Cardiff Business School

Cardiff Business School is part of Cardiff University, a member of the Russell Group, and is located in Cardiff, Wales. Established in 1987, the School currently serves around 3,000 students, including approximately 700 postgraduate students and 140 PhD researchers. It is the only business school in Wales with AACSB and AMBA accreditation. The School follows a Public Value strategy, aiming to make a positive impact on society alongside economic development.
 

The School offers a wide range of courses including undergraduate programmes in Business Management, Accounting and Finance, and Economics. Students can opt for placements, internships, and study abroad opportunities. Cardiff Business School also offers postgraduate taught degrees across key business disciplines such as Finance, Business Analytics, Human Resource Management, Strategic and Digital Marketing, and Maritime Policy. The Cardiff MBA and the Cardiff MBA with Artificial Intelligence are designed to develop leadership skills and address global business challenges.

For research, the School is recognised by the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) and has received £15 million in funding since 2014. It focuses on five main themes: decent work, good governance, responsible innovation, fair and sustainable economies, and future organisations. Research is interdisciplinary, socially impactful, and informed by partnerships with public, private, and third-sector organisations. The School ranked sixth in the UK for Business and Management Studies in the 2014 Research Excellence Framework and has consistently performed well in global rankings.

Cardiff Business School also provides Executive Education, including custom and open programmes and the Help to Grow: Management Course. These are designed to translate research into business practice.

The School is based at Cardiff University’s Aberconway Building and includes facilities like a trading room supported by OSTC, EUREX, and the Welsh Government, with Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters certification available to students.

Cardiff Business School was officially established in 1987 as part of Cardiff University, following the long-standing presence of economics at University College Cardiff. The teaching of economics in Cardiff began in the late 1890s within the Department of Political Science. In 1903, the Department of Economics and Political Science was formed, with Henry Jevons, the son of economist William Stanley Jevons, as a key figure.
 

From 1911 to 1946, the department was led by W.J. Roberts and expanded in both staff and subject areas. In 1946, Brinley Thomas became head of department, and new subjects such as statistics and accounting were introduced. By 1972, the department included two professors and eleven lecturers.
 

In 1973, Professor Ken D. George took over as head and led further development. In 1988, the Department of Economics joined the newly formed Cardiff Business School following the merger of University College Cardiff and the University of Wales Institute of Science and Technology. Cardiff Business School was formally opened by Queen Elizabeth II.
 

Since its formation, the School has grown steadily, with teaching and research in a wide range of business disciplines. It is part of Cardiff University, a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities. Cardiff Business School developed its research strengths over time.
 

In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 70% of its research was rated world-leading or internationally excellent. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, the School was ranked sixth in the UK for Business and Management Studies. The School has adopted a Public Value strategy since 2015, focused on generating sustainable economic development with social and environmental impact.
 

It has received $15 million in research funding since 2014 and supports research in five core areas: decent work, good governance, responsible innovation, fair and sustainable economies, and future organisations. As of 2024, the School is led by Dean Tim Edwards and continues to deliver undergraduate, postgraduate, research, and executive education, including new programmes such as the Cardiff MBA with Artificial Intelligence.
 

The School also operates a trading room offering Bloomberg and Thomson Reuters certification and remains involved in policy-influencing research and local engagement activities.

Cardiff Business School offers a wide range of degree programmes designed to prepare students for careers in business, management, finance, and related areas. These include undergraduate, specialist master’s, MBA, postgraduate research, and executive education courses.
 

At the undergraduate level, students can choose from courses such as Accounting and Finance, Business Management, and Economics. These courses combine academic learning with practical experience. Students can take part in internships, study abroad programmes, and professional placements. For example, BSc Accounting students may take part in the ICAEW Undergraduate Partnership Programme, which includes a year of work experience. Business Management students can spend a semester working full-time in a partner firm, while many degrees offer a four-year option with a salaried placement year.
 

The Cardiff MBA is offered as a full-time one-year programme or part-time over two years. It is designed for experienced professionals looking to move into senior leadership roles. The programme includes six challenge-based modules, a leadership development plan, networking opportunities through Cardiff Connections, and access to a career consultant and personal coach. The Cardiff MBA with Artificial Intelligence is a newer programme delivered with the School of Computer Science and Informatics. It adds a focus on machine learning and AI tools to the core business education.

The School also provides a wide variety of specialist master's degrees in several key areas. In Accounting and Finance, students can study MSc Accounting and Finance, MSc Finance, or MSc Finance with Financial Technology. Economics-focused degrees include MSc Economics, MSc Financial Economics, and MSc International Economics, Banking and Finance.
 

Management, employment, and organisation courses include MSc Business Management (with September and January intakes), MSc Business Management with a Professional Placement Year, MSc Engineering Management, MSc Human Resource Management, MSc International Human Resource Management, and MSc International Management.
 

In logistics and operations, students can take MSc Logistics and Operations Management, MSc Business Analytics, MSc Maritime Policy and Shipping Management, and MSc Sustainable Supply Chain Management.
 

Marketing and strategy programmes include MSc Marketing, MSc Business Strategy and Entrepreneurship, and MSc Strategic and Digital Marketing.
 

Postgraduate research students can pursue PhDs in Business Studies or Economics. Candidates without prior training in research methods must first complete the MSc in Social Science Research Methods. PhD students receive full support, can access funding via the ESRC Wales Doctoral Training Partnership, and are encouraged to join an active academic community.
 

The Executive Education arm of the School offers open programmes, custom training, and the Help to Grow: Management Course for small and medium-sized businesses. These courses translate academic research into practical business skills and leadership development.

• Cardiff Business School is part of Cardiff University, a member of the Russell Group.
• Ranked #151–175 in the QS International Trade Ranking 2023.
• It is the only business school in Wales accredited by both AACSB and AMBA.

Most undergraduate programmes include the option of a salaried placement year, internships, or real-world projects. The School works closely with employers to help students gain relevant work experience. In recent years, over 90% of graduates have secured employment or further study within six months of completing their course. Many postgraduate students also benefit from industry connections through the MBA and specialist master’s programmes. Support is provided through the School’s careers team, which offers guidance, CV help, and links to business networks and job opportunities.

• Cardiff Business School| Cardiff University
• Cardiff Business School| Wikipedia
• Cardiff Business School| Top Universities
• Cardiff University Business School Society| Cardiff University Students' Union
• Cardiff Business School| LinkedIn · Cardiff Business School
• Cardiff Business School : Rankings, Fees & Courses Details| TopMBA.com
• Cardiff Business School (@cardiffbusiness) / X| X · cardiffbusiness
• Cardiff Business School| YouTube · Cardiff Business School
• Cardiff Business School - Crunchbase| Crunchbase
• Cardiff Business School| Facebook · Cardiff Business School
• Cardiff Business School| Access MBA Event
• Cardiff Business School confirms itself | AMBA-BGA