Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate

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Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
Cardiff University
Postgraduate
Prospectus 2020

www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
www.cardiff.ac.uk
Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
Contents
Why study a postgraduate course?                    2

About us
Why Cardiff University?                             6
Welcome to Wales                                    8
Cardiff: a capital city                           10
A global outlook                                  14
Accommodation                                     16
Teaching excellence                               18
My Cardiff story: Niki                            19
Groundbreaking research                           20

Supporting you
Student support and wellbeing                     24
Careers support                                   26
First-class facilities                            28
My Cardiff story: Olivier                         30
Sport		                                           31
Doctoral Academy                                  32
Funding your study                                34
Students’ Union                                   36

Studying with us
Choosing your course                              40
Conversion courses                                42
Studies to suit your lifestyle                    43
My Cardiff story: Anisa                           44
Academic schools                                  45
How to apply                                      78
Getting here                                      80
                                                        Contents

Course directory                   Inside back cover

                                    www.cardiff.ac.uk   1
Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
2   www.cardiff.ac.uk
Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
Why study a
postgraduate course?
Whether you’re looking to boost your
prospects after graduation, change direction
to follow a new career path or make sure you
get ahead of the competition in a challenging
jobs market, a postgraduate course can help
you achieve your goals.
Our programmes allow you to gain the skills,
knowledge and expertise you need to really
stand out from the crowd.
Enhance your career prospects
Undertaking a postgraduate course is one of the most effective ways
to advance your career to a higher level. The variety of skills and
expertise gained from your course can significantly improve your job
prospects, maximise your chance of securing work in a specific field
and increase your earning potential.

Achieve professional accreditation
If you need to gain professional accreditation to reach the next stage of
your career, a postgraduate course can help you achieve this. We offer
a variety of courses leading to professional accreditation, some of
which can be studied part-time alongside your employment.

Change your career path with a conversion course
If your undergraduate degree is not the field you want to work in, a        Why study a postgraduate course?
conversion course allows you to upskill in a different area so that you
can follow a new career path. We provide a wide range of conversion
courses in subjects including business, computer science and law,
where no prior knowledge or degree in the subject is required. You’ll
find all of our conversion courses within the course directory.

Further explore a subject you are passionate about
If you’re coming to the end of your undergraduate studies but you still
have the desire to learn or carry out research, a postgraduate course
can satisfy your intellectual curiosity by allowing you to explore a
subject in more depth.

Develop expert knowledge in a specialist area
Postgraduate study gives you the chance to really specialise in your
field and advance your knowledge of a particular subject area.

                                                    www.cardiff.ac.uk          3
Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
4   www.cardiff.ac.uk
Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
Ab
out
 Us
  www.cardiff.ac.uk   5
Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
Why Cardiff University?

    World-leading                                    95%
    research                                         The most recent DLHE* survey shows that
    Cardiff is in the top tier of Britain’s          95% of our postgraduate research students
    research universities and is a member of         and 93% of our postgraduate taught stu-
    the prestigious Russell Group. We are ranked     dents progressed to employment or further
    second nationally for research impact, and in    study within six months of graduation.
    the top 5 universities for research excellence   *Destination of Leavers from Higher Education (2016/17)
    in the UK.

    £500,000
    We invest up to £500,000 in our Master’s
                                                     300
    Excellence Scholarship scheme to support         We have more than 300 postgraduate study
    our most talented UK and EU students with        options for you to choose from, including
    their postgraduate studies. Each scholarship     full-time, part-time, blended learning and
    is worth a discount of £3,000 off your           distance learning courses.
    tuition fees.

    Top 10                                           Top 4
    Cardiff is recognised as one of the 10 most      Students’ Union in the UK
    beautiful universities in the UK (Times          (Times Higher Education
    Higher Education 2018).                          Student Experience Survey 2018).

6     www.cardiff.ac.uk
Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
7                                               2,500
We’ve been awarded seven Queen’s
                                                With more than 2,500 study spaces spread
Anniversary Prizes, which recognise
                                                across the University – including a number of
world-class excellence in UK Higher
                                                dedicated areas for postgraduate students
Education. We’re also home to a large cohort
                                                – you’re never far from somewhere
of distinguished staff, including two Nobel
                                                comfortable to get your work done.
Prize winners and 13 Royal Society Fellows.

An international                                £600 million
community                                       We’re undertaking our biggest campus
With over 7,900 international students from     upgrade for a generation by investing £600m
more than 130 countries, you’ll be part of a    to improve and develop our facilities and
vibrant community that celebrates its diverse   infrastructure.
culture.

60                                              380
Our Students’ Union offers more than            Our Doctoral Academy provides a
60 Athletic Union clubs to get involved in      central source for doctoral students to
throughout your postgraduate studies, and       access a comprehensive range of support.
we’re consistently ranked among the UK’s top    This includes hosting 380 workshops,
universities for sport in the annual British    conferences and networking events across
Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS)          the year to help you progress your project and
rankings.                                       develop your career.

                                                                           www.cardiff.ac.uk     7
Postgraduate Cardiff University - www.cardiff.ac.uk/postgraduate
8   www.cardiff.ac.uk
Small country.
Big heart.
Great ambition.
Croeso
That’s Welsh for ‘welcome’, and you’ll feel it
everywhere you go in Wales.
Welcome to a country of breathtaking natural beauty, where every day
a new experience awaits. Around every corner, a hidden gem: colourful
fishing villages and cosy inns, mountain vistas and cliff-top trails,
sandy bays and bustling cities.
Here you can discover 640 castles; more than any other country in
Europe. This is the land of magic and myth, of princes and dragons.
A land that has created writers and poets, musicians and athletes,
architects and engineers, scientists and philanthropists. A land that
has inspired generations to achieve their dreams.
This magical land is our home – and your home too. Croeso.

                                                                        Welcome to Wales

                                                   www.cardiff.ac.uk     9
Cardiff:
     a capital city
     Dynamic. Friendly. Affordable.
     Cardiff is a thriving and attractive city which is widely recognised as an outstanding place in which to
     live, work and study. Cardiff caters to all tastes, offering everything from the excitement of the city to the
     peace and tranquillity of the nearby coast and countryside.
     Contemporary, welcoming and easy to get around, the Welsh capital is a city with character, heritage and
     ambition. Cardiff combines all the advantages of a compact, friendly and affordable location with the
     cultural and recreational facilities of a modern capital city.

