Drexel in Wales: Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a large research university located in Cardiff, Wales. The university is ranked 22nd in the United Kingdom and 122nd in the world. Founded in 1833, Cardiff University is the second oldest university in Wales.
This program is open to all majors, with preference given to engineering majors.
Study abroad students at Cardiff are fully integrated into the university and study alongside Welsh and other international students.
Cardiff is the capital of Wales, as well as the largest city in Wales. It’s the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. Located only 2 hours from London, Cardiff is easy to get to and travel to other destinations in Europe. It’s a compact city, easy to walk around, and very accessible.
Cardiff has it all: great shopping, vibrant nightlife, big sports, beautiful campus with a castle next door, and it’s on the water. It’s also one of the most affordable cities in the United Kingdom.
To learn more about the exchange program at Cardiff, click here.
- 3.0 minimum GPA
- Sophomore status or higher
Course Availability
Module Catalog: Use this to search for coursework offered at Cardiff University. Note that courses are called “modules” at Cardiff.
Course Equivalencies
Students will need to get courses approved by the appropriate department for each course they plan to take at Cardiff. For example, to take a sociology course at Cardiff for Drexel credit, its equivalent must be pre-approved by the Sociology Department at Drexel.
Grading
Students are taught and graded by Welsh faculty at Cardiff. Grades are noted as "CR/NCR" on their transcript and will NOT affect their GPA. In order to receive CR, students must earn a "C" or above at the host institution. Students must be a full-time student at the host institution while also taking the equivalent of a full-time load at Drexel.
Cardiff University operates on a semester system.
Click here for the academic calendar.
Fall Semester Dates and Itinerary
| Program Start Date |
Mid September |
| Program End Date |
Late January |
Coursework ends before winter break but exams take place in January. Students will need to work with Cardiff to see if they can either take their exams early or have the Drexel Study Abroad Office proctor their Cardiff exams in January. It is your responsibility to ensure that you can take exams early or at Drexel, and to make the appropriate arrangements with both universities.
Spring Semester Dates and Itinerary
| Program Start Date |
Mid January |
| Program End Date |
Mid June |
Drexel students will need to leave their fall/winter co-op early in order to be at Cardiff in time for spring semester. Students will return to Drexel in time for summer term.
Students are guaranteed a single-occupancy place in University residences for the full duration of their time in Cardiff. To learn more about housing,
click here.
U.S. Citizens do not need a visa to go to the United Kingdom. Non-U.S. citizens can verify if a visa is needed on the
British Consulate Visa page.
Program Costs
This is a Drexel sponsored program, thus all Drexel tuition and financial aid remain the same during theterm abroad. For program costs, please consult the budget sheet.
Financial Aid
Financial aid applies for this program. Students who receive Federal Work Study should consider applying for the Study Abroad Online Journalist work study position (after acceptance).
Scholarships
To seek additional funding, review the Scholarship & Funding Opportunities. Remember that scholarship deadlines may be much earlier than study abroad deadlines, so plan accordingly. Students may also want to submit a revised budget to the Financial Aid Office to see if additional funding may be available.
For more information on these and many other scholarship opportunities, visit our Scholarships page.
- Students who receive Federal Pell Grant should apply for the Gilman Scholarship. Awards up to $3,000 for U.S. citizen undergraduate students that receive the Federal Pell Grant.
- BUTEX scholarship for students studying abroad in the UK at affiliated institutions.
