Cardiff University is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. It was founded in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire. It became a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893. It is the third oldest university in Wales. It is a member of the Russell Group of leading research-intensive universities in the UK. The university is known for its academic excellence and its research-intensive environment. It has a strong reputation in a wide range of subjects, including medicine, engineering, and the arts and humanities.