Cardiff University Applicant Thread 2026

The Official Cardiff University 2026 Applicant Thread
Hi
This is the thread for people who are thinking of applying to Cardiff for 2026!
Meet and chat to other people applying here.
Here are a few suggested opening questions, but ask whatever you want regarding Cardiff!
1) What A Levels are you doing (or other eligible qualifications)?
2) What course at Cardiff do you have your eyes on? And why?
3) What grades did you get/are you predicted to get at GCSE and Sixth Form?
4) Why Cardiff specifically?
5) Will you be attending any Open Days?
6) How are you feeling about starting University?
7) Other unis you're interested in?
You can find a directory linking to all of the other university applicant threads here
Website:
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im doing bio chem psych predicted A*AA, and applying for medicine but i got 9998877776 at GCSE so ive got 23/27 for the gcse points. does anyone know if id be able to get accepted into cardiff as itd be a great opportunity for me living wise, as i have family like 10 minutes away from campus.

I see you've posted in the Official Thread: (Undergraduate) Medicine 2026 entry thread but I recommend you also post in:
https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7532244
You don't seem to have your UCAT score yet? It'll be slightly difficult to advise without that information.

Hi I have A*A*A*A - Chem Maths French Bio (A)
UCAT didn't go so well 1920 B1
VR-600 DM-610 QR-710
GCSEs
8x grade 9s (bio, chem, physics, maths, further maths, French, German, latin)
3x grade 8s (English lang, English lit, geography)
I have calculated a score of 27/27 and I think Cardiff ranks on GCSEs first and then within the band of score, they rank UCAT. However, Im an English applicant not Welsh and have been told that my application might be risky. Is this the case?

Hello

I've just had a look at your other stats in the following thread: https://www.thestudentroom.co.uk/showthread.php?t=7532244

Here is a section from Cardiff's website that explains how they differentiate between English and Welsh applicants that apply for medicine:
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/documents/2734195-admissions-information-for-studying-medicine-at-cardiff#Are-Welsh-applicants-treated-differently-to-English-rest-of-UK-applicants?

'Are Welsh applicants treated differently to English (rest of UK) applicants?

All Medical Schools across the UK have contextualisation criteria, and the majority include their local areas within this. Given the geography and population of Wales and the under-representation of Welsh students studying in Medical Schools across the UK, Cardiff School of Medicine recognises Welsh-domiciled applicants as one of their contextualised groups.'

Here is a section from Cardiff's website that explains how use your scores:
https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/documents/2734195-admissions-information-for-studying-medicine-at-cardiff#What-is-the-cut-off-score-for-Medicine-in-Cardiff?

'What is the cut-off score for Medicine in Cardiff?
Cut-off scores for interviews (academic and UCAT) are determined by the competitiveness (i.e. calibre) of the number and quality of the applications we receive each year.
The academic and/or UCAT cut-off score will vary year to year and may vary between the different groups to ensure there is representation from each group.'

'What is your UCAT cut-off score?
A UCAT cut-off score is only used if we have too many applicants sitting on excellent academic scores.
The UCAT cut-off score is not predetermined and is unrelated to the previous year’s cut-off. It cannot be predicted and is solely used to identify the 1100 to interview.
The cut-off score may be different for the different groups to ensure that there is representation from each group.'

Overall, I'd say it's quite risky for you to apply to Cardiff.

Hi I have A*A*A*A - Chem Maths French Bio (A)
UCAT didn't go so well 1920 B1
VR-600 DM-610 QR-710
GCSEs
8x grade 9s (bio, chem, physics, maths, further maths, French, German, latin)
3x grade 8s (English lang, English lit, geography)
I have calculated a score of 27/27 and I think Cardiff ranks on GCSEs first and then within the band of score, they rank UCAT. However, Im an English applicant not Welsh and have been told that my application might be risky. Is this the case?

yes i havent done it yet however im averaging 2300 b2 in my mocks

im doing bio chem psych predicted A*AA, and applying for medicine but i got 9998877776 at GCSE so ive got 23/27 for the gcse points. does anyone know if id be able to get accepted into cardiff as itd be a great opportunity for me living wise, as i have family like 10 minutes away from campus.

just applied for biomed !