Cardiff University (Welsh: Prifysgol Caerdydd) is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. Founded in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, it became one of the founding colleges of the University of Wales in 1893 and in 1997 received its own royal charter as an independent university. It is now a member institution of the Russell Group, along with 28 other major UK universities. The university has three main campuses across South Wales: Heath Park Campus, Bute Park Education Precinct and Glyntaff Science Park.
The university has over 32,000 students from more than 130 countries enrolled at its 30 academic schools and departments, making it one of the 10 largest universities in the United Kingdom by student numbers. In 2019–20, Cardiff had an income of £682 million from research grants and contracts (the fifth highest income amongst Russell Group universities), with an expenditure of £636 million on research projects and facilities (the fourth highest amongst Russell Group universities). The impact of Cardiff’s research was ranked 8th overall in the UK in REF2014. The same year its teaching was ranked 40th out of 154 higher education institutions in Times Higher Education’s World Reputation Rankings; 43rd globally for social sciences; 51–100 for arts & humanities; 151-200 for natural sciences; 151-200 for clinical medicine; 251-300 for life sciences. Eleven Nobel Laureates have either worked or studied at Cardiff University or one