Best universities in Wales 2022

Wales is part of the United Kingdom and sits to the west of England on the island of Great Britain. It is a mountainous country known for its natural beauty and rugged coastline. 

The two biggest Welsh cities are Cardiff and Swansea, both home to high ranking universities. A total of six Welsh universities rank in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022. 

If you are interested in studying in Wales, these are the country’s best universities, according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2022.

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1. Cardiff University 

Cardiff University in 1999. 

There are more than 300 degree programmes available for students to study at both undergraduate and graduate level. Some 100 of these programmes can be studied entirely or partly in Welsh. The university’s academic schools are organised into three colleges: arts, humanities and social sciences; biomedical and life sciences; and physical sciences and engineering. 

Cardiff’s Students’ Union is one of the biggest in the UK and hosts a variety of cultural events throughout the year. More than 200 clubs and societies are available for students to join, including the baking society, book club and sports teams.  

The university is comprised of two campuses: Cathays Park and Heath Park. Of the 26 academic schools, 22 are based at the Cathays Park campus, as is the main Students’ Union building. Cathays Park about 1km from the city centre.

Heath Park is the university’s dedicated healthcare campus and is home to the remaining four academic schools as well as the University Hospital of Wales. The campus is surrounded by 100 acres of parkland and playing fields. 

Cardiff University's student body consists of about 8,600 international students representing more than 130 countries.

The university has nine research institutes, which specialise in fields such as crime and security, data innovation, and neuroscience and mental health. Its state-of-the-art facilities are used by organisations across the globe to support world-leading research. 

2. Swansea University 

Founded in 1920, Swansea University in 2007. 

The university consists of two campuses, both of which are situated on Swansea Bay. The university’s oldest campus, Singleton Park, sits in botanical gardens and mature parkland. Bay Campus opened in 2015 and is located on the beachfront, offering breathtaking views. 

Academically, the university is organised into eight colleges: College of Arts and Humanities, College of Engineering, College of Human and Health Sciences, Hillary Rodham Clinton School of Law, School of Management, Swansea University. Each offers courses at undergraduate and graduate level. 

International students come from more than 130 countries. Students are given the opportunity to study abroad for a semester or an entire year at one of the university’s partner institutions around the world, as part of its academic exchange programme. 

At the heart of the university is its Students’ Union, which organises academic and cultural events throughout the year. It also oversees the 170 clubs and societies and 50 sports teams on offer at the university, including athletics and cross country, cheerleading, mountaineering, tennis and swimming. 

3. Bangor University

University of Wales changed from a federal university to a confederal non-membership organisation.

The university is located in Bangor on the North Wales coast, just a short distance from Snowdonia National Park.

There are a range of both undergraduate and graduate degree programmes available at the university. All courses are organised into three main subject areas: arts, humanities and business, environmental sciences and engineering, and human sciences.

The university also offers part-time undergraduate degrees for those students looking for flexibility. These can be found in the School of Education and Human Development and the College of Human Sciences.

Bangor's Students' Union is home to more than 200 clubs and societies where students can meet new people and learn new skills. 

The university is home to a number of research centres and institutes that operates across its schools and colleges. These include the Wales Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, the Centre for Research on Bilingualism, and the Bangor Institute for Health and Medical Research. These centres serve as a framework for facilitating interdisciplinary research and promoting teaching initiatives.

Best universities in Wales 2022

Click each institution to view its full World University Rankings 2022 results