Cardiff University Ranking

For Indian students planning to study in the UK, choosing the right university is the most critical decision. University rankings are a powerful tool to measure an institution's global reputation, academic quality, and research output—factors that directly impact your career prospects and post-study work opportunities. As a member of the prestigious Russell Group, Cardiff University is already on the radar for many aspiring students.

This page provides a comprehensive and unbiased look at the Cardiff University ranking for 2026 and beyond. We have gathered the latest data from trusted global sources like QS, Times Higher Education (THE), ARWU, and U.S. News. Our goal is to give you a clear, data-driven analysis of Cardiff's global and subject-level performance, helping you make an informed choice.

QS World University Ranking 2026 – Cardiff University

The QS World University Rankings are one of the most-watched international rankings, especially by students and employers in India. A high QS rank often signals strong academic and employer reputation worldwide. For Indian students, this is a key indicator of the university's global standing and the potential value of its degree in the international job market.

Cardiff University's position at #186 in the world firmly places it within the top 200 global universities. This ranking confirms its status as a leading institution, blending high-quality teaching with pioneering research. For an Indian student, graduating from a top-200 university adds significant weight to their CV, enhancing credibility with employers both in the UK and back home. This level of prestige, combined with its Russell Group affiliation, signals a strong academic environment.

QS Ranking Trend (Last 5 Years)

Looking at ranking trends is just as important as the current year's rank. It tells you if a university's global reputation is rising, stable, or facing new challenges. This table shows Cardiff University's journey in the QS rankings over the past five years.

Over the last five years, Cardiff University has consistently remained within the world's top 200, a hallmark of a stable and respected institution. The recent shift in its 2026 rank reflects an increasingly competitive global education landscape and periodic adjustments in the QS ranking methodology. While its rank has fluctuated, its continued presence in this elite group underscores its enduring academic strength and research impact, which remain key assets for any student.

Cardiff University QS Subject Rankings 2026

While the overall university rank gives you a big-picture view, the subject-specific rankings are what matter most for your specific course. These rankings highlight the university's strengths at the departmental level. If you are targeting a specific career in Engineering, Business, or Media, the subject rank is a more accurate measure of the quality of education and research you can expect.

Below are some of the standout subject rankings for Cardiff University, which are popular choices among Indian students.

Cardiff University's global excellence in specific fields is immediately clear. Its School of Journalism, Media and Culture is world-renowned, with its Communication & Media Studies program ranked 23rd globally. This makes it a premier destination for students aspiring to careers in media and communications. Strong performances in Architecture, Pharmacy, and Engineering further demonstrate the depth of its academic offerings, assuring students that they will receive a top-tier education in these specialised fields.

Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking 2025 – Cardiff University

The Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings are another crucial benchmark, widely respected for their comprehensive and balanced methodology. THE places a stronger emphasis on research, teaching environment, and citations. For students interested in postgraduate research (Masters or PhD), a strong THE rank indicates a university with a robust research ecosystem and academic influence.

Cardiff’s position at #190 in the latest THE rankings is remarkably consistent with its QS rank, reinforcing its status as a top-tier global university. This consistency across two different ranking systems is a strong signal of all-around institutional quality. It tells Indian students that whether you prioritise reputation (QS) or research environment (THE), Cardiff performs exceptionally well in both aspects.

THE Global Ranking Trend (Last 5 Years)

A stable trend in the THE rankings points to sustained excellence in teaching quality, research output, and international collaboration.

The five-year trend for Cardiff University in the THE rankings is a picture of remarkable stability. Staying within a tight band of #187-#191 for five consecutive years is a significant achievement. This consistency demonstrates a well-managed, high-performing institution with a durable academic and research infrastructure. For students, this translates to a reliable and predictable standard of excellence.

Cardiff University THE Subject Rankings 2025

Similar to QS, THE also provides rankings by subject. These can help you validate your choice of course by seeing how it's rated by a different, research-focused methodology.

The strong subject rankings from THE complement what we saw in the QS data. The high rank for Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences aligns with Cardiff's world-leading status in media and communication studies. Strong showings in Business, Economics, and Engineering confirm that the university provides quality education across a wide range of popular disciplines, making it a versatile choice for Indian students with diverse career goals.

Other Global Rankings 2025 (ARWU & U.S. News)

To get a complete 360-degree view, it's wise to look at other major global rankings like the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU) and the U.S. News & World Report Best Global Universities. ARWU focuses heavily on research output and prestigious awards (like Nobel Prizes), while U.S. News considers a broad range of research and reputation metrics.

Cardiff's consistent placement within the top 200 across all four major global rankings is a powerful testament to its quality. The ARWU ranking, which is notoriously difficult to score high in due to its focus on elite research, places Cardiff in the top 151-200 bracket, confirming its identity as a serious research powerhouse. This cross-system consistency provides a final layer of assurance for Indian students that Cardiff University is a globally respected and credible institution.

Ranking Methodology Snapshot: QS vs. THE

Ever wondered why a university's rank differs between QS and THE? It's because they measure different things. Here’s a simple breakdown for students:

QS World University Rankings Focus On:

• Academic & Employer Reputation (45%): A large portion is based on global surveys of academics and employers. This is why QS is often seen as a measure of prestige and brand value.
• Faculty/Student Ratio (10%): Measures teaching capacity.
• Citations per Faculty (20%): Measures research impact.
• International Metrics (15%): Ratio of international students and faculty.
• New Metrics (10%): International Research Network, Employment Outcomes, Sustainability.

Times Higher Education (THE) Rankings Focus On:

• Teaching (29.5%): The learning environment, including reputation, staff-to-student ratio, and doctorate-to-bachelor’s ratio.
• Research Environment (29%): Volume, income, and reputation of research.
• Research Quality (30%): Citations, research strength, and excellence.
• International Outlook (7.5%): International students, staff, and collaboration.
• Industry (4%): Knowledge transfer and industry income.

In short, QS heavily weights reputation, while THE gives a more balanced score across teaching, research, and citations. Cardiff's strong performance in both shows it is a well-rounded university.

Understanding how Cardiff University's rankings are determined involves exploring the methodologies used by major ranking bodies: QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education (THE), US News & World Report, and Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU). 

Each of these organisations employs distinct criteria to assess and rank universities globally.

1. QS World University Rankings: 

• QS ranks universities based on six key indicators: academic reputation, employer reputation, faculty/student ratio, citations per faculty, international faculty ratio, and international student ratio.
• Cardiff University's position in these rankings reflects its strong performance in research, teaching quality, and global engagement.

The QS World University Rankings use a methodology based on six indicators:

The Times Higher Education World University Rankings use a multi-indicator approach that is divided into five main areas:

The US News Global Universities Ranking uses 13 objective indicators to evaluate universities worldwide:

The ARWU Ranking Methodology, also known as the Shanghai Ranking, uses six objective indicators to evaluate universities worldwide: