As Wales is such a beautiful country situated to the west of England on the Great Britain island, it’s no surprise that it attracts plenty of students aspiring to study in one of its universities every year.
If you’re looking to study at one of the best universities in Wales, this list will help point you in the right direction.
Without wasting much time, the following are the top 8 best universities in Wales, ranked by various criteria that make each school stand out on its own merit. Take a look to see if any of these might be the perfect school for you!
The Top 8 Best Universities in Wales
1. Cardiff University
Founded as University College, Cardiff in 1883, Cardiff University is a multi-campus public research university located in Wales’ capital city.
With over 33k students enrolled, it’s one of Europe’s largest higher education institutions. It offers a range of subjects, including medicine, chemistry, business, engineering, and many more.
Cardiff has been ranked among Times Higher Education’s top 200 universities consecutively over the years and was ranked 14th for graduate employability in 2016.
Cardiff University’s notable alumni include politicians, sportsmen, doctors, businessmen/women, and journalists such as Path Atherton, Lord Jenkins, Nathan Cleverly, Lorenzo Simonelli, and Alun Davies just to mention a few.
2. Swansea University
Swansea University was established in 1920 and is one of the most beautiful campuses in all of Great Britain. It also ranks 440 among other 1,300 higher institutions in the whole world according to QS World University Rankings 2022 edition.
SU was chartered and formerly known as the University of Wales Swansea in 1996 but formally adopted the Swansea University title on 1 September 2007.
The university hosts annual conferences featuring prominent leaders and thinkers in their respective fields. And its Innovation Hub grants students funds to bring their ideas to life.
If you’re interested in studying at a school with a long history of innovation, check out Swansea University. It’s definitely worth your time.
3. Bangor University
The University of Bangor is located in Bangor, North West Wales, and was founded way back in 1884. It received a Royal Charter back in 1885 making it one of the founding higher institutions of the federal University of Wales.
The original name for this university was University College of North Wales but underwent several name changes before it became known as The University of Bangor.
Bu is ranked 401 in the best World University rankings by THE (Times Higher Education) because of its top-notch teaching method and world-leading research.
Some of its prominent alumni are Danny Boyle, Martin J. Ball, Paul Alan Cox, Mary Dilys Glynne, Paul Bérenger, Colin Eaborn and so many more.
4. Aberystwyth University
This university is known for its obtained title of “Greatest Town” by the Academy of Urbanism in 2015 because of its cosmopolitan atmosphere and is also the first high institution in Wales to achieve the Green Flag Award for its top-notch campus.
Located on the stunning coast of west Wales, Aberystwyth has a beautiful campus, excellent research facilities, first-class sports, and student accommodation.
AU was originally named University College Wales when founded in 1872 but went through a series of name changes before it got permanently called Aberystwyth University in 2007.
There are so many departments at Aberystwyth University but are all organized into three main faculties. They are the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, Faculty of Earth and Life Sciences, and Faculty of Business and Physical Sciences.
5. Cardiff Metropolitan University
Formerly called the University of Wales Institute, CMU was founded in 1865 and has since then been both national and international students’ top choice.
The Cardiff Metropolitan University has a strong commitment to teaching and research and is home to more than 20,000 students from over 140 countries, 8,100 Undergraduates, and 2,820 Postgraduates.
Some of its most notable graduates include the Olympic gold medalist Lynn Davies, Micheal Buerk, Phil Carradice, Jill Dando, Sue Lawley, and many others.
The University also hosts an annual Conference for Reconciliation, exploring new ideas for building a shared future. It’s ranked 154 overall by QS World University 2020 rankings edition.
6. University of South Wales
The University of South Wales was established as an independent higher education institution on 11 April 2013.
It was formed from a merger between the University of Glamorgan and the University of Wales, two of the largest further and higher education institutions in Wales. The university has campuses located throughout South East Wales including Cardiff, Newport, and Pontypridd.
USW is reportedly the second-largest university in Wales because it’s home to massive 23,090 students, 17,765 Undergraduates, and 5,325 Postgraduates.
7. University of Wales Trinity Saint David
The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) is a multi-campus higher education institution with its main campuses in Swansea, Carmarthen, and Lampeter.
UWTSD was founded on 18 November 2010 when the University of Wales, Lampeter, and Trinity University College formed a merger together.
Despite the fact that it is recently founded and is one of the world’s youngest higher institutions, the University of Wales Trinity is already ranking 74th in the Guardian League Table, 1st for quality Education in Wales, and 6th in the Uk for student satisfaction.
A few of UWTSD’s notable alumni are Dewi Bebb, Steve Eaves, John C. Knapp, Peter Paphides, Ramzi Ahmed Yousef, and Malcolm Todd among all others.
8. Glyndwr University, Wrexham
Glyndwr University is a friendly, progressive, and vibrant Welsh university that boasts a modern campus, and excellent facilities with campuses in Wrexham, Northop, and St Asaph.
GUW was established in 1887 as Wrexham School of Science and Art but was granted full university title in 2008. It was named after a medieval age Welsh prince called Owain Glyndwr, he was the first man that suggested establishing universities in Wales.
Today, Glyndwr University is home to 6,045 students, 4,885 Undergraduates, and 1,160 Postgraduates. It’s also very affordable compared to other universities, just £6,000 per year for UK/EU students and under £9,000 for international students.
Conclusion
No wonder why Welsh universities are gaining traction and topping Worlds best Universities chart. Each institution on this list is constantly improving and working towards providing students with quality education and an exceptional experience.
So choose one or two of your choice, make your research, or contact the school authority via email if you would like to make further findings.
And do not hesitate to leave a comment below if you have a question or two about any university on this list or about the article in general.
