Further guidance on tuition fees for UK students
We have important information regarding tuition fee increases and the financial support available for students.
The new undergraduate fee
Tuition fees for UK undergraduate students beginning or continuing their studies at Cardiff University will be £9,790 for the academic year starting in September 2026.
This change is in line with a new tuition fee cap established by the Welsh Government, bringing Welsh universities' fees in line with those charged by higher education providers across the UK.
Why fees are increasing
Tuition fees rose to £9,000 in 2012 and have only increased marginally since then. Over the same period, inflation and other operating costs have risen sharply, making it increasingly difficult for universities to maintain the high quality of teaching, facilities, and student support services.
The increased fee cap helps us address this financial challenge, allowing us to continue investing in the overall student experience. This includes enhancing specialist teaching spaces, improving health and wellbeing support, and upgrading library services. Rising costs, such as increased National Insurance contributions for employers, also continue to create financial pressure. The fee rise helps us meet these challenges while investing in what matters most: your future.
Implications for student funding and loans
The new tuition fee applies to all UK undergraduate “home” students who begin studying at Cardiff University from September 2026, as well as students who began study in previous years.
See our funding information for full details on the support available to students in the 2026/2027 academic year. This includes tuition fee loans, maintenance loans, and grants, all subject to eligibility. Details about funding for healthcare courses is also available.
If you have opted into the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme and are funded by the NHS Student Awards Service (Wales)
If you have opted into the NHS Wales Bursary Scheme, your tuition fees will be covered by the NHS Student Awards Service, subject to their terms and conditions.
If you are funded by a Student Finance body
(Such as Student Finance England, Student Finance Wales, Student Finance Northern Ireland, or the Student Awards Agency Scotland).
The tuition fee loan amount available to eligible students will increase for 2026/27 to cover the full cost of the tuition fees.
You only begin to repay your tuition fee loan and any maintenance loan after you have finished or left your course and are earning over the relevant income threshold set by your funding body.
Find more information about the repayment system that applies to you.
Future fee increases
If you have been classified as a home student and qualify for the government-regulated undergraduate tuition fee, you will be charged a single tuition fee for each academic year. The University’s policy is to charge the maximum regulated fee to reflect increased costs of delivery and maintain a high-quality student experience. Tuition fees may therefore increase in line with any uplift determined by the Welsh Government by law or policy in the second and subsequent years of your course. Where applicable, we will notify you of any change in tuition fee by the end of June in the academic year before the one in which the fee will increase.
Should you choose to change your programme of study or commence a new programme of study, you will be charged the same fee as new students entering that programme.
Additional support
We are committed to ensuring that a university education is accessible to all students and we are here to provide support. We offer a range of financial help to support eligible undergraduate students, including:
- bursaries and scholarships
- emergency support funds.
We also have a dedicated Advice and Money team that can help with budgeting and money advice.
Contact
If you have concerns about tuition fees or are facing financial difficulty, we encourage you to get in touch with us.
