Find your new home in the Welsh capital, one of the friendliest and accessible cities in the UK. Whether you want to share a room, or a house with your friends, or enjoy a fully self-contained studio apartments, Student.com has you covered.
With our Cardiff University accommodation, you can choose from shared, private, and en suite rooms as well as studios close to Cardiff Uni and the city centre.
Call us or send us a quick message through Live Chat if you have queries about the student accommodation we offer. Our booking consultants are always happy to help!
Where is Cardiff University located?
Cardiff University is located very close to the Cardiff city centre, on the coast of South Wales, and is easy to reach from many places in the UK and overseas. Thanks to excellent road, rail, and air links, Cardiff is less than two hours away from London via high-speed train.
The Welsh capital’s friendliness and accessibility make it one of the most student-friendly cities in the world. Cardiff prides itself on being open and inclusive and almost everything is walking distance away, with the student residential areas of Cathays and Roath a short trot from the city centre.
For the historians
Although Cardiff is Europe’s youngest capital city (it became the capital of Wales in 1955), it is not short of history, as the city itself is much older. The city and some of its surroundings are peppered with medieval settlements, ancient ruins, and impressive forts.
See history come to life at Cosmeston Medieval Village. Explore St Fagans, the 2019 Museum of the Year, one of Europe’s leading open-air museums and Wales’s most popular heritage attraction. Enjoy a real coal mine with underground tours, and miner guides at the Big Pit National Coal Museum, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Or witness Caerphilly Castle, the biggest castle in Wales.
For the cultured
Cardiff is also cultured. The city is proud of its iconic Wales Millennium Centre, affectionately called ‘The Armadillo.’ There are several shows highlighting creative workshops and comedy. Plus, there are several annual festivals such as Tafwyl that celebrate Welsh arts.
Chapter Arts Centre, the home for contemporary arts in Wales, shows indie films and plays. Head to The Sherman Theatre for cutting-edge and classic shows. For a good laugh, check out The Glee Club for top-notch stand-up comedy.
The annual Vintage for Victory festival where you can learn about all things retro is one of the best-kept secrets on the Cardiff event calendar.
For the revellers
See undiscovered bands at Clwb Ifor Bach, a music venue and nightclub. Enjoy live music and alternative acts at the Tramshed or live it up at the LGBT+ venue Pulse.
For the foodies
Cardiff’s food scene serves up way more than Welsh cakes. With a growing food and drink scene, you will get plenty of opportunities to get a taste of the city from several cool cafes, street food stalls, and much-loved farmers’ markets.
Take your pick from authentic Italian pasta, Indian street food, Danish pastries, and more.
For the shopaholics
Cardiff offers a tempting blend of big brands, department stores, indie shops, and pop-ups. Find the latest fashions at St David’s shopping centre or stock up on essentials at Cardiff’s first zero-waste shop, Ripple Living.
Shoppers can wander through the Welsh capital’s Victorian arcades and find vintage clothing, incense-filled trinket shops, the world’s oldest record store (Spillers Records), and art galleries. The historic Cardiff Market hosts everything from fishmongers to fortune-tellers.
Studying at Cardiff University
Cardiff University is known internationally for its outstanding research and world-class excellence in higher education.
Excellence in teaching
A top 40 university in Europe (37th) for teaching excellence (2019 Times Higher Education Europe Teaching Rankings), Cardiff maintains a high standard of teaching.
Its academic staff is made up of a big cohort of distinguished individuals, including Nobel Prize winners and Royal Society Fellows staff.
A seven-time Queen’s Anniversary Prize awardee, the university’s academic prowess is demonstrated by it placing as the 151st best university in the world according to the 2022 QS World University Rankings and 189th in the 2022 Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
World-leading research
A member of the prestigious Russell Group, Cardiff is in the top tier of Britain’s research universities. A top 5 university for research quality, it is ranked 2nd in the UK for its research impact (Research Excellence Framework 2014).
The university’s research department is tackling and impacting major challenges facing society, the economy, and the environment. It has managed breakthroughs in areas such as Alzheimer’s disease, breast cancer, nuclear waste disposal and the UK school food reform.
State-of-the-art facilities
With more than 300 study programmes, including full-time, part-time, blended learning, and distance learning courses, there’s plenty of study options to choose from at Cardiff University.
And you’ll be studying in modern, well-equipped learning facilities.
Cathays Park campus
With wide tree-lined avenues and elegant Portland stone buildings, the Cathays Park campus, where most of the university’s Academic Schools are based, is an inspiring place to study.
The campus hosts 22 of 26 academic schools, each of which has its own specialist resources and facilities.
It’s equipped with modern state-of-the-art facilities including new labs, lecture theatres, IT suites, several libraries, and 24/7 security and comprehensive CCTV coverage.
It also has great location, being less than half a mile from Cardiff’s vibrant city centre.
Heath Park campus
Just a mile from the city centre and next to 100 acres of parkland and playing fields, Heath Park hosts the university’s healthcare-related courses, except pharmacy and optometry.
It’s a dedicated healthcare campus shared with the University Hospital of Wales, one of the largest hospitals in the UK. The campus was recently equipped with an £18m Cochrane building with a three-storey library, labs, and seminar space and has operating theatres, lecture theatres, seminar rooms, and libraries on site.