10   www.cardiff.ac.uk
Cardiff: a capital city

‘With an exhilarating mix of heavyweight cultural sights,
exciting regeneration projects, world-class sport, a prolific
music scene and some seriously banging nightlife, it’s easy to see
why Cardiff now ranks alongside London and Edinburgh as one
of the UK’s most compelling destinations.’ Rough Guides, 2018

                                                         www.cardiff.ac.uk   11
As you’d expect from a capital city,
     As one of the UK’s major sporting centres,        Cardiff is one of the UK’s leading retail
     Cardiff is home to the iconic 74,500-seat         destinations. Designer boutiques and
     Principality Stadium. The city hosts              high street names can be found within the
     professional football at the Cardiff City         St David’s Shopping Centre, which stands
     Stadium, rugby at the famous Arms Park and        alongside local independent shops,
     international cricket at Sophia Gardens.          numerous indoor and outdoor markets and a
     Cardiff also boasts an Olympic-sized              fascinating network of glass-canopied
     swimming pool, a white water rafting and          Victorian and Edwardian shopping arcades.
     canoe centre, ice rink and facilities to play a
     range of other sports.

     In the mood for some culture? Cardiff is
     well-equipped, with entertainment to suit all     Cardiff is a compact city, best explored on
     tastes. Cardiff Bay’s world-class Wales           foot or by bicycle. The city’s new Next Bikes
     Millennium Centre regularly plays host to         scheme has cycle racks located all over the
     touring West End musicals, as well as             city – and the first half hour of every journey
     concerts, drama and ballet. The city is also      is free to all Cardiff University students!
     home to the acclaimed Welsh National              Excellent transport links also make it easy to
     Opera, two thriving theatres, several multi-      travel across the city, south Wales and
     screen cinemas, comedy clubs and a well-          beyond, with London less than two hours
     established arts centre.                          away by rail.

12     www.cardiff.ac.uk
Boasting some 330 parks and gardens,
                                                 Cardiff benefits from an abundance of green
Following an investment of £2.4bn,               spaces. Our parks reach right into the heart
Cardiff Bay is regarded as one of the most       of the city centre, making the capital a green
successful regeneration projects in the          haven for exploring, relaxing and taking some
UK. The Bay boasts a modern development          time out.
of homes, shops, bars, restaurants, offices,
and entertainment and sport facilities.

                                                 Want to escape the hustle and bustle of
                                                 city life? The easily-accessible Brecon
                                                 Beacons National Park offers outstanding
                                                 scenery and wildlife, alongside ample opportu-
                                                 nity for all kinds of outdoor pursuits including
Cardiff is a truly cosmopolitan city and its
                                                 hiking and rock climbing. If it’s sea air you
multicultural vibe is reflected in its diverse
                                                 crave, take a wander along our stunning
range of cafes, restaurants and bars.
                                                 coastline by following the 870-mile Wales
No matter your preference, you’re sure to
                                                 Coastal Path: the only path in the world that
find plenty to suit your taste and budget.
                                                 follows a country’s coastline in its entirety.

 “Cardiff is a great place to be a student. Although it’s the capital of Wales,
                                                                                                    Cardiff: a capital city

 it isn’t a large city, which means most things are within walking distance.
 The centre is very compact and filled to the brim with bars, restaurants,
 cafes and shops. I also love Cardiff because of its surrounding areas:
 within half an hour I could either be looking out to sea in Penarth or
 climbing a mountain in the valleys.” David, MSc Data Science and Analytics

                                                                             www.cardiff.ac.uk      13
A global outlook
     Cardiff is a friendly, diverse and global university. We welcome over 7,900
     students from more than 130 countries each year, who come to Cardiff to fulfil
     their potential through our postgraduate taught and research programmes. We
     understand that choosing to study abroad can be a big decision. That’s why
     we’re here to help you every step of the way.

14   www.cardiff.ac.uk
As an international student, you can benefit from a range of specialist
support services designed to make your move to Cardiff as
straightforward as possible:
Application guidance
Our international team offers a dedicated advice service to help guide
you through the process of applying to study at Cardiff. You can contact
our international team at any point before, during and after the
application process, and we’ll answer any questions you may have.
A warm welcome
We offer an airport collection service from both Cardiff and Heathrow
airports before the academic year starts. Once you arrive in Cardiff, we
will provide you with a comprehensive induction programme and
arrange activities to help you settle in to your new home.
Guaranteed accommodation
Cardiff is one of only a small number of universities that guarantees
high quality, conveniently located accommodation for single
international students (conditions apply). See page 16-17 to find out
more about our wide range of student accommodation.
Expert advice
Alongside the support provided by your academic school, our
international student advisers are on hand to assist you with issues
such as visas, immigration and finance.
International student societies
Our award-winning Students’ Union houses a number of societies
specifically for international students. The societies host regular
activities for our international students to come together and socialise,
as well as annual events such as the Festival of Culture and Diversity.
English language programmes
Our English language teaching centre offers a variety of courses which
cater for most language levels and abilities. Our students come from
all over the world to improve their English language skills before
starting university. Classes are taught on campus by our experienced,
fully qualified English language tutors. There is also an IELTS Test
Centre at Cardiff University offering regular test dates throughout
the year.
• Summer Pre-sessional Programmes: 8, 10, 12 or 20-week intensive
  courses are available for international students holding conditional
  offers.
• English for University Study Programme: an academic year
  programme with entry in September, January and April.
• In-sessional Student Support: we provide assistance with academic
  writing, exam techniques, listening and speaking, pronunciation,
  notetaking and seminar skills.
                                                                            A global outlook

   cardiff.ac.uk/international
   e: international@cardiff.ac.uk t: +44 (0)29 2087 4432
      cardiffinternationalstudents
      youtube.com/cardiffinternational

                                                    www.cardiff.ac.uk       15
Accommodation
     Whether you choose to live in a University residence or private accommodation,
     we want you to feel at home here.

16   www.cardiff.ac.uk
University residences
Dedicated postgraduate flats are available in University residences,
allowing you the opportunity to meet, live and work alongside
like-minded people who understand the demands of postgraduate
study.
International postgraduate students are guaranteed a single-
occupancy place in University residences for the full duration of their
studies, and EU students for the first year of their studies. If you’re a
UK student, University accommodation is not guaranteed but may still
be available: see cardiff.ac.uk/accommodation for more information.

