Timeline
1880s
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1883 University founded
Cardiff University is founded on 24 October 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire. This prompted a public holiday, a procession through the city and the ringing of church bells all day.
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1884 Lord Aberdare named as first President
A statue of Lord Aberdare stands in the city's Alexandra Gardens to mark his contribution to education.
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1885 First women's residences
The first University hostel for women, Aberdare Hall is opened. It is the first in Wales and second only after University College London in Britain. It remains an all female hall to this day.
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1894 School of Medicine opens
It was housed on the top floor of the College building, Newport Road.
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1896 The first degree is awarded
1900s
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1904 Cardiff appoints first female professor in the UK
Millicent McKenzie becomes the UK's first female professor.
1910s
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1916 First medical degree awarded
Tudor Thomas is awarded the first MBBCh degree (Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery). He pioneered work on corneal grafting, restoring the sight of a man who had been nearly blind for 27 years.
1930s
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1933 The University celebrates its Golden Jubilee
Lord and Lady Bute, throw open their grounds at Cardiff Castle for a garden party to celebrate the University's Golden Jubilee. An honorary degree ceremony follows before an audience of 2,500, and an evening reception.
1950s
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1955 University Hall, Penylan, opens with 58 male student residences
Today the University Hall complex provides accommodation for over 600 students.
1960s
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1966 Dental School and Hospital open
His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh officially opens the Dental School and Hospital.
1970s
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1971 The Queen officially opens the Medical Teaching Centre
Her Majesty The Queen formally opens the £20m Medical Teaching Centre incorporating the 800-bed University Hospital of Wales and the Welsh National School of Medicine.
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1974 Students' Union opens
Today our Students' Union is one of the biggest, best and most active in Britain. It has a 1,600 capacity venue for concerts, a nightclub and a pub.
1980s
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1985 Breast cancer screening programme proposed by University Working Group
Professor Patrick Forrest chairs a Working Group to investigate the feasibility of breast cancer screening. The Group proposes screening, using mammography, should be offered to all women between 50 and 64 every 3 years as part of the NHS. The screening programme manifests itself today as Breast Test Wales.
1990s
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1990 Student newspaper wins Guardians's Newspaper of the Year award
The student newspaper, gair rhydd, wins the Guardian's student Newspaper of the Year. It is the first unanimous decision in the 12 year history of the award.
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1990 Gold medal at International Robotics Olympics
The School of Electrical, Electronic and Systems Engineering wins a gold medal at the first International Robotics Olympics for the design and build of the world's fastest two-legged robot.
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1998 College of Medicine wins Queen's Anniversary Prize
The College of Medicine wins the award for use of chemiluminescence in clinical settings.
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1999 Cardiff joins the Russell Group
Cardiff is the first university in Wales to become a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities, working with other leading universities across the UK to help develop the higher education sector.
2000s
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2000 Manufacturing Engineering Centre wins Queen's Anniversary Prize
The Manufacturing Engineering Centre wins the 2000 Queen's Anniversary Prize in recognition of its contribution to the economy.
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2002 The Wales Gene Park is established to support genetics researchers in Wales and elsewhere
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2004 University of Wales College of Medicine merges with Cardiff University
The University of Wales College of Medicine and Cardiff University merge, building on the long partnership between the two institutions and bringing an investment of £60M.
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2005 Cardiff University leaves the University of Wales
The title 'Cardiff University' and a new Supplemental Charter is formally granted to the University by the Privy Council on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen, meaning that Cardiff officially becomes a university in its own right and, as a consequence, becomes independent of the University of Wales.
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2007 Institute of Medical Genetics wins Queen's Anniversary Prize
The Institute of Medical Genetics wins the 2007 Queen's Anniversary Prize for work identifying genetic causes of diseases and developing new diagnostic tests and treatments.
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2007 Cardiff ranked in world's top 100 universities
Cardiff breaks into the ranks of the world's top 100 universities for the first time in the Times Higher Educational World University Rankings.
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2007 Sir Martin Evans wins Nobel Prize
Professor Sir Martin Evans FRS wins the Nobel Prize for Medicine for his series of groundbreaking discoveries concerning embryonic stem cells and DNA recombination in mammals. Sir Martin Evans was the first scientist to isolate embryonic stem cells and is our second Nobel Laureate.
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2008 125th anniversary of Cardiff University
Special events to celebrate the University's 125th anniversary are held, including a gala concert at the Wales Millennium Centre.
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2009 Violence and Society Research Group wins Queen's Anniversary Prize
The Violence and Society Research Group wins the 2009 Queen's Anniversary Prize for bringing about practical action to reduce violent assault injuries at a local, national and international level.
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2009 A Cardiff University study is recognised as one of the top 10 medical breakthroughs of 2009 by TIME Magazine
A key University study which helped uncover two new genes associated with Alzheimer's disease is recognised as one of the top 10 medical breakthroughs of 2009 by TIME Magazine.