Research and Teaching Excellence
Cardiff is internationally recognised as being among the very top tier of Britain's research intensive universities and is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of leading universities.
Research is undertaken in all 29 academic schools and the vast majority of the University's academic staff are working in areas which are acknowledged by independent assessors as undertaking work of national and international significance. Such research annually earns grants and investments totalling many tens of millions of pounds and attracts to Cardiff top researchers from around the world, both in terms of new academic staff appointments and also as visitors in order to undertake collaborative research.
Postgraduate researchers at Cardiff benefit from working within a dynamic research environment alongside staff who are working at the frontiers of knowledge in their disciplines. This research culture generates an exciting and vibrant learning community, reinforces the University’s links with industry and commerce, and contributes to high-quality teaching and excellent career development support.
Rankings and Recognition
The Research Assessment Exercise
The UK Government periodically undertakes an independent analysis of UK universities' research quality, known as the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). The results of the latest Research Assessment Exercise (2008) were released in December 2008 and show that world-leading research is being undertaken throughout Cardiff University. Read more about Cardiff's RAE results »
Nobel Laureates
Cardiff University is proud to count two Nobel Prize Winners among its world renowned academic and research staff:
Professor Sir Martin Evans FRS
Professor Sir Martin Evans FRS of the School of Biosciences was a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 2007, for research which created the technology known as gene targeting, now used in virtually all areas biomedicine – from basic research to the development of new therapies. Read more about Sir Martin Evans and his work »
Professor Robert Huber
Professor Robert Huber joined the School of Biosciences in 2007. Professor Huber was a recipient of the Nobel Prize for Chemistry in 1988, in recognition of his work in the determination of the 3-dimensional structure of a photosynthetic reaction centre. Read Professor Robert Huber's staff profile »
Queen's Anniversary Prize
The University was awarded a Queen’s Anniversary Prize in 2007 in recognition of excellence at the Institute of Medical Genetics. These awards recognise world class levels of excellence in UK Higher Education. The Institute was praised for its success in identifying genetic causes of diseases and developing new diagnostic tests and treatments for them. Read about Cardiff University's pioneering research in Genetics »
Sharing the Benefits of Our Research
Cardiff's driving force is the enhancement that our research makes to the quality of life and lifetime prospects of people from our local community to the wider world. Whilst seeking to establish new knowledge and extend the frontiers of human understanding through fundamental research, our research work also provides substantial economic, social and cultural benefits. Even though it is often the breakthroughs in science and technology that capture the public imagination, scholarship too plays a significant role in our Mission, developing and extending our understanding of human culture and increasing our creativity.
Links with Industry, Commerce and Government
Cardiff University actively builds academic and commercial relationships with local firms and major multinational companies. Furthermore, through consultancy arrangements, our staff provide advice to companies, local authorities and the government on a wide range of technical and policy issues. In turn, postgraduates at Cardiff benefit from the strong links with funders and users of research through a variety of advisory and supportive services offered by our Research and Commercial Division and our Careers Service. Read more about our Links with Industry, Commerce and Government and the benefits to our Postgraduates »
Research-led Teaching
The high quality of the research at Cardiff also contributes significantly to the quality of teaching at postgraduate and undergraduate level, meaning that the entire learning experience takes place in relevant, cutting-edge fields of study.
A Record of Excellence
In the most recent audit conducted by the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (October 2000), the standard of teaching provided at Cardiff received robust endorsement. The Audit confirmed stakeholders (including prospective and current students, parents, teachers and graduate employers) can continue to have every confidence in Cardiff University's ability to assure the quality and standards of its awards and provision. At postgraduate level, in particular, our academic schools offer many innovative taught programmes which are led by experts in their respective fields.
The Student Experience
Cardiff University is committed to making the entire learning environment inclusive, stimulating, rewarding and well-supported. Through the provision of excellent modern facilities, innovative approaches to teaching and assessment, and high levels of academic and professional support, students are encouraged to take an active role in their own development. This aim is supported by the importance placed on establishing student views. This is embodied in the range of mechanisms, including School staff-student panels, which are run by students as a means to analyse and regulate the quality of the teaching experience and learning opportunities provided by the University. In short, Cardiff University attaches great significance to the views, suggestions, and experiences of its students.