Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cardiff Metropolitan University is a public university in Cardiff teaching on two campuses, Llandaff and Cyncoed. It took its present name in 2011 and traces back to the Cardiff School of Art opened in 1865.
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One record matters more than any ranking when reading a university page: the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits an institution to issue the CAS a student visa requires. Cardiff Metropolitan University is on it. The visa itself is set out at UK visas and immigration.
01
What kind of university is Cardiff Metropolitan University?
Cardiff Metropolitan University is a public university in Cardiff, founded in 2011 under its present name, from the Cardiff School of Art opened in 1865. It carried the name University of Wales Institute, Cardiff between 1996 and 2011, and teaches on two campuses.
The two campuses divide the provision: Llandaff, next to the city centre, holds art, design, management and health; Cyncoed holds the sport facilities and most of the halls. The art school traces back to 1865.
02
Which subjects stand out at Cardiff Metropolitan University?
The subjects Cardiff Metropolitan University is known for are sport and exercise science, art and design, business and management, tourism and events, health sciences and education. Sport is taught at Cyncoed and management at Llandaff, so the campus follows the subject.
sport and exercise science
taught alongside the sport facilities at Cyncoed
art and design
the school tracing back to the Cardiff School of Art of 1865
business and management
including the MBA, in Cardiff School of Management
tourism and events
tourism, hospitality and event management
health sciences
biomedical science, nutrition and the health professions
education
education studies and teacher training
Programmes are searched from the university's own course catalogue, where each page carries the entry requirement, the syllabus and the fee in one place.
03
What are the entry requirements at Cardiff Metropolitan University?
Cardiff Metropolitan University admits undergraduates on A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification; a Turkish high school diploma alone is not accepted for direct entry. Postgraduate admission rests on a bachelor's degree and each programme publishes its own requirement.
On English language ability the admissions pages take IELTS Academic at 6.0 as the baseline for undergraduate programmes; some departments publish a component score requirement or a higher threshold. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Which documents are required?
Degree certificate and transcript
with a certified English translation
Proof of English
IELTS Academic, TOEFL iBT or PTE Academic
Personal statement
your own account of why you chose the course
Reference letter
one at undergraduate level, usually two at postgraduate level
Passport
so the identity details match the application
04
How much are tuition fees at Cardiff Metropolitan University?
Cardiff Metropolitan University publishes the international tuition fee on each programme's own page; there is no single central tariff. The student visa fee and the annual immigration health surcharge are added on top, and the university offers its own scholarships to international students.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Student visa application (from outside the UK) | £558 |
| Immigration health surcharge (per year) | £776 |
| Maintenance to evidence, outside London (monthly) | £1,171 |
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05
What is campus and student life like in Cardiff?
Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales, and student life divides between Llandaff next to the city centre and Cyncoed, where the halls and the sport facilities are concentrated. London is around two hours away by train.
A university bus runs between the two campuses. Cardiff carries a large student population across several institutions, and the cost of living sits below London's.
06
How is an application to Cardiff Metropolitan University made?
Undergraduate applications to Cardiff Metropolitan University go through UCAS with up to five programme choices, and the equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Postgraduate and doctoral applications are submitted through the university's own online portal.
- Programme choice: the course catalogue gives the department, the requirement and the fee.
- Documents: transcript, diploma, personal statement, references and English language evidence.
- Submission: UCAS for undergraduate study, the university's portal for postgraduate.
- Offer: conditional or unconditional, with the conditions stated.
- CAS: issued once the offer is accepted and the deposit is paid.
The step after the CAS is the student visa itself, and its published conditions are set out at UK visas and immigration.
How does the application timetable run, month by month?
| Period | Step |
|---|---|
| May–September 2026 | Researching courses, sitting the English test and preparing documents |
| September 2026 | UCAS applications open |
| 15 October 2026 | Deadline for medicine, dentistry, veterinary science, Oxford and Cambridge |
| 13 January 2027 | Equal consideration deadline for undergraduate applications |
| February–May 2027 | University decisions and firming up choices |
| June–August 2027 | Meeting conditions, receiving the CAS and applying for the Student visa |
07
Frequently asked questions
Can I apply to Cardiff Metropolitan University directly with a Turkish high school diploma?
A Turkish high school diploma is not accepted on its own for direct entry to an undergraduate programme. Applicants complete a foundation year, or hold A-Levels, the International Baccalaureate or an equivalent qualification.
Which English language tests are accepted?
IELTS Academic is accepted and the level required is published on each programme's page, with 6.0 as the undergraduate baseline. Other tests approved by the Home Office are accepted where a programme lists them.
Does Cardiff Metropolitan University issue a CAS for a student visa?
Yes. Cardiff Metropolitan University appears on the Home Office register of student sponsors, which is what permits it to issue the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies a student visa application requires.
When is the undergraduate application deadline?
The UCAS equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027. Applications arriving after that date are considered where places remain on the programme.
Sources
- Cardiff Metropolitan University — Admission requirements, the course catalogue and scholarship information are published on the institution's own pages. — 26 August 2026
- UCAS — The equal consideration deadline for 2027 entry is 13 January 2027 and an undergraduate application carries up to five programme choices.
- GOV.UK — The student visa application fee, the annual immigration health surcharge and the maintenance figure an applicant evidences are published by the Home Office. — 26 August 2026
- Discover Uni — Course-level continuation, outcome and student satisfaction data are published by Discover Uni. — 26 August 2026
