Cardiff University Partnership

Activities and excursions are designed to pull you into the communities you visit and encourage cultural connections of every kind. There’s no extra fee to participate in these optional outings—everything is included in your program fee.

Below are a selection of activities and excursions from previous terms; options may vary for your program. Due to the seasonal nature of many of program activities, we cannot guarantee a specific activity or excursion will be available in a given term or program.

Students studying in host cities outside of London are provided with accomodation and transportation where neccessary, in order to attend activities taking place in the capital.

Activities

• The Great British Bake Off Experience: Step into the famous white tent and don your apron for this immersive baking experience. Perfect for fans of The Great British Bake Off, you’ll work in pairs and bake a dessert against the clock that will be judged by the head baker. You’ll even be able to take home your creation at the end!
• Welsh Parliament Tour: Commonly known as the Senedd, the Welsh Parliament is the democratically elected body that represents the interests of Wales and its people. Join a guided tour and learn more about the work of the Parliament, the new building’s landmark architecture, and the history of Cardiff Bay.
• West End Theatre Performance: No time in the UK would be complete without a trip to the West End, London’s famous theater district. Shows are chosen that provide context or different perspectives on London, the UK, or Europe. Recent examples include Operation Mincemeat and Cabaret.
• Wales Millennium Centre Show: One of the UK’s top attractions, Wales Millennium Centre is Wales’ home for the performing arts in Cardiff Bay. This landmark building stages musicals, opera, ballet, circus, and contemporary dance performances.
• Tour of Principality Stadium/Cardiff City Stadium Tour: Step behind the scenes of the famous rugby stadiums in Wales and follow in the footsteps of Welsh rugby heroes! Visit and learn about the inner works of iconic Welsh stadiums while also learning about Welsh rugby culture.

Excursions

• Dover Castle Tour: Sitting proudly atop the white cliffs of Dover and looking out over the English Channel, Dover Castle has served as a costal stronghold for more than 900 years. The site showcases its utility throughout different historical eras, from Henry II’s medieval tower and intricate network of tunnels winding behind the white cliffs, to its use as a seat of government, military planning, and wartime hospital during World War II.
• Yorkshire Adventure: Explore the vibrant and historic county of Yorkshire on a weekend trip where you’ll discover how this English region has contributed to the UK’s cultural landscape. Highlights may include the Bronte Parsonage in Haworth, the Piece Hall in Halifax, the Victorian model village of Saltaire, or the imposing Harewood House in Leeds.
• Piers and Queers Brighton Trip: Since the 18th century, Brighton has become a cosmopolitan place of recreation, escape, and freedom. A destination for people who didn’t conform. With an LGBTQ+ population now estimated at 15%, Brighton celebrated England’s first civil partnerships, and hosts the UK’s largest Pride event as well as Europe’s first Trans Pride, rightly earning its title as the LGBTQ+ Capital of Britain. Piers and Queers is a tour of Brighton from LGBTQ+ perspective. This colorful 90-minute walk along the beach and historic city center takes in more than 200 years of history including Regency Dandies, 1950s lesbian and gay life, and political activism. Afterward, there’s time for a walk on the pier and fish and chips, just watch out for seagulls!
• Stonehenge and Bath Visit: Stonehenge has stood on Salisbury Plain for around 5,000 years and it’s still unknown how the prehistoric monument came to rest there! Make up your own mind during this visit and discover the fascinating theories behind these rocks. You’ll learn about Stonehenge from the fascinating exhibits and be able to enjoy a virtual sunrise as it rises over the prehistoric stones! Afterward, travel to the Roman city of Bath for a walking tour of this World Heritage city once home to Jane Austen, Charles Dickens, Gainsborough, Lord Nelson, and Beau Nash. Then prepare to travel back 2,000 years to the Roman era with a visit to the Roman Baths.

At Cardiff, IFSA students live at one of two residential complexes, both about one mile from campus. Both offer plentiful opportunities to meet peers and socialize, with everything you need close by.  

Buildings are divided into flats (apartments) for four to eight students. Each single bedroom has its own private bathroom. Flatmates share a kitchen. The university sports and fitness facilities are steps away, and it’s a short walk to most classes and campus buildings.  

Some housing has additional amenities that warrant higher costs. Students who are placed in more expensive housing incur additional fees to cover these costs.  

Sample housing  

Explore Talybont North, one Cardiff housing option, to see what your home away from home might be like: 

• Location: A large student complex about 1.5 miles northwest of campus, on the River Taff. 
• Living space: Flats for 6 students, with single bedrooms, each with sink, bed, desk, chair, wardrobe, and private bathroom. Shared kitchen with refrigerator, oven, stove, and microwave. Students provide kitchenware, sheets, and towels. 
• Meals: No meal plan. Students prepare or purchase meals—many flatmates tell us cooking and sharing meals is a fun, social part of the day.  
• Additional details: On-site reception. Laundry on-site.  
• Nearby: Shops. The University Sports Training Village. The Taff Trail (a 55-mile riverside path for walking, running, and cycling). Cardiff City Center (about 2 miles away, and 15 to 20 minutes by bus).