Options to suit everyone
We offer a range of high quality student residences to suit individual
preferences and budgets, including:
• Single or mixed gender accommodation
• Private or shared bathrooms
• Self-catered, part-catered or fully catered (with vegetarian options)
• A variety of social and sporting facilities
• A limited supply of residences suitable for couples or families
  (please note that this cannot be guaranteed).

Affordable
Cardiff is the second most affordable city for students in the UK*,
and this is reflected in our budget-friendly University accommodation.
A self-catered residence costs between £111 and £156 per week,
whilst a room in part-catered residences typically costs £153 per week
(2019/20 prices for single occupancy residences). Residence fees
and associated charges are payable by Direct Debit in three
instalments across the year.

Private accommodation
There is a plentiful supply of accommodation available from private
landlords in Cardiff. We run a residential househunting event in August,
allowing you to meet other postgraduates and look for private rented
accommodation as an individual, or as part of a group. Our Students’
Union also operates its own professional letting agency, Cardiff
Student Letting, which provides student houses suitable for a range of
budgets and does not charge agency fees.

*NatWest Student Living Index 2018
                                                                            Accommodation

                                     www.cardiff.ac.uk/accommodation        17
Teaching excellence
      Cardiff University has a long history of providing outstanding
      research-led teaching:
       • We are ranked among the top 40 universities in Europe for teaching
         excellence (Times Higher Education Europe Teaching Rankings, 2019)
       • Ranked 154th in the QS World Rankings 2020, we are Wales’ highest
         ranked university and remain amongst the UK’s best
       • Our teaching has received robust endorsement from the Quality Assurance
         Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

     Our staff are experts in              Whether you’re a complete               in a European country for 2-12
     their fields, working at the          beginner or a linguistic ace, we        months as part of your
                                           cater for all abilities. Our flexible   postgraduate degree, subject to
     forefront of their academic
                                           choice of study options allows          agreement from your academic
     discipline – which means              you to learn in a way that suits        school. The Erasmus+
     that you will too.                    you, through weekly classes,            programme is an exciting
     Teaching and learning at Cardiff      intensive sessions or                   opportunity to become immersed
     take place in a stimulating study     independent learning.                   in a different culture, make new
     environment. As a postgraduate        Courses are currently offered at        friends and improve your
     student, you will be encouraged       a variety of levels in:                 language skills.
     to develop a wide range of both       • Arabic
                                                                                   Continuing Professional
     subject-specific and transferable     • French                                Education
     skills, enhancing your
                                           • German                                We offer a diverse range of
     employability and equipping you
     with the capabilities you need to     • Italian                               part-time courses in a variety of
     excel in your chosen discipline.      • Japanese                              subject areas, which take place
                                                                                   in the daytime, evening and at
                                           • Mandarin Chinese
     Languages for All                                                             weekends to fit around your
                                           • Portuguese                            lifestyle. Our Continuing
     Looking to learn a new language
     or develop your expertise in an       • Russian                               Professional Education courses
     existing one? Our Languages for       • Spanish                               are ideal in helping you enhance
     All programme gives you the                                                   your CV, improve your business
                                           • Welsh
     chance to improve your language                                               and project management skills
     skills alongside your studies – for   Erasmus+                                and broaden your learning
     free.                                                                         experience.
                                           Erasmus+ is an exchange
                                           programme which allows you to
                                           receive a grant to study or work

18     www.cardiff.ac.uk
Studying part-time for an MSc
whilst working in clinical
practice within the NHS gave
me the best of both worlds.
The course ignited my passion
for learning once more and
helped me take huge steps in
my personal and professional
development.
I enjoyed studying with a wide
range of other therapy and
healthcare students from
around the world. The MSc
provided me with a depth of
knowledge which enhanced my
clinical reasoning, leadership
and patient management
within my practice, and I
particularly enjoyed the
opportunity to undertake a
research project in my chosen
area of specialty.
Since completing my MSc,
I have been employed in a
number of leadership roles
focusing on stroke service
developments at Cardiff and
Vale University Health Board.
I have been able to use my
experiences in my studies and
research to inform my current
role, developing a new
Hyperacute Stroke Unit for        Teaching excellence / My Cardiff story
Cardiff.
Studying as a postgraduate
has ignited my interest in
further academic study and
research in clinical practice.
My ambition now is to take on
a therapy clinical leadership
role within the new hyperacute
stroke service, and even one
day to complete a PhD.
Niki, MSc Physiotherapy

              www.cardiff.ac.uk   19
Groundbreaking
      research

     From advancing our understanding of dementia to
     discovering the chemical composition of the Earth’s                     New hope for world’s
     mantle, our researchers are helping to create a stronger,               most endangered
     healthier and more sustainable world.                                   mammal
                                                                             Researchers at the School of
     We are a member of the Russell      Our nine flagship Research          Biosciences carried out new
     Group – the UK’s ‘Ivy League’ of    Institutes bring together           genetic analysis of white rhino
     leading research universities.      academic talents from across a      populations and found that it
     We were ranked fifth among UK       range of disciplines to tackle      could be possible to rescue the
     universities when judged on         some of the biggest challenges      critically endangered northern
     research quality and second on      facing society, the economy and     white rhino from extinction,
     research impact in the most         the environment. The impact of      using the genes of its less
     recent Research Excellence          our research continues to reach     threatened southern cousin.
     Framework (REF 2014).               far beyond the journals in which
                                         it is published.                    Analysing genetic samples from
     87% of our submitted research                                           232 rhinos, researchers found
     was rated as world-leading (4*)     Our expertise puts us in demand     that despite the northern and
     or internationally excellent (3*)   with policy-makers, non-            southern populations of white
     – the top two categories of         governmental organisations and      rhinos splitting from each other
     assessment. This national           industry alike.                     one million years ago they have
     assessment exercise,                                                    occasionally shared genes
                                         Here’s an insight into just a few
     undertaken periodically by the                                          during cold and arid periods, as
                                         of the projects that our
     UK funding bodies, confirmed                                            recently as 14,000 years ago.
                                         researchers have been working
     our place as a world-leading
                                         on this year:
     centre of research excellence.

20     www.cardiff.ac.uk
Giant meteorite crater
found beneath
Greenland’s ice sheet
Researchers at the School of
Earth and Ocean Sciences were
part of a team that uncovered a
giant crater, deep below the ice
sheets in Greenland, left over
from the catastrophic impact of
a meteorite crashing into Earth
between 3 million and 12,000
years ago. As a result of
detailed chemical analysis
performed at Cardiff University,
the team were able to paint a
picture of the type of object
capable of causing such
monumental destruction.

