Living In Cardiff As A Student

It is a well-established fact that the UK is one of the leading higher education destinations for international students. While a major chunk of these students is smitten by high octane metropolitan cities like London, Birmingham and Edinburgh, lesser-known cities are often left out of the fray, for no fault of their own. One such city that doesn’t get its full share of attention is Cardiff. The Welsh capital is one of the most cheerful places you’ll ever visit. This city has garnered a reputation of being friendly, open and inclusive. Cardiff has over 330 parks and gardens, which means they have more green space per person than any other major core UK city. If you’re an international student, who wishes to study in a place that is brimming with history, culture, adventure and of course, a sterling reputation for academia, then we implore you to give Cardiff a chance. Here’s everything you need to know about living in Cardiff as a student.

Living In Cardiff As A Student

Cost Of Living In Cardiff

The cost of living in any student city is carefully studied by students who wish to study abroad. If you’re a student who wishes to study in Cardiff, then your research must have told you that Cardiff has the second-lowest monthly rent of all the cities in the UK. Natwest Student Living Index of 2020 stated that Cardiff had the second-lowest rent rates in the UK, and twelfth in terms of overall living costs. So, be assured that your money will go a long way while living in Cardiff as a student.

Here is a rough estimate of the costs associated with an International student living in Cardiff –

Particulars £ per month

Rent 300

Utility bills (TV, internet, gas, electric & water, etc) 60

Food 150

Stationery 40

Entertainment 115

Clothes 25

Travel 130

Laundry and toiletries 25

Telephone/mobile and TV licence 30

So, in order to live comfortably in Cardiff, we recommend that you have a budget of around £875 per month.

Best Universities in Cardiff

Cardiff is home to three institutions of higher education namely, Cardiff University, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales. Cardiff University is the leading university in Cardiff. The university offers highly regarded courses and is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading research-led universities. The other two universities, Cardiff Metropolitan University and the University of South Wales, also make a strong case for themselves as they are renowned for their research abilities, variety of courses and diverse student population.

Cardiff University

Founded in 1883, Cardiff University holds the distinction of being the third oldest university in Wales. This university has an enrollment of over 33,190 students, thus making it one of the ten largest universities in the UK. Cardiff University is divided into three faculties namely Physical Sciences and Engineering, Biomedical and Life Sciences & Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences. Cardiff Business School and Cardiff School of Engineering are some of the most well-ranked branches of Cardiff University. Many distinguished world-personalities like Barham Salih (former Prime Minister of Iraqi Kurdistan Region) and Richard Tait (BBC Governor) have walked the corridors of this great university.

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Cardiff Metropolitan University was founded in 1865 as a public university in Cardiff. It offers globally-recognised degrees in the fields of business, economics, arts, fashion, communications, and law. Students from over 100 countries can be found across the university’s three campuses – the Cyncoed Campus, the Llandaff Campus, and the Plas Gwyn Residential Campus. Out of these three campuses, the Cyncoed Campus offers students excellent sporting facilities. One of the hallmark features of Cardiff Metropolitan University is its scholarships and bursaries programs. This university is renowned for its vast financial aid to students who can’t typically afford the tuition fees of the university. Some of the main scholarships at Cardiff Metropolitan University are the Elite Sport Scholar Award and the Carers Bursary.

University of Wales

The University of Wales is the oldest university in Wales. Apart from being an accredited institution in Wales, the University of Wales offers study schemes at over 130 centres in the UK and across the world. The University of Wales also runs a highly successful research centre called the Centre for Advanced Welsh and Celtic Studies.

Best Places To Live In Cardiff

Cardiff offers students a number of options when it comes to accommodation. There are university halls, dormitories, private accommodation and our favourite, Purpose Built Student Accommodation (PBSA). All the student accommodations listed on our website are classified as PBSAs. These accommodation options are superior to other options as they are more affordable, located near top universities, easy to book. Here are some of our favourite student accommodations for living in Cardiff –

Bridge Street Exchange

Bridge Street Exchange is one of the best places in Cardiff to live as a student. Why, you ask? Well, Bridge Street Exchange has around 25 different room configurations that range from Standard En-Suite to Platinum Plus Studio. You can use UniAcco’s Compare feature to compare all the different rooms Bridge Street Exchange has to offer. Don’t worry about making the right decision, as every room comes fully furnished with a WiFi connection, a bed, a wardrobe, storage space and a study desk & chair. Bridge Street Exchange offers the ultimate living in Cardiff experience.

Address –

Bridge St Cardiff CF10 2TJ

Room types –

En-suite rooms

Standard, Standard Plus, Classic, Deluxe, Deluxe Plus, Superior, Superior Plus, Platinum, Platinum Plus, Platinum Cosy, Sky View, Sky View Plus.

Studio rooms

Standard, Standard Plus, Superior, Superior Plus, Classic, Classic Plus, Deluxe, Deluxe City Plus, Platinum, Platinum Plus, Terrace Studio.

Accommodation amenities –

A garden, a karaoke room, parcel receipt service, contents insurance, 24/7 dedicated service, all-inclusive utility bills, an on-site gym, vending machines, bike storage, CCTV security, electronic key fob entry system, specially-abled access, a communal area, a study area, ANUK accreditation, social events, a games room, WiFi, a laundry room and cleaning equipment.

Nearest universities –

Cardiff University

Cardiff Metropolitan University

Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Price range –

£132 – £222/week