Cardiff Business School

What Cardiff Business School does

Cardiff Business School is the business school of Cardiff University, a public research university founded in 1883 and the only Russell Group member in Wales. Operating as a registered charity (no. 1136855), Cardiff University delivers higher education across 300+ undergraduate programmes spanning 40+ subject areas and 200+ postgraduate taught programmes, with the Cardiff Business School serving as one of its constituent academic schools focused on business and management education. The institution's core technology infrastructure includes the Learning Central learning management system, a virtual campus tour platform, a Visit Cardiff University mobile app, simulation suites, financial trading rooms, and 2,500+ study spaces, supported by ongoing £600m campus investment.

Cardiff Business School's value proposition rests on Russell Group research credentials (90% of research rated world-leading or internationally excellent in REF 2021), strong graduate outcomes (95% in work or further study within 15 months), and a 210,000+ global alumni network. The institution leverages a multi-channel distribution model: UCAS for undergraduate admissions, direct international recruitment across China, Brazil, the USA, and other markets, partnerships with 300+ institutions for student mobility, and 2,000+ registered employers on its careers job board.

Revenue derives primarily from tuition fees (Home undergraduates funded through Student Finance Wales, overseas students paying international rates, plus postgraduate taught and research programme fees), supplemented by research grants and funding from UKRI and REF, alumni donations (including the Cylch Caerdydd membership at £83.50/month or £1,000 single gift), conference and facility hire, and Knowledge Transfer Partnerships with industry. Pricing follows annual subscription models per programme, with flexible payment options including instalments and government-backed loans for eligible Home students.

Name

Cardiff Business School

Legal name

Cardiff University

Website

https://cardiff.ac.uk

Company type

Private

Founded year

1883

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Cardiff Business School is the business and management school of Cardiff University, a Russell Group public research university in Wales. It delivers undergraduate, postgraduate taught, and research degree programmes serving home and international students, supported by research excellence and a global alumni network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Business and Secretarial Schools (611410), Business Schools and Computer and Management Training (6114), Professional and Management Development Training (61143)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Undergraduate Business Schools (BBA/BSBA Programs) (EDAHAHAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Business & Management Research Universities (EDAHABAE)

Keywords

• Business school education
• Higher education degrees
• Business management programmes
• Postgraduate research degrees
• Professional development courses

Headquarters

HQ city

Cardiff

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Undergraduate tuition fees: Tuition fees charged to undergraduate students for full-time programmes. Home students typically access loans and grants through Student Finance Wales or Student Loans Company. International students pay overseas fees. Fee covers all tuition costs, essential course costs, registration and exams.
2. Postgraduate tuition fees: Fees for postgraduate taught and research programmes including master's degrees, diplomas, certificates, and PhD programmes. Variable based on programme type, mode, and level of study.
3. Alumni donations and fundraising: Voluntary contributions from alumni and supporters including monthly or single donations, legacies through wills, and Cylch Caerdydd membership (£83.50/month or £1,000 single gift).
4. Research grants and funding: Funding from Research Excellence Framework, UK Research and Innovation (UKRI), strategic alliances with industry and government for collaborative research projects.
5. Conference and facility hire: Revenue from hiring university facilities including conference spaces and research equipment to external organisations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Cardiff Business School, the business school of Cardiff University, delivers higher education programmes in business, management, economics, accounting, and related disciplines. It offers over 300 undergraduate degree programmes and more than 200 postgraduate taught and research programmes, delivered through full-time, part-time, and online modes. The school also provides professional development, short courses, and foundation pathways alongside research and consultancy services.

Product overview

Cardiff Business School (operating within Cardiff University) offers a comprehensive portfolio of higher education products and services. The core academic offerings include over 300 undergraduate degree programmes, more than 200 postgraduate taught master's degrees, and postgraduate research programmes including PhDs. These are delivered through a flexible platform supporting full-time, part-time, and online study modes. Supporting services include the Cardiff Learning and Teaching Academy for academic excellence, professional development courses for workforce training, foundation programmes for academic preparation, and short online courses for skill development. The school also offers dedicated careers and employability support services alongside its educational programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Cardiff Business School: One of Cardiff University's academic schools offering business and management education.

