Cardiff University: international student trends
Non-UK enrolment, international share, and the top countries of domicile for students at Cardiff. Source: HESA/Jisc, 2024/25 release. Part of our UK international student statistics.
Cardiff enrolled 5,040 international students in 2024/25, making up 16% of the student body (down 40.5% over five years).
International enrolment over time
| Year | International students | Total students | International share |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014/15 | 6,990 | 30,480 | 22.9% |
| 2015/16 | 7,115 | 30,675 | 23.2% |
| 2016/17 | 7,520 | 31,595 | 23.8% |
| 2017/18 | 7,975 | 31,935 | 25% |
| 2018/19 | 8,620 | 33,190 | 26% |
| 2019/20 | 8,475 | 33,260 | 25.5% |
| 2020/21 | 7,725 | 33,510 | 23.1% |
| 2021/22 | 7,530 | 33,985 | 22.2% |
| 2022/23 | 6,395 | 32,725 | 19.5% |
| 2023/24 | 6,480 | 33,020 | 19.6% |
| 2024/25 | 5,040 | 31,505 | 16% |
Top countries of domicile
| Country | Latest students | Change |
|---|---|---|
| China | 1,150 | -46% |
| India | 730 | +85% |
| Malaysia | 370 | -44% |
| Saudi Arabia | 285 | +27% |
| Hong Kong (Special Administrative Region of China) | 250 | +4% |
| Kuwait | 220 | +63% |
Want to know what Cardiff graduates go on to earn? See graduate outcomes at Cardiff.
Methodology & attribution
Source: HESA/Jisc (hesa.ac.uk). International = non-UK country of domicile. Figures aggregated from country-of-domicile rows and rounded by HESA to the nearest 5, so small counts are approximate. 2024/25 release.
Frequently asked questions
How many international students does Cardiff have?
HESA/Jisc data (2024/25 release) shows Cardiff enrolled 5,040 international (non-UK domiciled) students in 2024/25. The table above shows the year-by-year trend.
What share of Cardiff's students are international?
International students made up 16% of the student body at Cardiff in the latest HESA release, up from earlier years shown in the chart above.
Is international enrolment at Cardiff growing?
International enrolment at Cardiff has fallen by 40.5% over the five-year period covered by the latest HESA data.
Which countries do most of Cardiff's international students come from?
China is the largest source country for international students at Cardiff, per HESA/Jisc country-of-domicile data. The table above lists the top source countries and how they've changed.
Can international graduates from Cardiff work in the UK after finishing?
Yes. Graduates of any UK university that holds a Student-sponsor licence, including Cardiff, can apply for the Graduate visa (2 years for bachelor's/master's, 3 years for PhD) without needing a job offer. To stay longer, a graduate typically switches to the Skilled Worker route with a sponsoring employer.
When is HESA international enrolment data refreshed?
HESA/Jisc publishes "Where students study" data once a year. We refresh this page from the new release shortly after it's published.