Study Abroad Programs in Cardiff, Wales

Studying abroad in Cardiff will leave you with hiraeth: the sense of longing for the green, green grass of home. Wales’ capital will almost instantly feel like a home away from home—making it hard to leave. But why talk about the end when this is only the beginning?! This thriving, growing, modern city also has an epic 2,000 plus year history waiting to be discovered, in a place with more castles than any other country in the world. Cardiff study abroad means epic exploration!

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2 Cardiff, Wales Study Abroad Programs

IFSA, Institute for Study Abroad

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IFSA: Cardiff University Partnership

From rich folklore to the Welsh language, Cymraeg, Wales has its own traditions and culture, distinct from England’s. Discover them on the coast of Wales, at a university known for its strong bioscience, chemistry, computer science, and informatics programs. Love languages? The Language for All program offers free classes and resources. Into science? The university is home to the Morgan-Botti Lightning Laboratory—Europe’s only university-based laboratory for studying the direct effects of lightning strikes. Beyond academics, the university has one of the UK’s most active student unions, with 200+ societies, 60+ sports clubs, and live music events. Leave time to explore: From 2,000-year-old Roman fortifications to the ultramodern Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff blends history, culture, and natural beauty. Step inside Cardiff Castle or venture beyond the city to discover rugged peaks and stunning waterfalls—every moment here is worth savoring. See more of the UK with IFSA excursions and activities, all included in your program. Possibilities include a West End theater performance, a chance to try your hand in the Big London Bake experience, and exploring Stonehenge.

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Arcadia Abroad

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Arcadia Abroad - Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama

Hone your craft at the Welsh National Conservatoire, surrounded by stunning natural beauty. The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is located in the heart of Cardiff, overlooking beautiful urban parkland and only a 5-minute stroll from the city center. Its quality of education, excellent teaching, and thriving arts community make for an unforgettable semester in one of the world’s most scenic places. Experience world-class instruction in Music Performance and Advanced Music Study, catering to a variety of instruments and performance styles. Study here and experience a part of the world steeped in Arthurian myths and legends—Wales offers plenty to explore, with thousand-year-old castles and medieval cities, such as Chester and York, within easy reach. Big cities like London, Liverpool, Manchester, and Dublin are just a few hours away. If you are a student looking for an immersive experience, enjoy independence, and are attracted to the lifestyle of an affordable smaller city, this program could be just what you’re looking for.

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A Guide to Studying Abroad in Cardiff

What you need to know about studying abroad in Cardiff, Wales

Cardiff is home to top-ranked universities, great museums, and an up-and-coming food scene; it’s also a great jumping-off point for hiking through breathtaking scenery.

Popular subjects to study. Cardiff is a great place to study just about anything. In addition to English, Welsh is an official language in Wales, and one of the oldest living languages in Europe. The Welsh people are extremely proud of their culture and language. In addition to rolling green hills, historic castles, and sky-high mountains, Wales has miles and miles of coastline. Hop across the pond to study marine biology. Don’t leave your sonic screwdriver at home when you head to Cardiff to study filmmaking. Dr. Who was filmed here!

Short term & summer programs vs. long term programs. Deciding to study abroad is a big deal and a full semester or year is not for everyone. That’s ok. There are plenty of short and summer programs out there. You can have the experience of a lifetime without having to commit long term. If you do have the time and interest though, you can study in Cardiff for longer, like semester or year-long programs. Cardiff University welcomes more than 7,000 students from over 100 countries every year. As an international student in Cardiff, you’ll have the opportunity to make Welsh friends, as well as friends from all over the world.

Attending university vs. other program types. Cardiff study abroad is truly an excellent place for university students. Cardiff University is perfectly located for its students to take full advantage of everything the rapidly growing and modernizing city has to offer. A study abroad program at a university offers all of the resources of a traditional school, as well as the possibility for your credits to transfer to your home institution. On the other hand, programs through a third party often allow students to pursue more non-traditional options. These programs can offer more choices that you may not find in a traditional university setting. Regardless of which program you choose, studying abroad in Cardiff will be an epic adventure!

Latest Program Reviews

Great experience--so many opportunities!

November 04, 2019by: Ally Klein - United States

Program: IFSA: Cardiff University Partnership

I absolutely loved my study abroad experience through IFSA. My home university isn't always the best with communication, but luckily IFSA is awesome with it! They always answered my every question (and let me tell you, I had tons!) and never took too long to respond. The actual location of the experience was amazing as well. Cardiff is a beautiful city that is so close to many amazing places in Wales and Great Britain. We were able to easily travel around to anywhere we wanted to go. Cardiff University was very helpful with study abroad students, and they had so many options for classes! I took my required classes, as well as classes I was just plain interested in (Witches, Magic and the Occult)! It will always be difficult to communicate with people back home due to the time difference, but IFSA has people in place that are near to you that are always available to help! Andrew was amazing and took us out to lunch and was always available for a chat. Everyone I met was awesome and I made some lifelong friends and memories that I will always cherish!