Cardiff Metropolitan University Ranking

Cardiff University has been around since 1883 and its standing today reflects over a century of consistent academic output. As a Russell Group member, it sits among the most research active universities in UK, and the global rankings back that up. 

QS 2026 places Cardiff University at number 181 globally, up five places from 186 the previous year. THE puts it in the 201 to 250 band and U.S. News Best Global Universities ranks it at 192. For a university that is also the top ranked in Wales, those numbers hold up well across all three major systems. 

Cardiff University attracts students from over 140 countries, has partnerships with more than 300 institutions worldwide, and has produced two Nobel Prize winners. REF 2021 rated 90% of its research as world-leading or internationally excellent. 

The sections below look at how Cardiff University rankings have moved over time and how it performs across individual subjects. 

Cardiff University in QS, THE, and U.S. News Rankings 

Cardiff University sits in a fairly stable spot across all three major global lists. The QS number is the one that moved this year, up from 186 to 181. THE has kept it in the same band for two years running. U.S. News has it at 192, slightly lower than before but still within a consistent range. 

Here is how things have looked over the last three years: 

Overall, Cardiff maintains a consistent global presence and continues to grow its reputation through strong research output and teaching quality.  

Read all about the Admissions at Cardiff University.  

Subject-Wise Rankings of Cardiff University 

Cardiff University's subject rankings tell a more interesting story than the overall number. Across QS, THE, and U.S. News, healthcare, communication, social sciences, and engineering come through as consistent strengths, often placing well above where the overall rank would suggest. 

Here is how Cardiff University performs across subjects in each of the three major ranking bodies. 

QS Subject-Wise Rankings of Cardiff University (2026) 

Communication and Media Studies is Cardiff University's biggest mover this year, climbing 13 places to number 37 globally. That puts the School of Journalism, Media and Culture among the world's best in that subject. Dentistry holds strong and Architecture also features in the top 50. Eight subjects now sit in the global top 100. 

Here is how Cardiff University ranks across subjects in QS 2026: 

THE Subject-Wise Rankings of Cardiff University (2026) 

In THE subject rankings, Psychology is Cardiff University's standout placement at number 80 globally. Arts and Humanities and Social Sciences both sit in the 126 to 150 range, while Law also performs strongly. Business and health sciences fall further down but remain within a competitive global band. 

The table below covers THE subject wise rankings of Cardiff University for 2026: 

U.S. News Subject-Wise Rankings of Cardiff University (2026) 

U.S. News ranks subjects based on research output and citations, and Cardiff University's strongest numbers here sit in infectious diseases, psychiatry, arts and humanities, and medical imaging, all inside the global top 120. 

The table below covers U.S. News subject wise rankings of Cardiff University for 2026: 

Check out all Courses at Cardiff University.   

Cardiff University: Excellence and Achievements 

Cardiff University's reputation is built on things that actually happened, not just ranking positions. Nobel Prize winners, record research funding, strong graduate outcomes, and real contributions to healthcare and sustainability.  

The sections below cover what sets Cardiff University apart beyond the numbers. 

Academic Excellence and Recognition 

Cardiff University is one of 24 Russell Group universities in UK, which already says something about where it sits in the research landscape. REF 2021 rated 90% of its research as world-leading or internationally excellent, and 95% of graduates were in employment or further study within 15 months of finishing their course. 

The table below covers key academic recognition highlights for Cardiff University: 

Innovation, Research, and Industry Impact 

Cardiff University has two Nobel Prize winners on its roll, Professor Sir Martin Evans for Medicine and Professor Robert Huber for Chemistry. The Medical School, founded in 1894, contributed to developing UK breast cancer screening programme.  

On intellectual property, Cardiff ranks 2nd in the Russell Group for licences granted to non-commercial organisations, which is a specific measure of how seriously research gets applied outside academia. 

The table below covers research and innovation highlights for Cardiff University: 

Student Community and Global Presence 

Over 30,000 students study at Cardiff University, with more than 7,500 coming from over 140 countries. First year international undergraduates are guaranteed accommodation, which removes one layer of stress for students arriving from abroad. The campus has over 200 student societies and scholarship funding worth more than £2 million across undergraduate and postgraduate levels. 

The table below covers student community and global presence highlights for Cardiff University: 

Miscellaneous Rankings of Cardiff University 

Cardiff University shows up consistently across UK focused ranking systems too, covering student experience, research output, sustainability, and employability. These give a more complete picture than global tables alone. 

Here is a quick look: 

Cardiff University Rankings vs Acceptance Rate 

Cardiff University is not open admission but it is not as selective as some of the more elite UK universities either. The overall international acceptance rate sits around 20%, though that shifts quite a bit depending on the subject. Medicine, dentistry, and law tend to draw stronger applicant pools and have lower admission rates. Engineering, social sciences, and business are more accessible. 

Here is a comparison: 

Cardiff University's rankings reflect genuine strength across health sciences, communication, and humanities, and the acceptance data shows those are also the most competitive programs to get into.  

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