Prehistoric Britons rack
up food miles for feasts
near Stonehenge
Researchers at the School of
History, Archaeology and
Religion unearthed evidence of
the earliest large-scale
celebrations in Britain – with
people and animals travelling
hundreds of miles for
prehistoric feasting rituals.
                                                                Groundbreaking research

These gatherings could be seen
as the first united cultural
events of our island, with
people from all corners of
Britain descending on the areas
around Stonehenge to feast on
food that had been specially
reared and transported from
their homes.

                                   www.cardiff.ac.uk/research   21
22   www.cardiff.ac.uk
Sup
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   www.cardiff.ac.uk   23
Student support
     and wellbeing
     Cardiff University offers more than just outstanding taught courses and
     research opportunities. We want to help you make the most of your experience
     as a postgraduate student, by ensuring you can access any additional help you
     may need.

24   www.cardiff.ac.uk
From enrolment to graduation and beyond, we’re here to
support you every step of the way.
Money advice                         assessment process for students
Our Student Funding and Advice       who think they may have a
team offers free, impartial,         specific learning difficulty.
non-judgemental and confidential
advice. Whether you’re a current
                                     World faiths
or prospective student, you can      Our multi-faith University
contact us over the phone, by        Chaplaincy offers advice,
email or face-to-face for expert     support and care to students of
advice on issues such as funding,    all faiths and none. Our
access to government benefits,       Chaplains provide a range of
housing matters, academic            services including confidential
processes and general welfare        pastoral listening, quiet spaces
issues that may be affecting your    for prayer or meditation,
ability to study.                    opportunities for worship and
                                     communal prayer, information
Our Scholarships, Bursaries and      about local faith communities
Money team supports students         and places of worship, as well as
who may be experiencing              social inter-faith events to
unexpected money issues, as          encourage dialogue between
well as administering and            members of different religions.
awarding most of the University’s
bursaries and scholarships.          Support for
Emotional support                    international students
                                     Our International Student
Our Counselling, Health and
                                     Support team offers confidential
Wellbeing team offers
                                     advice and support for students
confidential counselling and
                                     from outside the UK on a wide
emotional support to students
                                     range of issues including
who wish to discuss matters of a
                                     immigration and visas.
personal or emotional nature.
Help is provided on an individual    Award-winning childcare
or group workshop basis,
                                     Our award-winning Day Care
supported by self-help material.
                                     Centre provides full day care
The service works to the British
                                     facilities to students with
Association for Counselling and
                                     children aged 10 weeks to five
Psychotherapy ethical
                                     years. Located in the heart of the
framework.
                                     Cathays Park campus, the Centre
                                                                          Student support and wellbeing

Disability support                   offers care through the primary
                                     medium of English, alongside
Our Disability and Dyslexia team
                                     basic Welsh. Early application is
offers information, advice and
                                     advisable.
specialist support services to
current and prospective disabled
students on all disability related
matters. We can help to identify
your support needs, and will
liaise with your academic school
and other departments to put
any reasonable adjustments
which are required in place.
We also offer a screening and

                                                  www.cardiff.ac.uk       25
Careers support
     Whatever the stage of your career journey, our team of professional careers
     advisers is here to help you achieve your goals. We offer a wide range of
     services to support you with your career development during your time at
     Cardiff University and beyond.

26   www.cardiff.ac.uk
Preparing you for                   We have hundreds of employers
                                    on campus throughout the year              Cardiff University ranked
your future
                                    that are actively looking to recruit       within the top 25 for
Our expert careers professionals    our talented students.
are all linked to academic                                                     universities targeted by
schools and can provide you with    Our postgraduates have secured             the largest number of top
personal, subject-specific          employment with a wide range of            employers in 2018-19,
guidance on everything from         high profile organisations                 according to Graduate
skills development and job          including Admiral, BAE Systems,            Market 2019.
searches to interview               BBC, Bloomberg, Cap Gemini,
preparation and practical help.     Citibank Group, Deloitte,                  We are ranked 15th in
We will work with you to help you   Eversheds, GE Healthcare,
                                                                               the UK in the Times
plan your career and prepare you    HSBC, IBM, Microsoft, the NHS,
                                    the Office for National Statistics,
                                                                               Higher Education Global
for the recruitment process in
                                    PwC, Sky News, TATA Steel and              University Employability
your desired industry.
                                    the UK Government. We also                 Ranking 2018.
Our online platform provides        have strong links with a wide
24/7 support to help you with       variety of third sector and SME            95% of our UK, full-time,
self-development, career            organisations, providing you the           Postgraduate Research
planning and research, and as a     opportunity to engage with a               students were in
postgraduate student, you will      huge range of employers.                   employment and/or
have access to a careers
                                                                               further study six months
account where you can book          International students                     after graduation.
appointments and events, and        Our careers advisers are
search for graduate employment                                                 (DLHE survey 2016/17)
                                    on-hand to provide support,
opportunities with organisations    resources and guidance to help
recruiting directly from Cardiff                                               93% of our UK, full-time,
                                    you research career pathways
University.                         and opportunities in the UK and
                                                                               Postgraduate Taught
                                    your home country.                         students were in
Commercial start-ups                                                           employment and/or
Got an idea for a new business,                                                further study six months
social enterprise or freelancing                                               after graduation.
opportunity? Our enterprise                                                    (DLHE survey 2016/17)
team can help you unlock your
creativity and achieve your
potential. You can access
tailored personalised support to
help establish or grow your
business with 1:1 mentoring,
start-up workshops, skills
development sessions, funding
opportunities and online tools to
bring your ideas to life.

Employer connections
The Cardiff University jobs board
gives you direct access to more
than 2,000 registered employers.
                                                                                                             Careers support

You will also have the
opportunity to attend our
frequent careers fairs, employer
presentations and specialist
panel events.

                                                                           www.cardiff.ac.uk/careersadvice   27
First-class
     facilities
     There’s never been a more exciting time to be a postgraduate student at Cardiff
     University. We are currently investing hundreds of millions of pounds to provide
     our students with world-class facilities as part of our largest campus upgrade
     in a generation.

