Swansea University is a well-respected public research university in Swansea, United Kingdom. It is a medium-sized university with around 15,000 undergraduate students. It has highly competitive admissions with a total acceptance rate of around 14%. Top majors are Engineering, Medicine, Business, Law, and Environmental Science. The graduation rate in six years is around 81%, and Swansea graduates have a median starting salary of around INR 6,50,000 (around £6,500 median income a decade after graduation).
Cardiff University is a public research university located in Cardiff, United Kingdom. It is a large university with an approximate 22,000 undergraduate student population. Admissions are selective, with an acceptance rate of around 20% overall. Popular fields of study include Medicine, Engineering, Law, Business, and Social Sciences. The six-year graduation rate is around 84%, and Cardiff graduates have a median starting salary of around INR 7,50,000 (approximately £7,500 median earnings a decade after graduation).
| Swansea University | Cardiff University | |
|---|---|---|
| Collegedunia Score | 4.3 Out of 10 | 5.2 Out of 10 |
| ranking (overall) | # 32 The Guardian 2026 # 292 QS World University 2026 # 301 Times Higher Education 2026 | # 37 The Guardian 2026 # 181 QS World University 2026 # 201 Times Higher Education 2026 |
| Subject Strength | # 220 for Engineering by QS World University 2025 # 301 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 54 for Law by The Guardian 2026 | # 201 for Engineering by Times Higher Education 2025 # 155 for Medicine by QS World University 2025 # 51 for Law by The Guardian 2026 |
| Programs | UG Programs -154 PG Programs -77 | UG Programs -225 PG Programs -163 Doctorate Programs -139 |
| Acceptance Rate | 14.0 % | 20.0 % |
| Exam Score | GMAT-590 IELTS-6 PTE-67 TOEFL-88 | GMAT-570 IELTS-7 PTE-70 TOEFL-90 |
| Cost to Study | Average Tuition Fees 17649 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 29744 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 8325 Per Year | Average Tuition Fees 25288.0 [For UG Program] Average Tuition Fees 28974 [For PG Program] Hostel + Meal - 8670 Per Year |
| placement (average package) | Some of the programs and the average salary are as follows: LLM: $53,000 Doctorate: $51,000 Masters in Management: $48,000 Bachelor of Science: $36,000 Masters in Science: $35,000 Bachelor of Arts: $30,000 | 96% of Cardiff University graduates receive full-time employment within 15 months of their graduation. Top companies: Accenture, Google, HSBC, JLL, Deloitte, KPMG, BBC, Pfizer, Unilever, Jacobs, IBM, etc.
|
| application requirements | Submit English language proficiency scores Check program specific requirements | Submit official transcripts Submit English language proficiency Check program specific requirements |
| CollegeDunia Reviews | 7.2/10 Read 13 reviews | 8.0/10 Read 20 reviews |
Top Courses Comparison
| ranking | # 93 for Business by The Guardian 2026 # 151 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 176 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 | # 31 for Business by The Guardian 2026 # 151 for Business by QS World University 2026 # 151 for Business by Times Higher Education 2025 |
| exam scores | IELTS - 6.5/9 | IELTS - 7/9PTE - 76/90TOEFL - 100/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -26500 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -49700 |
| documents required | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose | #Letter of Recommendation + Statement of Purpose |
| ranking | # 351 for Economics by QS World University 2025 # 251 for Economics by Times Higher Education 2023 | # 251 for Economics by QS World University 2025 # 187 for Economics by Times Higher Education 2023 |
| exam scores | IELTS - 6/9PTE - 67/90TOEFL - 88/120 | IELTS - 6.5/9PTE - 42/90TOEFL - 90/120 |
| cost to study | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -17649 | Total Cost (Tuition + Living) -24354 |
| application dates | Oct 30, 2024 (Application Deadline For January Intake) Aug 28, 2025 (Application Deadline For September Intake) | Jan 31, 2024 (UCAS 2024 Application Deadline) |
Other Popular Comparisons
| General Facts | Swansea University | Cardiff University |
|---|---|---|
| Type of University | University | University |
| Established | 1920 | 1883 |
| Student:Faculty Ratio | 17:1 | 13:1 |
| Male:Female | 55% Male, 45% Female | 42% Male, 58% Female |
| Location Facts | Swansea University has operated as a dual-campus university with the 'Park Campus' located in its traditional Singleton Park grounds, and the Bay Campus, at Crymlyn Burrows. | Cardiff is located on the coast of South Wales and is easy to reach from many places in the UK and overseas. Cardiff is an accessible city, benefiting from excellent road, rail, and air communications. Using the high-speed train service, London is reached in approximately two hours. |
| Library | Swansea University Libraries and Archives provide high-quality information services for all students and staff, as well as the public, constantly developing these services to support the University's learning, teaching, research and corporate activities. All Libraries and Archives are open to all. Singleton Campus Library is the largest of the university Libraries, located at the Singleton Campus. The Library's collection is multidisciplinary, however it primarily serves the Colleges of Arts and Humanities, Science, Medicine, Law, and Human and Health Sciences. The other libraries are Bay campus library, South Wales Miners library, Banwen library and St. David’s library. | Cardiff’s libraries hold over 1.1 million printed books and provide access to more than 1.5 million online books, journals, and resources. 10 separate libraries spread throughout both campuses. Some libraries and IT rooms are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Specialist libraries include architecture, health and journalism. 100,000 rare items, several of which can be viewed on a 40" 3D touch-screen and turning pages software. |
| Campus Life | Swansea University Students' Union is the students' union for Swansea University. Known as the SU, it supports more than 170 student clubs including African-Caribbean, Chinese, Hellenic and Indian societies, among others. The Union runs student bars and nightclubs, a travel shop offering trips around the UK and Europe, a radio station, nursery, launderette and shops. Sport Swansea offers more than 50 sports clubs and has over 5000 active members, covering sports ranging from rugby and aikido, dodgeball, and hockey to tae kwon do. | Cardiff University is made up of two large, well-located campuses. Over 90 languages are spoken here. Cardiff University Students' Union supports over 200 student societies and 60 sports clubs with more than 10,000 members. |
