Cardiff University (Wales)
The Program
Cardiff University was established in 1883 and is among the top research universities in the United Kingdom.
Cardiff’s particular strengths include Town and Country Planning, Celtic Studies, Communication and Media Studies, Earth and Ocean Sciences, Sociology, European Studies, and Business Studies. The university boasts a student population of approximately 27,000, of whom approximately 20,000 are undergraduates. Cardiff University’s academic system is modular which means you will be able to choose classes from several different subjects. Cardiff’s residences are very well located, with most residences being less than 2km to either the Cathays Park campus or Heath Park campus. The majority of students are able to easily walk or cycle to their lectures every day.
Program Location
United Kingdom
Cardiff
Cardiff, or Caerdyd in Welsh (Caer meaning castle), is the capital of Wales and seat of its national assembly. The city’s history can be traced back some 2,000 years to a Roman settlement. In the 19th century Cardiff was a key port, exporting coal from the Welsh valleys to the rest of the world. City landmarks include Cardiff Castle, the cathedral, and the Millennium Stadium. Today, Cardiff is a lively commercial, retail, and recreation center, with nightly music and theater events, and a busy nightlife. Major annual events include the Cardiff Big Weekend music festival, and rugby union international matches (especially Wales v England). The city is well-connected by rail, with direct services to Bristol, London, Manchester, Edinburgh, and Holyhead (for the ferry to Ireland).
Academics
PLEASE NOTE THAT PSYCHOLOGY COURSES ARE NOT AVAILABLE TO EXCHANGE STUDENTS FOR THE FALL SEMESTER AND MAY BE LIMITED FOR THE SPRING.
In order to have an idea of what classes are available, you should visit the Cardiff University website. Courses (modules) in the catalogue are listed by subject area. However, you are able to take courses across departments. It is recommended that you do not select courses across too many departments as this makes the possibility of timetable clashes more likely.
Universities in the UK typically use a three-year undergraduate curriculum; thus, courses listed as “Level 1,” “Level 2,” and “Level 3” do not necessarily translate into first, second, and third year courses in the American system. Students in the past have recommended taking courses at Level 1 or Level 2. Unlike the U.S. university system, universities in England offer upper-level courses at Levels 1 and 2. Courses at Level 3 tend to be rather advanced, much like our graduate courses, and students should pay particular attention to prerequisite requirements.
You will need to be sure that you are registered as a full time student according to Cardiff University and Rutgers University. That means you will need to take at least 60 Cardiff credits per semester. The credit translation system between Cardiff University and Rutgers University is 4:1, meaning a 20-credit course at Cardiff University will be a 5-credit course on your Rutgers University transcript. It is not possible to take classes as not-for-credit or pass/fail.
For information about Study Abroad credit transfer, registration, and transcripts please visit the Academics section of our website.
Housing and Meals
Students will be housed in university residence halls in single rooms generally with shared bath facilities. You may choose between housing that includes a meal plan (catered housing), or housing that provides kitchen space in which you can cook your own meals The majority of housing at Cardiff is self-catered which means that the housing will have shared kitchen facilities so that students can prepare their own meals. Cardiff does have a few catered options, which means that most meals during the week will be included. For more information about accommodations on the Cardiff University program, please visit the Cardiff web page.
Financial Information
Program Costs
| NJ Residents | Non-NJ Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| ATW Program Cost* | $10,000 | $13,900 |
Program Cost includes:
• Tuition
• UK excursion
• Administrative Fees
• Emergency Medical Access Abroad
• *Access the World (ATW)
Out-of-Pocket Costs
| Airfare | $1,200 |
| Housing | $3,000 |
| Meals | $3,000 |
| Books and Classroom Materials | $200 |
| Local Transportation | $200 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,500 |
| Total | $9,100.00 |
Out-of-Pocket Cost includes:
The above costs are estimations and represent the known out-of-pocket costs students encounter during their time abroad.
Some of these expenses will be paid for prior to going abroad, such as an airline ticket and visa costs, while some of these expenses, such as meals and local transportation, will be paid in-country as part of your daily expenses. As you plan, you will need to budget these costs and spend wisely throughout your time abroad.
Program Costs
| NJ Residents | Non-NJ Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| ATW Program Cost* | $10,000 | $13,900 |
Program Cost includes:
• Tuition
• UK excursion
• Administrative Fees
• Emergency Medical Access Abroad
• *Access the World (ATW)
Out-of-Pocket Costs
| Airfare | $1,200 |
| Housing | $3,000 |
| Meals | $3,000 |
| Books and Classroom Materials | $200 |
| Local Transportation | $200 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,500 |
| Total | $9,100.00 |
Out-of-Pocket Cost includes:
The above costs are estimations and represent the known out-of-pocket costs students encounter during their time abroad.
Some of these expenses will be paid for prior to going abroad, such as an airline ticket, while some of these expenses, such as meals and personal expenses, will be paid in-country as part of your daily expenses. As you plan, you will need to budget these costs and spend wisely throughout your time abroad.
Scholarships
Student Spotlights
"It strikes me that some students who study abroad neglect to fully explore the country in which they are studying. Your home-base city is not just a launchpad to the rest of continental Europe-- it's your connection to all of the other quirky spots and hidden gems within the country you call home for 5 months. Even though I was lucky enough to travel to other countries, my favorite memories are at places I saw within Wales and the rest of the U.K. There was a path right outside of my flat which looped through Bute Park along the River Taff and ended at Cardiff Castle. I don't think it really ever sank in that I got to stroll by a castle built in the 11th century everyday. From the tallest tower you can see the entire city skyline right down St. Mary's Street which is always lined by dozens of Welsh flags. The Welsh are extremely proud of their country, their rugby team, belting out their national anthem, their beautiful coastlines and mountain peaks, and of course their Brains Beer."
"One of the most challenging things about studying abroad- and even now that I'm home- is making sense of it all. The whole experience is something that's quite indescribable because there's so many things to process- an entirely new environment, new people, and the distance between you and the things you are most familiar with. But in that challenge, I learned the importance of really small moments in my life. Being so far away made me grow so attached to these seemingly insignificant moments in my life- from sitting in the car with my family, laughing beside my best friend, even walking back to my dorm from a class- and motivate me to view the things I was experiencing, and would experience, differently. I never knew which moments would become the big ones, so I took to making everything I did meaningful and motivated by passion. I'm so grateful to have experienced that, because I feel like it's the single most defining thing I have taken home with me- to make every moment meaningful, because you never know which ones will become your favorite."