🇬🇧 Cardiff University · Cost & Aid
Cardiff University Cost & Financial Aid for International Students 2026
What it actually costs to attend Cardiff University as an international student — tuition, living costs, hidden fees, financial aid pathways.
Total annual cost at Cardiff University for international students is approximately GBP 20,250-23,535 total annual cost for Welsh and rest-of-UK students; GBP 35,000-43,000 total annual cost for international undergraduates (medicine substantially higher). Cardiff is one of the more cost-effective Russell Group destinations. Need-based bursaries and merit scholarships available, including the Cardiff University Bursary and various country-specific scholarships. International scholarships are competitive and partial — international students should not assume significant aid coverage (tuition Home/Welsh undergraduate tuition GBP 9,250-9,535 per year (UK government cap, 2025-26 rate); rest-of-UK undergraduate tuition GBP 9,250-9,535 per year; international undergraduate tuition GBP 24,000-29,000 per year depending on program (medicine and dentistry at the higher end), living costs GBP 11,000-14,000 per year for room, board, and personal expenses in Cardiff — Cathays, Roath, Heath, and Pontcanna shared rentals run GBP 500-700 per month for a single room. Materially below central London (GBP 18,000-22,000)).
Cost breakdown
| Item | Range |
|---|
| Tuition (international) | Home/Welsh undergraduate tuition GBP 9,250-9,535 per year (UK government cap, 2025-26 rate); rest-of-UK undergraduate tuition GBP 9,250-9,535 per year; international undergraduate tuition GBP 24,000-29,000 per year depending on program (medicine and dentistry at the higher end) |
| Living costs (housing + lifestyle) | GBP 11,000-14,000 per year for room, board, and personal expenses in Cardiff — Cathays, Roath, Heath, and Pontcanna shared rentals run GBP 500-700 per month for a single room. Materially below central London (GBP 18,000-22,000) |
| Total annual | GBP 20,250-23,535 total annual cost for Welsh and rest-of-UK students; GBP 35,000-43,000 total annual cost for international undergraduates (medicine substantially higher). Cardiff is one of the more cost-effective Russell Group destinations. Need-based bursaries and merit scholarships available, including the Cardiff University Bursary and various country-specific scholarships. International scholarships are competitive and partial — international students should not assume significant aid coverage |
Estimates based on publicly disclosed tuition and typical city living costs. Exchange rates, personal spending, and scholarship aid can shift actual costs materially. How we source data.
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