| Hostel | #Rent - $8325 | #Rooms - $6720 |
| Famous Alumni | Ron Jones, Director of Tinopolis Peter Black, MS for South Wales West Shekhar Dutt, Former governor of the Indian state of Chhattisgarh | Gwilym Lee (British actor), Susanna Reid (English television presenter and journalist), Alice May Roberts (English biological anthropologist, biologist, television presenter, and author), Barham Salih (Iraqi politician of Kurdish origin), Vedhika Kumar (Indian actress), Susmita Bhattacharya (Writer, Poet), Sir Karl Jenkins (Composer and Musician). |
| City Life | Swansea, in the south of Wales, is fast becoming one of the most popular places to live in the UK. It is both a city and a county, with a population of 244,500. This waterfront location is a vibrant and desirable modern city: offering a great urban lifestyle alongside beautiful coastline and beaches. Swansea is actually Wales’ second most populated city and county, offering all the benefits and amenities of a built-up urban environment, alongside a 5 mile stretch of pristine sandy coastline. Swansea is a proud Welsh city: much like the rest of Wales, there is a strong sense of patriotism. In fact, 13% of the population of Swansea county now speaks Welsh, and there’s been a resurgence of Welsh only speaking schools as a result. If you’re a fan of the performing arts and music, Swansea is for you. The city is home to multiple live music venues, showcasing everything from small gigs to orchestral performances. Annually, the city hosts a number of different festivals, attracting artists from across Wales and the UK. The city is lively and fun. with recent investment and development creating a sense of revived creativity. New regeneration is planned which will only increase the popularity of the city, the amenities, and modernity in Swansea. The city council has focussed on creating a culture of creativity and an emphasis on attracting tech led businesses. The Kingsway Digital Village will create workspaces designed for small businesses, start-ups and entrepreneurs. | Cardiff, the capital city of Wales, is a lively and student-friendly city. 2nd friendliest city in the UK and the top 5 most welcoming cities in the UK. There is a lot on offer whether students are looking for culture, outdoor activities, shopping, or great nightlife and the city has the added bonus that almost everything is within walking distance. Top Companies: Delloite, Amazon, Tesco, NHS, PwC, Starbucks, and many more. |
Swansea University vs Cardiff University
Subject Strength & Global Rankings (2025/2026)
Swansea University and Cardiff University both are top universities in Wales, UK, for research and educational opportunities, but they vary in global standing and strength of academics. As per the QS World University Rankings 2026, Cardiff University stands at 181 in the world, whereas Swansea University stands at 292. Based on the US News Global Rankings 2026, Cardiff University ranks 192 in the world, while Swansea ranks 427. Cardiff appears in the 201–250 band of THE World University Rankings 2026, whereas Swansea appears in the 301–350 band. Cardiff is especially noted for excellent research in medicine, engineering, environmental sciences, and social sciences. Swansea University is also well recognized for engineering, materials science, health, and creative industries and has a strong focus on research-led teaching and applied studies.
General Information
Cardiff University, founded in 1883, is a public research university based in Cardiff, the Welsh capital, with approximately 35,000 students. It is a member of the Russell Group, which is known for its research-focused efforts and high academic standards across the board.
Swansea University, established in 1920, is a reputable public research university in Swansea, Wales, which offers approximately 20,000 students its facilities. The university is renowned for its emphasis on teaching in line with research, especially in the fields of engineering, health sciences, and creative technologies, with robust regional and global collaborations.
Acceptance Rate & Admissions
Cardiff University is more competitive, with an acceptance rate of 20%, and admits high-achieving students, heavily relying on academic performance, test scores, and personal statements. Swansea University is even more competitive, with an acceptance rate of 14%, showing a highly admissions-weighted emphasis on academic performance and research potential. Both universities consider applicants in an holistic manner, looking at academic accomplishments, personal statements, and letters of recommendation.
Research Impact & Facilities
Cardiff University is a research behemoth, with renowned advanced research in the fields of medicine, engineering, social sciences, and environmental science. It has state-of-the-art research centers, large labs, and impressive funding, which leads to global high research impact.
Swansea University is focused on applied research and creative collaborations, particularly in engineering, health sciences, and creative industries. It has firm research infrastructure that works towards integrating industry requirements with academic research, but its research impact is not as extensive as that of Cardiff.
Cost & Financial Aid
Both the universities provide competitive fees for international and UK students compared to private universities. Cardiff University, as a Russell Group university, has more expensive tuition and research opportunities, whereas Swansea University is economical. Both universities provide financial aid, grants, and scholarships, particularly for international students and high-achieving students.
Career Outcomes & Alumni Success
Cardiff University alumni are extremely successful in a broad spectrum of sectors, especially in research, engineering, healthcare, public policy, and business. The high international profile and research intensity of Cardiff add to great career prospects, with most graduates employed in top international organizations and research institutes.
Swansea University alumni perform well in engineering, healthcare, and creative sectors, with the majority being employed in applied research, regional industries, and creative industries. Employability coupled with industry collaborations at the university guarantees firm career opportunities for the students.
