Cardiff University（卡迪夫大学）entry requirements for Chinese students — minimum average mark, university list tiers and programme extras
Cardiff University（卡迪夫大学）does not publish one minimum mark for applicants with a Chinese bachelor's degree. It publishes three, one for each level of its university list, and the label stays exactly as written: Tier 1 University, Tier 2 University, Tier 3 University. For the 2025 intake the Business School courses cluster at 0.65 / 0.7 / 0.75, a few sit at 0.62 / 0.67 / 0.72, and mathematics runs higher at 0.7 / 0.8 / 0.85.
Which tier applies to your university
Read your own institution's name off the list, and use that row's figure. The tiers work like this across the schools:
- Tier 1 University — the lowest threshold of the three.
- Tier 2 University — the middle threshold.
- Tier 3 University — the highest threshold.
Which universities sit in each tier, and how the list is ordered, is not something we can reproduce here. Check the university's own pages, which take precedence.
What the numbers look like by school
Every figure below is for the 2025 intake as published by Cardiff. IELTS is shown overall / minimum sub-score.
| Programme | UK requirement | Tier 1 | Tier 2 | Tier 3 | IELTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MBA | — | 0.65 | 0.7 | 0.75 | see page |
| MSc Business Management | — | 0.62 | 0.67 | 0.72 | 6.5 / 5.5 |
| MSc Finance | — | 0.65 | 0.7 | 0.75 | 6.5 / 5.5 |
| MSc Economics | — | 0.65 | 0.7 | 0.75 | 6.5 / 5.5 |
| Architectural Design MA | 2.1 with portfolio | 0.7 | 0.75 | 0.8 | 6.5 / 5.5 |
| Urban Design MA | 2.2 | 0.65 | 0.7 | 0.75 | 6.5 / 6 |
| Advanced Chemistry MSc | 2:2 or above with personal statement | 0.65 | 0.7 | 0.75 | 6.5 / 5.5 |
| Advanced Computer Science MSc | 2.2 | 0.65 | 0.7 | 0.75 | 6.5 / 5.5 |
| Artificial Intelligence MSc | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.75 | 0.8 | 6.5 / 5.5 |
| Cybersecurity MSc | 2.2 | 0.65 | 0.7 | 0.75 | 6.5 / 5.5 |
| Civil Engineering MSc | 2.2 | 0.65 | 0.7 | 0.75 | 6.5 / 5.5 |
| Mathematics | 2.1 | 0.7 | 0.8 | 0.85 | 6.5 / 6 |
| Operational Research and Applied Statistics MSc | 2.2 | 0.65 | 0.7 | 0.75 | 6.5 / 6 |
The table above is a selection. The full catalogue is longer than this page reproduces; check the university's own pages, which take precedence.
The extras that sit on top of the mark
A tier figure is only the academic floor. Individual programmes add their own conditions, and they are stated in the same row:
- MBA — at least 3 years' relevant work experience; references signed, dated and less than six months old at the time you submit; interview.
- Advanced Computer Science MSc — 70% of the modules on your transcript need to be computer science modules.
- Software Engineering MSc — evidence of programming in the degree transcript, with separate wording for STEM and non-STEM degrees.
- Economics MSc — a degree in Economics containing sufficient compulsory modules.
- Architectural Design MA and Computational Methods in Architecture MSc — portfolio; a 2:2 will be considered with an excellent portfolio.
- Environmental Design of Buildings MSc and Sustainable Building Conservation MSc — personal statement.
- Artificial Intelligence MSc — students with a 2:2 honours degree in computer science, computing or a cognate subject may be invited to a telephone or remote interview.
- Computational and Data Journalism MSc — personal statement of reasons for applying, not exceeding 500 words, plus a reference from a previous tutor or person in charge.
Several Business School MScs also name the degree subjects they accept or refuse, for example that the degree must be in Accounting, Accounting and Finance, Auditing, Business Administration or a listed related subject, and that Tourism, Agriculture and similar subjects are not acceptable for Human Resource Management.
Study modes
The published requirements are written for full-time taught master's entry. Anything beyond that — part-time, or any other mode — is not spelled out here. Check the university's own pages, which take precedence.
What to do next
- Open the Cardiff country page for China on cardiff.ac.uk.
- Find your degree subject's school.
- Read your tier's figure from the row.
- Read the additional entry requirements column in full.
- Check the individual programme page for the current specification.