic-grade assessment; Extended/International Project Qualification grade A can lower the standard offer by one grade. The MBA and other postgraduate taught courses assess applications on academic transcripts, references and (for MBA) relevant work experience rather than a formal written entrance exam, though some Business School routes may include an admissions interview at the school's discretion.

Is there a work-while-studying or scholarship option for international students?

Cardiff offers MBA Public Value Scholarships specifically for the Cardiff MBA and a range of other course-specific and merit scholarships administered centrally; students should check the funding pages linked from each course. International students on a Student visa in the UK can generally work up to 20 hours/week during term time, subject to current UK Home Office visa conditions, which applicants should verify independently as rules can change.

When does the academic year start, and when should I apply?

All six programmes in this catalogue have a September intake (PhD Engineering also offers a January start); the confirmed 2026/27 start date for the postgraduate taught courses (MBA, LLM, MA Journalism, MSc Finance) is 28 September 2026, and the Law LLB begins with September 2026 UCAS entry. There is no separate special certificate/pre-approval requirement (such as an APS certificate) for UK study, unlike some other European destinations.

Is Cardiff University's Law LLB a 'qualifying law degree' that lets me become a solicitor?

Since the Solicitors Regulation Authority's 2021 SQE reform, England and Wales no longer uses the old 'qualifying law degree' route in the pre-2021 sense. A Cardiff LLB provides the recognised academic law training, but graduates must separately sit and pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and complete qualifying work experience to become a solicitor, or the Bar course route to become a barrister.

What accommodation options and costs are available?

Cardiff guarantees or prioritises university halls for eligible first-year international undergraduates. For the 2026/27 session (about 40 weeks from 23 September 2026), official halls range from roughly GBP 131.81/week (shared-bathroom, part-catered) to GBP 186.76/week (en-suite, self-catered), per the University's published List of Rents. From second year, most students move into shared private housing in Cathays or Roath, typically at a lower weekly cost but requiring independent tenancy management.

How is Cardiff University recognised or accredited, and what does that mean for my home country?

Cardiff is a Russell Group member and is quality-reviewed by the UK's Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Cardiff Business School holds dual AACSB and AMBA accreditation, covering the MBA and MSc Finance. The School of Journalism, Media and Culture's News Journalism postgraduate route is NCTJ-accredited, and the School of Engineering sits within Cardiff's REF 2021 top-20 UK research-quality standing. These are UK-domestic professional/quality recognitions; students should separately confirm how their home-country regulator or employer treats a UK degree.

How does Cardiff's MBA compare to Cardiff's specialist MSc Finance for a finance career?

The Cardiff MBA is a general management qualification (1 year full-time, GBP 34,700 for 2026/27) aimed at candidates with existing work experience who want broad leadership and strategy training, with access to MBA Public Value Scholarships. MSc Finance (1 year full-time, GBP 31,700) is a specialist, more technical route into corporate finance, asset pricing and trading, using Cardiff Business School's Trading Room, and is typically better suited to candidates moving directly from an undergraduate finance/quantitative background rather than switching careers with prior management experience.

Is Cardiff University public or private?

Cardiff University is a public, Russell Group research-intensive university, founded in 1883 as University College South Wales and Monmouthshire. It is the only Welsh member of the 24-university Russell Group.

What language are Cardiff University's programmes taught in?

All the programmes in this catalogue -- Law LLB, MBA, LLM, MA Journalism, MSc Finance and PhD Engineering -- are taught fully in English. International applicants must meet Cardiff's academic English requirement, typically IELTS 6.5 overall with a course-specific subskill minimum (5.5 for MBA/MSc Finance, 6.0 for Law/LLM/MA Journalism), or an approved equivalent such as TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic.

Can I get direct admission to Cardiff straight after Class 12 (India) or equivalent school-leaving qualifications?

Yes, for the Law LLB undergraduate route, which typically asks for A-level grades of AAA-ABB or equivalent. Cardiff assesses equivalent international qualifications, including Indian Class 12 boards, against this UK grade profile on a case-by-case basis, so applicants should check the course's international qualifications page before applying. The other programmes in this catalogue (MBA, LLM, MA Journalism, MSc Finance, PhD Engineering) are postgraduate and require a relevant undergraduate degree first.

What is the total cost of studying at Cardiff, including tuition, fees and living costs?

Confirmed 2026/27 overseas tuition is GBP 24,700/year for Law LLB and the one-year LLM, GBP 34,700 for the one-year full-time MBA, GBP 24,950 for the one-year MA in Journalism, Media and Communications, GBP 31,700 for the one-year MSc Finance, and GBP 26,700/year (2025/26 published PGR rate, pending 2026/27 update) for PhD Engineering. On top of tuition, budget roughly GBP 131.81-186.76/week for official university halls in 2026/27 (per Cardiff's published List of Rents) plus personal living costs; Cardiff is consistently cited by third-party cost trackers as one of the more affordable UK capital cities to live in, though students should verify current figures independently.