Products and services

• Undergraduate Degree Programmes Full-time and part-time undergraduate degree programmes across business, management, accounting, economics, and related disciplines, delivered on campus and aimed at school leavers and adult learners seeking first higher education qualifications.
• Postgraduate Taught Courses Master's degrees, postgraduate diplomas, certificates, MBA, and conversion courses designed for graduates seeking advanced qualifications, career changers, and professionals upskilling.
• Postgraduate Research Programmes PhD, MPhil, and other postgraduate research degrees involving independent supervised study across multiple academic disciplines, including funded studentships through UKRI scholarships.
• Professional Development Courses Flexible training and continuing professional development courses aimed at working professionals seeking to upskill, earn credentials, or change career direction without committing to a full degree.
• Short Online Courses Short, self-paced online courses allowing learners to develop new skills and explore topics flexibly, typically without formal credit.
• Part-time Courses for Adults Flexible part-time study options designed for adult learners seeking qualifications alongside employment, including pathways into full undergraduate degrees.
• Foundation Courses Full-time one-year foundation programmes providing direct routes into undergraduate study for students needing additional academic preparation, including international and pre-master's pathways.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of graduates in work, further study or travelling within 15 months
• +4 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Xiamen UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic global partnership with Xiamen University for academic exchange, research collaboration, and student mobility programmes between the two institutions.
• Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic global partnership with UNICAMP in Brazil for research collaboration and academic exchange programmes.
• Beijing Normal UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic global partnership with Beijing Normal University for academic exchange and research collaboration between the two institutions.
• University of WaikatocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic global partnership with University of Waikato in New Zealand for academic exchange and research collaboration.
• University of BremencoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic global partnership with University of Bremen in Germany for academic exchange and collaborative research initiatives.
• University of WyomingcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with University of Wyoming for research collaboration and student exchange opportunities.
• University of Illinois SystemcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic global partnership with University of Illinois System for academic collaboration, research partnerships, and student mobility.
• Dalian University of TechnologycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic global partnership with Dalian University of Technology for research collaboration and academic exchange programmes.
• University of NamibiacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic global partnership with University of Namibia for academic exchange and research collaboration in African context.
• Danau Girang Field CentreminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partnership with Danau Girang Field Centre for conservation and environmental research in Malaysia.
• Cardiff Confucius InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCardiff Confucius Institute partnership promoting Chinese language and culture, supported by Hanban/Confucius Headquarters for Chinese language teaching and cultural exchange.
• Russell GroupflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerMembership of Russell Group - consortium of 24 leading UK research-intensive universities. Cardiff is the only Russell Group member in Wales, providing access to shared resources, collaborative research, and collective advocacy.
• Healthcare and NHS PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with NHS and healthcare providers for clinical education and training of medical, dental, nursing, and allied health professionals. University adjacent to third largest UK teaching hospital.

Scale indicators19 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• University of Edinburgh Business School: Edinburgh Business School is part of a Russell Group research university in the UK, offering undergraduate, postgraduate, MBA, and research programmes. Comparable in academic positioning, international student focus, and Russell Group research standing.
• Warwick Business School: Warwick Business School is one of the most established UK Russell Group business schools, offering undergraduate, MBA, MSc, and doctoral programmes. Direct peer in target market (UK/EU/international students), research intensity, and degree portfolio, with a comparable emphasis on research-led teaching and graduate employability.
• Alliance Manchester Business School: Alliance Manchester Business School is the business school of the University of Manchester, another leading Russell Group research university. Closely comparable in scale, programme breadth, and emphasis on research excellence and international student recruitment.
• University of Bristol School of Management: Bristol's School of Management is part of the University of Bristol, another UK Russell Group university. Comparable in programme structure, research intensity, and target student segments; located in a similar UK city-market context.
• Bath School of Management: Bath's School of Management is a UK-based business school with strong research credentials and an emphasis on postgraduate programmes. Comparable in scale, programme mix, and positioning as a leading UK specialist business school outside London.
• Lancaster University Management School: Lancaster University Management School (LUMS) is a UK Russell Group-affiliated business school with triple-accredited status and strong research output. Comparable in programme portfolio, research intensity, and target student segments.

Broad incumbents

• Imperial College Business School: Imperial College Business School is part of Imperial College London, a Russell Group university with a global STEM brand. Comparable in UK Russell Group research university context, though with stronger STEM alignment and London-based positioning.
• Said Business School (University of Oxford): Said Business School is the business school of the University of Oxford, offering MBA, executive education, and research programmes. While it shares the UK research university business school model, its global brand, endowment, and elite positioning place it in a different tier than Cardiff.
• Judge Business School (University of Cambridge): Cambridge Judge Business School is part of the University of Cambridge, offering MBA, MPhil, and executive education. Comparable as a UK Russell Group business school, but operates at a significantly higher brand and resource tier.

Regional players

• Swansea University School of Management: Swansea's School of Management is the other major business school in Wales, operating from a different geography but serving overlapping Welsh and international student populations. Comparable as a UK public university business school, though with lower research intensity and rankings than Cardiff.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/cardiffbusiness
• YouTubeyoutube.com/cardiffuni
• Facebookfacebook.com/BusinessCardiff
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cardiff-university
• Instagraminstagram.com/cardiffuni
• TikToktiktok.com/@cardiffuni

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Cardiff Business School