28   www.cardiff.ac.uk
A massive £600m capital investment programme across
the University, including £260m in student facilities, will
help us ensure that we can give you the best student
experience possible.
Investing in your future             Open Access IT rooms across the
From elegant Portland stone          campus, some of which are open
buildings to contemporary study      24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
centres, you’ll be learning in a     are freely available for you to use.
dynamic and inspiring                The IT Service Desk provides IT
environment. No matter what you      help and support 24/7.
study as a postgraduate, you’ll
find everything you need to get
                                     Libraries
the most from your course:           Our modern libraries are
state-of-the-art recording studios   welcoming, comfortable and offer
and performance theatres,            a broad range of information
Europe’s most powerful brain         resources in print and online.
scanner, a £2m dentistry             We provide a flexible study and
simulation suite, Wales’ largest     research environment, with study
stock exchange trading floor and     spaces to suit all learning needs.
a range of outstanding new           Extended opening hours –
research facilities as part of our   including evenings, weekends
Innovation Campus.                   and 24/7 access in our two main
                                     sites (the Arts and Social Studies
We are also building a £50m          Library and Health Library)
Centre for Student Life to provide   – enable you to work at times
a central hub for our student        that suit you best.
support services as well as
                                     There are more than 1.3m printed
offering modern, flexible social
                                     books in the library collection and
learning spaces and a 550-seat
                                     an extensive range of online
lecture theatre.
                                     resources including eJournals,
IT facilities                        eBooks, indexes, databases,
                                     statistical collections and full text
Our modern IT facilities enable
                                     archives. Research students can
easy access to a range of
                                     benefit from a wide array of
guidance, tools and resources to
                                     specialist collections.
support your study and research.
The University-wide wireless
network covers University
buildings and our student
residences.
The University network provides
you with access to a wide variety
of software applications and
collaboration tools, as well as
                                                                             First-class facilities

online resources and services
including email and networked
file storage.
You will also benefit from free
subscription to Microsoft Office
365 products for the duration of
your studies.

                                                   www.cardiff.ac.uk         29
Spending another year at
                         Cardiff was a no brainer
                         for me.
                         The School of Journalism,
                         Media and Culture is one of the
                         top journalism schools in the
                         country that boasts a number
                         of Master’s courses credited as
                         leading in the UK. The
                         teaching, wide-ranging
                         modules offered and resources
                         available made it an easy
                         choice.
                         Currently, I’m a Strategic
                         Planner at Edelman, the world’s
                         leading communications firm.
                         I’m responsible for helping input
                         the overall strategy and creative
                         ideas into campaigns, adverts
                         and work the agency as a whole
                         is involved in. I’ve worked with
                         brands including Microsoft,
                         Xbox, Skittles, Nutella and
                         Nissan, and been a part of
                         award-winning work for the likes
                         of ASICS and Taco Bell.
                         My course helped provide me
                         with a strong base of core
                         communication skills, and an
                         understanding of the processes
                         involved with formulating digital,
                         social and integrated strategies
                         in earned media. The huge
                         diversity of people on my course
                         meant its emphasis on group
                         work enabled me to engage
                         with a broader set of opinions,
                         thoughts and suggestions that I
                         would have otherwise not had
                         the opportunity to engage with.
                         I’ve relied heavily on what I
                         learnt during my year of
                         postgraduate study in my
                         career, which has undoubtedly
                         made me better at my job as a
                         result.
                         Olivier,
                         MA, International Public Relations
                         and Global Communications
                         Management

30   www.cardiff.ac.uk
Sport

Cardiff is consistently ranked amongst the top UK
universities for sport. We offer an extensive range of
sports clubs, with opportunities to participate at an elite
or recreational level.
There are more than 60 Athletic      The Fitness and Conditioning
Union clubs to get involved in       Centre houses our state-of-the-art
throughout your postgraduate         strength and conditioning
studies, ranging from hockey and     provision, while you will also find
rugby to martial arts, motorsports   further cardio, resistance and
and dodgeball.                       weights equipment alongside a
Many of our clubs compete in the     range of outstanding indoor and
British Universities and Colleges    outdoor sports facilities at the
Sport (BUCS) competition, where      Sports Training Village. Our
                                                                                                                  My Cardiff story / Sport

teams travel all over the UK         friendly and personal approach to
battling it out for BUCS points      health and fitness includes           have the necessary environment
against other universities. We       fitness classes, personal training,   to excel in their given sport. Areas
also have an extremely popular       individual programme design and       of support include lifestyle
intra-mural games (IMG)              nutrition advice.                     management and academic
programme with over 100 teams        Our High Performance                  support, physical preparation
competing weekly in netball,         Programme provides elite              such as physiotherapy, sports
football and rugby.                  sportsmen and women with a            massage and strength and
                                     comprehensive support                 conditioning coaching, as well as
                                     programme to ensure that they         the potential for financial award.

                                                                                  www.cardiff.ac.uk/sport
                                                                                       www.cardiff.ac.uk          31
Doctoral
      Academy

     The Doctoral Academy is the hub of interdisciplinary                     workshops, wellbeing and
     postgraduate researcher activities at Cardiff University.                careers activities, online
                                                                              learning, community events and
     It is a central source for researchers to access personal,
                                                                              student-led activity.
     professional and research skills development workshops,
     as well as a range of interdisciplinary community events                 Our programme is focused
                                                                              around the iterative stages of
     and funding opportunities, all within a dedicated space.                 your PhD journey.
     Our aim is to help you, the          runs ‘Starting Out’ induction       • Transition (settling in and
     researcher, to have an               sessions in October and at each       getting started)
     outstanding student experience       additional enrolment point.
                                                                              • Acquisition (building skills and
     and to benefit from being part of    These events will introduce you
                                                                                networks)
     a postgraduate community             to the nature of a research
     where you can develop research       degree, to the support available    • Completion (staying on track
     excellence and future                for your research and career          and finishing up)
     employability. We work in            development and to other            • Employability (planning for
     partnership with the University’s    research students, who will           your future)
     Careers and Student Support          become your friends, colleagues
                                                                              This enables us to support you
     services to ensure that you are      and perhaps even collaborators.
                                                                              on your journey as a new
     fully equipped to succeed.
                                          Supporting the                      researcher, helping build
     Undertaking Doctoral Research                                            confidence, skills, persistence
     is intellectually stimulating,
                                          Researcher Journey                  and a fulfilling career.
     challenging and unlike any other     We offer a comprehensive
     form of university study. For that   programme which encompasses
     reason, the Doctoral Academy         several elements: formal training