How do I apply to Cardiff University as an international student?

The undergraduate Law LLB applies through UCAS using course code M100. Postgraduate taught applicants (MBA, LLM, MA Journalism, MSc Finance) apply directly through Cardiff's own online postgraduate application portal linked from each course page. PhD Engineering applicants apply through Cardiff's postgraduate research application route and are expected to identify a proposed supervisor and research area in advance.

What English-language test scores does Cardiff accept?

Cardiff accepts IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and Trinity ISE II/III, among other approved tests. The undergraduate Law LLB asks for IELTS 6.5 overall with a 6.0 minimum per subskill, or TOEFL iBT 90 overall with component minimums; postgraduate courses in this catalogue ask for IELTS 6.5 overall with 5.5 (MBA, MSc Finance) or 6.0 (LLM, MA Journalism) minimum in all subskills.

Are there entrance exams or interviews for any of these programmes?

There is no standalone entrance exam for the undergraduate Law LLB beyond standard UCAS academic-grade assessment; Extended/International Project Qualification grade A can lower the standard offer by one grade. The MBA and other postgraduate taught courses assess applications on academic transcripts, references and (for MBA) relevant work experience rather than a formal written entrance exam, though some Business School routes may include an admissions interview at the school's discretion.

Is there a work-while-studying or scholarship option for international students?

Cardiff offers MBA Public Value Scholarships specifically for the Cardiff MBA and a range of other course-specific and merit scholarships administered centrally; students should check the funding pages linked from each course. International students on a Student visa in the UK can generally work up to 20 hours/week during term time, subject to current UK Home Office visa conditions, which applicants should verify independently as rules can change.

When does the academic year start, and when should I apply?

All six programmes in this catalogue have a September intake (PhD Engineering also offers a January start); the confirmed 2026/27 start date for the postgraduate taught courses (MBA, LLM, MA Journalism, MSc Finance) is 28 September 2026, and the Law LLB begins with September 2026 UCAS entry. There is no separate special certificate/pre-approval requirement (such as an APS certificate) for UK study, unlike some other European destinations.

Is Cardiff University's Law LLB a 'qualifying law degree' that lets me become a solicitor?

Since the Solicitors Regulation Authority's 2021 SQE reform, England and Wales no longer uses the old 'qualifying law degree' route in the pre-2021 sense. A Cardiff LLB provides the recognised academic law training, but graduates must separately sit and pass the Solicitors Qualifying Examination (SQE) and complete qualifying work experience to become a solicitor, or the Bar course route to become a barrister.

What accommodation options and costs are available?

Cardiff guarantees or prioritises university halls for eligible first-year international undergraduates. For the 2026/27 session (about 40 weeks from 23 September 2026), official halls range from roughly GBP 131.81/week (shared-bathroom, part-catered) to GBP 186.76/week (en-suite, self-catered), per the University's published List of Rents. From second year, most students move into shared private housing in Cathays or Roath, typically at a lower weekly cost but requiring independent tenancy management.

How is Cardiff University recognised or accredited, and what does that mean for my home country?

Cardiff is a Russell Group member and is quality-reviewed by the UK's Quality Assurance Agency (QAA). Cardiff Business School holds dual AACSB and AMBA accreditation, covering the MBA and MSc Finance. The School of Journalism, Media and Culture's News Journalism postgraduate route is NCTJ-accredited, and the School of Engineering sits within Cardiff's REF 2021 top-20 UK research-quality standing. These are UK-domestic professional/quality recognitions; students should separately confirm how their home-country regulator or employer treats a UK degree.

How does Cardiff's MBA compare to Cardiff's specialist MSc Finance for a finance career?

The Cardiff MBA is a general management qualification (1 year full-time, GBP 34,700 for 2026/27) aimed at candidates with existing work experience who want broad leadership and strategy training, with access to MBA Public Value Scholarships. MSc Finance (1 year full-time, GBP 31,700) is a specialist, more technical route into corporate finance, asset pricing and trading, using Cardiff Business School's Trading Room, and is typically better suited to candidates moving directly from an undergraduate finance/quantitative background rather than switching careers with prior management experience.

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MBA at Cardiff University: Fee Structure

Year-wise MBA fee breakdown at Cardiff University — annual tuition, hostel costs, and total program cost in USD.

Written by Students Traffic Research Team·Updated On: 12 Jul 2026

Cardiff UniversityCardiff, United KingdomMBA · Public£34,700/yr

Academics eligibility recognition admissions

Fee structure

Cardiff University MBA fee structure

Tuition and living-cost information for MBA at Cardiff Universityin Cardiff, United Kingdom. The treatment below reflects the evidence available for each programme.

Confirmed fees retain the university's published currency. Where a current programme fee is not public, request a tailored cost and funding plan instead of relying on a placeholder amount.

Business Administration (MBA)

1 year · English medium · September intake

Annual tuition

£34,700

GBP 34,700 official

Hostel + food (est.)

—

per year

Total program cost

—

tuition only · 1 years

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