The University is based in and around Cardiff's beautiful civic center. University buildings, student residences, the main shopping center, and sports and social facilities are often within walking distance of each other, and are close to the main University buildings. Cardiff is very accessible by rail, road and air and has its own international airport; London is only two hours away from Cardiff by train and has easy connections to Heathrow and Gatwick Airports.
Cardiff is an excellent city in which to live and study. The city is compact, yet has a wide range of facilities to keep students entertained. Cardiff has an excellent shopping city with a wide choice of shops, catering for a range of budgets. It has all the amenities that would be expected from a capital city including cinemas, theaters, concert venues and comedy clubs- many offering student discounts. The city is multi-cultural and has a wide range of restaurants serving food from around the world and many shops selling food for all tastes. A visit to Cardiff Bay, one of Europe's most exciting waterfront developments, is only a very short bus or train journey away from the city center.
Getting to Your Program
You are responsible for arranging your own transportation to Wales, but are given arrival dates and guidelines.
Visa
At application, you should have a passport valid for 6 months beyond the end of the program.
A visa is required for students studying abroad in the UK. There are two different types of visas for studying in the UK: the Tier 4 General Student Visa OR the Student Visitor Visa. IAP will provide you with information and guidance regarding this process, but you are ultimately responsible for applying and obtaining the visa.
Orientation
IAP expects you to be an active participant in preparing yourself for your study abroad experience. As a participant on an IAP program, you will receive a pre-departure orientation, either in-person or online. The type and format of this orientation will vary by program and will be provided to you upon acceptance to the program.
Upon arrival in the UK, Cardiff's International Development Office will provide a free bus service to collect students from Heathrow airport in the week prior to enrollment, organize a range of activities in the week following arrival which will help students settle in, and be at hand to answer any questions and offer support. Also, the International Division, jointly with the Students' Union, runs induction programs in September and January specifically designed for Study Abroad and international students. The Induction Program will introduce you to the University, the city and its surroundings as well as to life as a student in Cardiff. The program of events includes trips, talks, helpful advice and entertainment.
Each student is assigned a personal tutor who will be their contact to help with any problems that may arise. Personal tutors offer advice on academic issues, including module choice and assessment. Personal Tutors will be located in students' 'Home School' - the School (department) in which they are studying the majority of their modules. Support and advice are also available from the Study Abroad Office, Students' Union, the Residences Office and the Student Services Division. Help may include: computing courses; welfare advice and help with finding accommodation.
Housing
You arrange your own housing at Cardiff. The University offers a wide range of residences, from traditional catered halls to modern self-catering flats. All of the halls, like most other UK universities, are mixed, although you can express a preference for a male or female-only flat within the mixed Halls of Residence; the only exception to this is Aberdare Hall, which is mainly for female undergraduate students.
Most (70%) of study bedrooms have private shower facilities and all rooms also have computer network connection points. The University guarantees a single occupancy place in University Residences to all Study Abroad students who apply during the normal admissions cycle.
In self-catered accommodation you share a kitchen with anything from 4 to 8 other students and you are able to cook for yourself using facilities provided. Catered accommodation at University Hall, a Hall of Residence, provides during term-time, breakfast and three-course evening meals, Monday to Friday, while a traditional lunch is provided on Sundays. Vegetarian meals are always available. Catered accommodation rooms also share small kitchens where hot drinks and snacks can be made. The female-only Aberdare Hall also provides catered accommodation, with breakfast and dinner daily, with some variation at weekends.
Private accommodation run by private landlords to students in Cardiff is also available and consists of shared houses and flats. Occasionally you may find a room in a house that would be shared with the landlord/lady. The weekly cost of a room in a shared house varies depending on the size, location, facilities and if any bills are included. Note that for this type of accommodation you are likely to have to pay rent during vacations whether you are there or not, so make sure to allow for this in budgeting.
Excursions and Activities
Cardiff is a city that has a lot to offer, and there are a variety of activities students will be able to get involved in during their spare time. Cardiff caters to students with a variety of interests from sports to rambling; cinema evenings to photography. The Students' Union has over 200 student clubs and societies, including a number of societies specifically for international students. Becoming a member of a society provides an excellent opportunity to meet new people, learn new skills, pursue an existing hobby or find a new one and make the most of time in Cardiff. During the first week of term there will be a 'Societies Fair' where all societies will be available to meet with and you can join any that interest you. Societies usually charge a small membership ranging from about 2 to 5 pounds, although any specialist equipment used may cost more.
The University has excellent sporting facilities located in various sites to ensure that they are accessible to all students. Whether you want to play football, badminton, cricket or join an aerobics class, Cardiff has the facilities. If you also like enjoying sports as spectators, the city of Cardiff has a lot to offer. The city is home to the 73,000 seat Millennium Stadium and has recently hosted some major sporting events, including the Rugby World Cup and major UK football finals. Major concerts that have taken place at the Stadium include Bon Jovi, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers and Robbie Williams.
Insurance
All participants in IAP programs are enrolled in health insurance through Cultural Insurance Services International (CISI) and the cost of the insurance coverage is included in program fees.
On-Site Support
Personal Tutors
Cardiff Study Abroad Office
Handbooks
Use the links below to find out more information on academics, daily life and student impressions for this program.
Cardiff University Prospectus for International Students (Spring - 2012-13)
Kristin's Video Blog (Spring - 2012-13)
Cardiff University Prospectus for International Students (Fall - 2013-14)
Cardiff University Prospectus for International Students (Year - 2013-14)
Cardiff University combines impressive modern facilities and a dynamic approach to teaching and research with its proud heritage of service and achievement. The University's breadth of expertise in research encompasses the humanities, the natural, physical, health, life and social sciences, engineering and technology, and with its three new research institutes offers radical new approaches to neurosciences and mental health, cancer stem cells and sustainable places.
Cardiff University offers a very wide number of courses and a modular system that provides choice and flexibility. You can choose from a range of courses across a variety of academic schools and an individually tailored study abroad program can be put together to suit interests and needs.
All lectures, seminars and coursework will be conducted in English. You will not be expected to have any knowledge of or learn Welsh. Although all University work is conducted through the medium of English, for those students who are interested in learning some Welsh and understanding a little bit more about Welsh culture there are a number of opportunities available.
Cardiff University has one of the most up-to-date library and computing services in the UK. The University has a high number of Resource Centres, each one close to the School it serves. Students are able to access a large collection of computers, day and night, which allow free access to e-mail, the internet and on-line resources.
Affiliate Institution(s)
Cardiff University homepage
Program Web Page(s)
Cardiff Study Abroad (JYA)
Foreign Courses
Available Courses
Course Equivalents
Use the links below to see a list of courses that students have taken on this program before and the UW equivalents. Note: this list only includes pre-approved courses for your program and may not be an exhaustive list of courses or departments. You will get instructions on the course equivalent process after acceptance.
Sort by Foreign Course Titles
Sort by UW-Madison Course Titles
Group by host institution and Sort by Foreign Course Titles
Group by host institution and Sort by UW-Madison Course Titles