It has residences nearby and is located just one mile north of the city centre.
Career guidance
Many of Cardiff University’s well-regarded academic programmes are developed in close collaboration with employers. The university’s continued strong partnerships with more than 60 professional bodies go a long way in its high employability (15th in the UK according to the 2018 Times Higher Education ranking).
According to a 2020 HESA Graduate Outcomes Survey, 95% of graduates who were working in the UK were in highly skilled employment 15 months after the end of their course.
The university provides its students with 24/7 support with self-development and career planning in the areas of skills development, job searches, interview preparation, and practical help.
Student life at Cardiff Uni
With one of the biggest, best, and most active students’ unions in the UK, you are bound to enjoy uni life during your time at Cardiff University.
Rated third in the UK by 2020 Whatuni Student Choice Awards, Cardiff Students’ Union is run by students, for students, and is home to a whole host of exciting live entertainment and activities, diverse clubs, and societies.
The Students’ Union has several on-site facilities including a number of food outlets, shops, a bookshop, a student letting agency, a nightclub, a pub, a hairdressing salon, and even a bank.
Great Hall
The Union regularly organises an array of large entertainment events that accommodate up to 4,000 students. Over 20 major concerts are held throughout the year at the 1,600-capacity Great Hall venue located on the first floor of the union building.
Clubs and societies
From course-based societies to the Harry Potter Society, the union has over 200 societies for students to get involved with.
Cardiff Volunteering provides students opportunities to improve the social, economic, and environmental state of local communities with a wide variety of different and exciting volunteer projects in and around the city.
The Athletic Union runs over 65 sports clubs, including a wide array of both individual and team sports.
History of Cardiff University
The university began teaching on 24 October 1883 and was incorporated by a royal charter the following year. It was the first university in Wales that allowed women to enrol.
In 1893, it became one of the founding institutions of the University of Wales and began awarding degrees. Cardiff awarded its first degree in 1896, two years after its School of Medicine opened. Its first medical degree (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery) was awarded two decades later in 1916 to Tudor Thomas.
The Queen officially opened the Medical Teaching Centre in 1971, three years prior to the Students’ Union opening.
1990 was a triumphant year for the university with The School of Electrical, Electronic, and Systems Engineering winning a gold medal at the first International Robotics Olympics for the design and build of the world’s fastest two-legged robot, and the student newspaper being crowned The Guardian’s Newspaper of the Year.
The university won another award in 1998 with the College of Medicine taking home the Queen’s Anniversary Prize for use of chemiluminescence in clinical settings.
A year later, it became the first university in Wales to become a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. That same year, the institution also changed its name to Cardiff University.
Shortly after merging with the University of Wales College of Medicine, the Privy Council approved a new Supplemental Charter granting Cardiff university status in December 2004. Months later, Cardiff became independent of the University of Wales and a new Supplemental Charter was formally granted by the Privy Council on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen.
Frequently asked questions about student accommodation near Cardiff University
How can I book private student accommodation near Cardiff University on Student.com?
It’s easy to book any student accommodation on Student.com. The search filters on this page will help you to find and compare properties. After selecting the one you want to rent, go to the property page by clicking ‘View rooms’.
On the property page you’ll need to choose your preferred room type as well as the dates when you’ll need the apartment. Once you’ve chosen, click ‘Book Now’ or ‘Enquire’. You’ll be asked to leave your details and you’ll soon receive a follow-up call from one of our booking consultants, answering any questions you may have and taking you through the next steps in the booking process once you’re ready to book.
Why should I choose private student accommodation rather than living in university halls?
Choosing a private student accommodation rather than university halls will provide several advantages. You can freely choose your room type, so if you want to share with flatmates or if you prefer a studio apartment just for yourself, you can get it on Student.com.
You can also choose the area of Cardiff you’d like to live in. Whether you want to live right next to your campus or a bit further south right in the city centre, you can find what you’re looking for on this page.
Do you list both flatshares and en suite rooms?
Yes, we do. We list three different types of rooms:
Shared Rooms allow two or more people to share the same room in separate beds. Other living spaces are shared with other student tenants from other rooms.
In a Private Room you get your own bedroom and, in some properties, also a private en suite bathroom. Other living facilities are shared with other students.
An Entire Place is a fully private property with everything just for you. You’ll have your own bedroom, an en suite bathroom, and a kitchenette, so you won’t have to share anything.
Do you offer student accommodation that is located in the city centre?
Yes, many of the properties we list in Cardiff are right in the city centre.
Are bills included in the rent?
Bills are included in the rent in most of the properties we list, but always confirm if this is the case in the property you’re interested in. You can see if the bills are included on the property page. If you’re not sure, our booking consultants will also be able to help.
Can I see the flat before moving in?
Many of the flats we list in Cardiff have an excellent array of photos and videos on the property pages, so you’ll be able to get a good idea of what your new home will look like even if you won’t see it before moving in.
However, if you’d prefer to check out the place for yourself before signing the contract, this can be arranged as well. Just give us a call and our booking consultants can arrange a viewing for you for a day that suits your schedule.
