A cosmopolitan city and Europe’s youngest capital, Cardiff is an ideal place to spend your university years. Offering everything you would expect from a capital city - major sporting events at the Millennium Stadium, hundreds of pubs, bars and clubs, world-class entertainment, arts and theatre, shops ranging from vintage boutiques to high-street favourites, and chic waterside bars and restaurants in Cardiff Bay.

All the sights of the city are also just under an hour away from the spectacular natural beauty of the Brecon Beacons, and the famous unspoilt beaches of the Gower Peninsular. Small enough to be friendly, easy to get around and relatively inexpensive, but big enough to offer all the best bits of living in a major city - you can’t beat being a student in Cardiff.

Here are just a few more reasons why Cardiff is a great place to study:

Cost of Living

Cardiff is one of the best value University cities, according to The Royal Bank of Scotland's Student Living Index and came top of the list in 2007.

The Index ranks Britain's major university towns by plotting average student expenditure on living and housing costs against income from term-time employment. 

Find out more about Cardiff on a budget here.

Nightlife

Cardiff’s nightlife scene centres around the city centre, Mermaid Quay in Cardiff Bay, and in the student areas of Cathays and Roath. Choose from a wide range of bars, pubs and clubs, and when the weather’s right, enjoy a drink on the outdoor terraces of Mill Lane or the Brewery Quarter.

International acts including Take That and Madonna have performed in Cardiff’s Millennium Stadium and bands often stop off at large venues such as the Cardiff Motorpoint Arena and Cardiff University Students Union as part of their UK tours. If you want to watch up-and-coming local bands and musicians, then head for the smaller live music venues such as the famous Clwb Ifor Bach (Welsh Club). 

For more information on Cardiff's pubs and clubs click here.

Events

Cardiff hosts a range of international and regional events, attracting people of all ages and tastes. From world famous artists, international sporting events, to local food & drink festivals, there will always be something to keep you busy.

For a more inclusive look at Cardiff's event highlights, click here.

Culture

Shopping

Whether it’s the charm of the Victorian arcades, the exclusivity of the city’s boutiques, the bustling indoor market, or the glossy high street brands of St David's - Dewi Sant and Queen Street, Cardiff has it in the bag. Cardiff has been named as one of the UK’s top shopping destinations. 

Find out more here.