32     www.cardiff.ac.uk
Our Community
                                       Join a nurturing
                                       community of postgraduate
                                       researchers, helping you
                                       develop links outside of your
                                       specialism and with local
                                       industry
Interdisciplinary and
Funding Opportunities                  Regular interdisciplinary       The Doctoral Academy offers
In addition to courses, we enable      activities offering a           so many opportunities to
researcher development by              stimulating research            acquire new skills and
providing opportunities for            environment and                 sharpen existing ones.
involvement in student-led             opportunities to network        I appreciate that the Doctoral
conferences, and offering              with other researchers          Academy is not just about
funding for student-led                                                making us better scholars, but
interdisciplinary activities. Nearly   Annual student-led              genuinely more well-rounded
£8,000 has been awarded to             conferences and other           and happy individuals. The
this year’s researchers to enable      research showcase events        world of academia can be
them to gain experience and            including our Images of         harsh and isolating, but the
develop skills by running their        Research exhibition and         Doctoral Academy is an oasis
own events and initiatives.            Three Minute Thesis             where PhD students from
                                       competition                     different academic
Access to                                                              backgrounds can come
GW4 Resources                          Regular Writers’ Retreats       together and realise that we
                                       offering support and            aren’t alone in this, not by a
Cardiff University is part of the
                                       encouragement for writing       long shot. I have made
GW4 Alliance which enables us
                                       your thesis                     friendships with people I
to offer you access to specialist,
flagship equipment and training                                        cherish that I would have never
                                       Dedicated space for PhD         encountered had it not been
across the west including Bath,
                                       students including seminar      for the common ground of
Bristol and Exeter universities.
                                       rooms, an IT suite and 40       hands-on workshops, inspiring
We are also a part of the GW4
                                       allocated desk spaces for       seminars and interdisciplinary
Doctoral Student Training
                                       researchers in the writing up   conferences.
Scheme, helping us to provide
                                       stage
you with the opportunity and                                           Adelle, School of History,
funds to develop discipline                                            Archaeology and Religion
                                       A vibrant Twitter community
specific training and innovative
                                       offering a virtual space to
student support activities.
                                       discover and engage with
Doctoral Training                      other researchers
Programmes
                                       The Doctoral Academy Blog,
                                                                                                          Doctoral Academy

As a world-leading, research           where you can showcase
intensive university, we are           your research and discover
involved in a range of dedicated       the diversity of our
doctoral training programmes           research community
which offer excellent fully funded
postgraduate research
opportunities, spanning many of
our areas of research excellence.

                                                                                      www.cardiff.ac.uk   33
Funding
     your study
     We understand that advancing your education to postgraduate level is a
     significant financial commitment. That’s why, if you’re considering a postgraduate
     course, it’s a good idea to consider your funding options as soon as possible.
     If you need help from the experts, our Student Funding and Advice team can
     provide you with free, impartial advice on all aspects of funding your study.

34   www.cardiff.ac.uk
Most funding sources are highly competitive and are                      Additional funding
subject to various conditions. You should research your                  sources
funding options early to ensure that you can meet                        • The UK’s seven Research
application deadlines. Even if you can’t find full funding                 Councils fund UK and EU
for your programme, you may be able to secure partial                      research students on a
funding from a number of different sources.                                competitive basis through our
                                                                           doctoral training programmes
Master’s Excellence                UK Government                         • Throughout the year, we
Scholarships                       postgraduate funding                    advertise a range of funded
Our competitive Master’s           for master’s study                      PhD projects on our website
Excellence Scholarship scheme      Postgraduate loans from the UK        • If you’re an international
has been designed to support       government are available to             student, make sure you
high calibre UK and EU students    support UK and EU students who          investigate funding
in funding your postgraduate       fulfil the eligibility criteria.        opportunities offered within
study. We are investing up to a    Different loans apply depending         your home country via the
total of £500,000 in the scheme    on where you are domiciled in           British Council and other
for entry in September 2020,       the UK – please see our website         external funding providers
with each scholarship worth a      for details. For entry in 2019,       • Our Unistaff Jobshop can help
minimum of £3,000 tuition fee      students from Wales and the EU          you secure part-time, casual
discount. Conditions apply;        could receive up to £17,000 of          or regular employment within
please see our website for         funding (comprising both a loan         both the University and
details.                           and grants), while students from        external organisations
                                   England could receive a loan of       • Numerous charities, trusts
International                      up to £10,906. Government               and foundations may offer
scholarships                       funding amounts for entry in            funding for postgraduate
We have a range of highly          2020 will be published on our           study.
prestigious scholarship            website as soon as they are
programmes to support              confirmed.
exceptional international
students, including our Vice-      UK Government
Chancellor’s International         doctoral loans
Scholarship scheme. Awards         Doctoral loans from the UK
from £2,000 are available to       government are also available to
international students across a    support UK and EU students who
wide range of subject areas and,   fulfil the relevant eligibility
in many cases, you will            criteria. For entry in 2019, all UK
automatically be considered        and EU students could receive a
without having to submit a         loan of up to £25,700. As with
separate application form.                                                What does my
                                   the UK Government funding for          course cost?
                                   Master’s study, different loans
                                   apply depending on where you           Tuition fees vary depending
                                   are domiciled in the UK.               on the course you choose
                                                                          and whether you’re a UK,
                                                                          EU or international student.
                                                                                                            Funding your study

                                                                          You can find full details of
                                                                          the tuition fees for individual
“I applied for a Master’s Excellence Scholarship                          programmes on the course
and this cut my fees, which really helped relieve                         pages of our website.

financial pressure during my degree.”
Matilda, MSc Computing

                                                                                      www.cardiff.ac.uk     35
Students’
     Union
     As soon as you enrol as a student, you automatically become a member
     of Cardiff University Students’ Union, one of the biggest, best and most
     active in Britain.

