Cardiff named Welsh University of the Year 2026
19 September 2025
Cardiff University is the number one university in Wales, according to The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.
The University was named Welsh University of the Year 2026 and climbed four places in the national rankings, rising from 32nd last year to joint 28th, securing a place in the UK’s top 30.
This is the latest achievement for Cardiff, which has also ranked highly in other league tables over the year. Cardiff saw a rise in the Complete University Guide, where it is ranked as one of top 25 institutions in the UK, and a climb to 181st in the world in the influential QS World Rankings. It also came top for overall satisfaction in the 2025 Global Student Satisfaction Awards.
The Times and Sunday Times success comes in the same week that Cardiff also rose nine places in The Guardian University Guide 2026, to be ranked 37th in the UK.
Vice-Chancellor, Professor Wendy Larner, said: “This is a great news as we begin the new academic year.”
Cardiff is an excellent place to study, and coming top in Wales in The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 is testament to the brilliance and dedication of our staff. From delivering an outstanding educational experience for our students to pursuing research with real-world impact – our community is at the heart of our success.
The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 provides the definitive rankings for UK universities and the most comprehensive overview of higher education in Britain, making use of the latest data.
It provides prospective students and their families with essential information for making informed higher education choices, evaluating aspects from teaching quality and student experience to degree completion rates and graduate employment prospects.
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