Formerly known as the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC; Welsh: Athrofa Prifysgol Cymru, Caerdydd, APCC) which was established in 1996.

In November 2021, Cardiff Met was awarded the title of UK and Ireland University of the Year 2021 by the Times Higher Education.

The School of Art moved to the Technical Buildings in Dumfries Place in 1900, then The Friary in 1949, then to a new campus in Howard Gardens in 1965.

Llandaff Technical College opened in 1954 at Western Avenue, home to health sciences, design and engineering students.

In October 2010, the new building for the Cardiff School of Management opened in Llandaff with the closure of the Colchester Avenue campus.

[13] Pressure on Cardiff Met to merge continued to mount throughout 2011 and 2012, however, in line with Leighton Andrews' controversial Higher Education agenda.

Newport had already agreed to merger plans put forward by Glamorgan, although it was described as a 'bilateral arrangement' with neither institution technically taking precedence.

This merger plan left open the possibility of a third university becoming involved, which was recognised as a reference to Cardiff Met's position.

[14] Cardiff Metropolitan continued to oppose a merger with its neighbours, citing the lack of a business case, concerns that the new institution (which would be the largest campus university in Britain) would simply be too big to manage properly.

[16] As of October 2012[update], more time had been granted to consider a three-way merger, but Cardiff Metropolitan still demanded more evidence before committing to further talks.

[18] However, Cardiff Metropolitan stressed that it retained an 'open mind' on the subject of a merger, and has ruled out moving to the private sector.

The campus is located approximately two miles from the city centre, surrounded by numerous parks, playing fields and the historic village of Llandaff.

The school was assessed as number 39 of the top 80 destinations to study art and design in the UK by the Guardian's University Guide in 2010.

The School was established in 1951 to provide Initial Teacher Education Training (ITET) provision in Cardiff, and it remains the largest in Wales.

The centre offers multi-sport provision and includes a sports injuries clinic and biomechanics laboratory.

[clarification needed] Cardiff Metropolitan University has been independently acclaimed for its academic standards, with an old Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education Institutional Report (2008)[34] stating that 'confidence can be placed in the soundness of the institution's current and likely future management of the quality of its programmes and of the academic standards of the associated awards.'

[35] Cardiff Metropolitan University has student accommodation available close to its campuses in Cyncoed and at Plas Gwyn.

Cardiff Metropolitan University (formerly UWIC) has alumni in the fields of sport, art, education, design, nutrition, business, healthcare and media.