36   www.cardiff.ac.uk
As a student-led, independent part of the University, the                 chance to gain work experience
Students’ Union represents students and provides a                        while you study. If you’re looking
                                                                          for temporary work to earn some
diverse and inclusive range of activities, services and
                                                                          money while you study, the
facilities that enrich student life.                                      Students’ Union and Cardiff
The elected full-time officer team   student issues, including            University run Jobshop, a
provides dedicated                   academic, housing and financial      dedicated service for students
representation for postgraduate      issues. They are there to support    looking to find temporary work
students and researchers to          you with any aspect of your life     that fits around your studies.
support your needs.                  as a master’s or research
                                     student.                             Shops and services
Eat, relax, study                                                         Within the Students’ Union
The Students’ Union has              Societies and activities             building, you will find a range of
undergone major redevelopment        With more than 200 societies         shops and services, including a
over the last few years,             and 60 sports clubs to choose        supermarket, bank, bookshop,
transforming it into a great place   from, there’s plenty to keep you     cafés, print shop, pub and a
to study, socialise and relax. We    busy. If you don’t have time to      hairdresser. The Students’ Union
have worked hard to strengthen       fully commit to a club or society,   also has its own letting agency
the postgraduate community in        the ‘Give it a Go’ programme         that specialises in letting student
Cardiff, including hosting events    offers you the chance to try out a   accommodation.
specifically for postgraduate        whole host of activities.
students. From showcasing the                                             Representation
research our talented PhD            Student media                        The Students’ Union is the
students undertake through           There are opportunities to get       recognised voice of students at
recognising research events, to      involved in our award-winning        Cardiff University, joining
fun social events like wine          media, which include the student     students in campaigning about
tasting and quiz nights, and day     newspaper ‘Gair Rhydd’, a            the issues important to them,
trips for postgraduates to           lifestyle magazine called            including issues specific to
locations across the UK, it’s a      ‘Quench’, as well as our own         postgraduates. The Students’
great chance to get to know your     radio and TV stations, ‘Xpress       Union recruits and trains over
fellow postgraduate students.        Radio’ and ‘Cardiff Union TV’.       1,000 Academic Reps each year,
                                                                          who serve as a valuable link
Advice and welfare                   Jobs and skills                      between the University, the
The Students’ Union has its own      The Students’ Union offers a         Students’ Union and the student
Student Advice service offering      range of courses to develop your     body to ensure that the student
free, professional and               skills, opportunities to volunteer   voice is taken seriously at every
confidential advice on a range of    in the community, and the            level.

                                                                            Top 4
                                                                            Students’
                                                                            Union in
                                                                            the UK
                                                                                                                Students’ Union

                                                                            (Times Higher Education
                                                                            Student Experience Survey
                                                                            2018)

                                                                                       www.cardiff.ac.uk        37
38   www.cardiff.ac.uk
t
S ud
ying
with
 U s
   www.cardiff.ac.uk   39
Choosing
     your course

40   www.cardiff.ac.uk
Postgraduate taught or postgraduate research? Deciding which postgraduate
course is right for you will depend on a number of factors including your areas of interest,
current level of study and future career ambitions.

Taught programmes                                      Research degrees
(including MA, MSc, MScEcon, MBA, MTh, LLM             Research degrees involve the in-depth study of a
and MDA)                                               specified field over an extensive period.
Taught master’s programmes enable you to               The results of this research are written in the form
develop specialist knowledge and expertise of a        of a thesis or dissertation, demonstrating an
specific subject area.                                 original contribution of knowledge or practice to
                                                       their chosen discipline. Opportunities for supervised
The structured teaching programme is delivered
                                                       research are available in all our academic schools.
through a combination of lectures, seminars,
tutorials and directed reading, alongside              We encourage you to explore opportunities in
independent and practical work. Teaching is            academic schools outside your original degree
followed by the preparation and submission of an       subject, as you may find that many of them offer
individual dissertation or final project. Some         research areas that link with your area of interest.
courses may also include industrial or work-related    The type of research you are engaged in and your
placements. A full master’s programme is usually       experience of undertaking postgraduate research
studied across 12 months full-time or 24 months        will differ depending on whether you are studying
part-time, and is comprised of 180 credits.            for a lab-based research degree or one within the
                                                       arts, humanities and social sciences.
Postgraduate Diploma (PgDip) and
                                                       Increasingly, institutions offer research degrees that
Postgraduate Certificate (PgCert)                      contain some structured teaching, such as our
Postgraduate Diplomas and Certificates are             Master of Research (MRes) programmes,
postgraduate-level courses structured in a similar     Professional Doctorates and our PhD in Economics.
way to Master’s courses but don’t normally involve a   These programmes provide advanced research
written dissertation. These courses are often          training and specialist knowledge before you
accredited and can be used to build credit towards     embark on your specific research project.
a Master’s qualification.
A PgDip is usually studied across 9 months full-time
or 18-21 months part-time and is comprised of
120 credits. A PgCert programme is less extensive
than a PgDip and is normally studied across 6-9
months full-time or 12 months part-time. A PgCert
is comprised of 60 credits.
You can also choose to study a range of individual
modules on a standalone basis.

 Benefits of a Taught Degree                            Benefits of a Research Degree
 • Study a subject you enjoy in more depth              • Make a valuable contribution to knowledge
                                                          and society in a subject area you love
                                                                                                                Choosing your course

 • Increase your career prospects by developing
   a stronger academic and/or vocational profile        • Develop more specialised knowledge and
 • Change career path with a conversion degree            expertise
 • Develop your transferable skills to a higher         • Increase your career prospects by developing
   level                                                  a stronger research profile
                                                        • Develop your intellect
                                                        • Develop new skills and problem solving
                                                          abilities

                                                                                        www.cardiff.ac.uk       41
Conversion
      courses

     Thinking of heading in a different direction, pursuing a                   We offer a diverse range of
     new career or returning to study a different subject?                      conversion courses that allow
                                                                                you to study a subject unrelated
     Conversion courses can help you make this a reality.
                                                                                to your undergraduate degree or
     Undertaking a conversion course      Pursuing a vocation that              career, to support you with a
     is one of the most effective ways    matches your interests and            change of direction. Subject
     to fast-track a career change, or    that you find more fulfilling         areas include:
     continue studying in a completely                                          • Archaeology and
                                          If you’ve developed an interest in
     different subject area from your                                             Conservation
                                          a new area, a conversion course
     undergraduate degree.
                                          allows you to explore the subject     • Business and Marketing
     There are many benefits to           in more depth.                        • Computer Science and
     studying a postgraduate
                                          Increasing your prospects of            Informatics
     conversion course:
                                          securing employment in a              • Creative Writing
     Fast-tracking a career change        specific field                        • Geography and Planning
     If your undergraduate degree is
                                          The variety of skills and expertise   • Journalism, Media and
     not the field you want to work in,
                                          gained from your conversion             Culture
     a conversion course allows you
                                          course could allow you to             • Law
     to upskill in a different area so
                                          significantly improve your job
     that you can follow a new career                                           • Occupational Therapy
                                          prospects and increase your
     path.                                                                      • Psychology
                                          chance of securing work in a
     Continuing your study at a           specific field.                       • Social Work
     higher level                         Growing your skillset                 There are also various
     A conversion course allows you       To help further your career           programmes available which
     to acquire additional skills to go   aspirations, a conversion course      accept undergraduate degrees
     alongside those gained on your       enables you to develop skills and     from related fields of study or
     undergraduate degree.                knowledge in a new subject.           relevant work experience.
                                                                                All conversion courses are
                                                                                clearly marked in our course
                                                                                directory list.

42     www.cardiff.ac.uk
Studies to suit
 your lifestyle

We offer a wide range of postgraduate taught and                          Blended learning
research degrees, with flexible study options to fit your                 Some of our programmes are
individual circumstances.                                                 offered as blended learning,
                                                                          combining face-to-face
As a postgraduate student, you      qualifications earned through

                                                                                                                Conversion courses / Studies to suit your lifestyle
                                                                          classroom methods with
will be encouraged to develop a     face-to-face learning and we
                                                                          computer-mediated activities or
wide range of both subject-         take the delivery of teaching
                                                                          online provision.
specific and transferable skills,   online just as seriously as we do
enhancing your employability        on campus. The experienced            Part-time study options
and equipping you with the          academic team and your
                                                                          Many of our academic schools
capabilities you need to excel in   personal tutor will ensure you are
                                                                          offer part-time postgraduate
your chosen discipline.             fully supported in all aspects of
                                                                          courses, which are ideal if you
                                    your student experience.
Distance learning                                                         need to balance study with
                                    Our distance learning courses         professional, financial or family
We deliver flexible online          provide you with the flexibility to   commitments. Part-time
programmes to postgraduate          study in a convenient location        programmes offer greater
students around the world.          and at a time, pace and intensity     flexibility and a less intensive
Our dynamic e-learning              that suits you. You will have         workload whilst still providing all
programmes allow you to study       access to our outstanding range       the benefits and support enjoyed
with us no matter where you live,   of online resources and become        by full-time students.
alongside your work or other        part of our thriving e-learning
commitments.                        community, bringing together
We offer a number of innovative     students and tutors from across
online programmes spanning a        the globe and enabling you to
broad range of subject areas.       enjoy the Cardiff experience no
Our online programmes are           matter where you live.
academically equivalent to

                                                                                       www.cardiff.ac.uk        43
The MSc Catalysis course at
                         Cardiff was an excellent
                         opportunity for me to gain an
                         advanced understanding into
                         the various topics available in
                         the area of catalysis. I
                         enjoyed being surrounded by
                         enthusiastic and highly
                         skilled academics and
                         researchers from all levels
                         and backgrounds, working
                         within the prestigious Cardiff
                         Catalysis Institute.
                         The passion, support and
                         knowledge which I gathered
                         here ultimately led to the
                         decision of pursuing a PhD in
                         the area of heterogeneous
                         catalysis. It is an absolute
                         privilege to work amongst
                         world-renowned scientists
                         using state-of-the-art
                         equipment and to collaborate
                         with both industrialists and
                         researchers from around the
                         world.
                         The theory learnt throughout
                         my MSc has been regularly put
                         into practice, particularly
                         during my end of year research
                         project. The skills I acquired
                         during my course have been
                         essential throughout my PhD
                         and have given me significant
                         confidence in both bringing my
                         ideas to reality, and in
                         presenting my work to a wide
                         variety of people.
                         Anisa, MSc Catalysis

44   www.cardiff.ac.uk
Acad
emic
 c
So ho
  ls                    Academic Schools

    www.cardiff.ac.uk   45
Architecture

     The Welsh School of Architecture offers a
     wide range of programmes that reflect the
     School’s research expertise.
     We are one of the top-ranked schools of architecture in the UK, as        I chose to undertake my
     indicated by our position in key league tables. We are listed as one of   postgraduate studies at the
     the top 40 schools in the world specialising in architecture and the      Welsh School of Architecture
     built environment (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2019).         as the course has an
                                                                               excellent reputation for being
     Our diverse programmes are linked by an aim to develop the key skills
                                                                               the best in the UK. The course
     that students will need to specialise in their field of interest and
                                                                               was extremely thorough and
     enhance their career opportunities. Through them, students acquire
                                                                               varied, giving me an excellent
     new knowledge but also the ability to be independent learners working
                                                                               understanding of a wide
     at the forefront of their disciplines.
                                                                               range of professional practice,
     Our programmes are designed to be of value to those wishing to            contract administration and
     undertake specialist study after an undergraduate degree, as well as      other industry wide matters. I
     to professionals who may already be involved in designing, managing,      feel the course gave me the
     enhancing and evaluating the built environment but wish to develop        basis and confidence to start
     new skills. Many of our programmes offer part-time or distance-           and run my own architectural
     learning study options, making them suitable for working professionals    practice, as well as to launch
     wishing to remain in practice while studying.                             a national design review
                                                                               panel.
     Our long-standing record of teaching excellence means that our
     postgraduate programmes are popular and our graduates are in high         Jonathan
     demand.                                                                   Postgraduate Diploma
                                                                               Architecture: Professional
                                                                               Practice

46     www.cardiff.ac.uk
Biosciences

Our research spans the full range of
biological and biomedical sciences, and
seeks to deliver new solutions to global
challenges that have major economic,
societal and environmental impact.                                        Whilst studying for my
                                                                          undergraduate degree at
Based on our research, we are ranked 13th in the UK, with 98% of our      Cardiff, Prof. Lynne Boddy’s
submitted research rated as internationally excellent, world-leading or   lectures enthused me about
internationally recognised. 60% of our research has been deemed           wood-decay fungi – so when a
‘outstanding’ for its impact in terms of its reach and significance       PhD project came up on the
(REF 2014).                                                               topic, I jumped at the chance!

In the 2019 Academic Ranking of World Universities, Biological            Cardiff University is a great
Sciences at Cardiff University was ranked in the top 25 worldwide,        place to do a PhD, as there’s
and the top 4 in the UK.                                                  lots of interesting research
                                                                          going on in the department
The School of Biosciences plays a lead role in several of the             and a lively sense of
University’s specialist research institutes, including the European       community amongst the
Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Water Research Institute,            postgraduates.
Neuroscience and Mental Health Research Institute, Sustainable
Places Research Institute, and the Medicines Discovery Institute.         I’ve had opportunities to learn
                                                                                                            Architecture / Biosciences

                                                                          a lot of techniques and travel
                                                                          to interesting places, with
                                                                          plenty of fun along the way!
                                                                          Sarah
                                                                          PhD Biosciences

                                                                                     www.cardiff.ac.uk      47
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