50 Best universities for International Relations and Diplomacy in England

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in England ranked based on their research performance in International Relations and Diplomacy. A graph of 225K citations received by 11.4K academic papers made by 50 universities in England was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. London School of Economics and Political Science

London

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#1 in the United Kingdom

#1 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

2. University of Oxford

Oxford

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#2 in the United Kingdom

#2 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University of Warwick

Coventry

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#3 in the United Kingdom

#3 in Europe

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

4. King's College London

London

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#4 in the United Kingdom

#4 in Europe

Founded: 1829

5. University of Cambridge

Cambridge

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#5 in the United Kingdom

#6 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

6. University of Birmingham

Birmingham

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#6 in the United Kingdom

#8 in Europe

Founded: 1900

7. University of Sussex

Brighton

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#7 in the United Kingdom

#9 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,319
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1961

8. University of Kent

Canterbury

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#8 in the United Kingdom

#10 in Europe

Founded: 1965

9. University of Leeds

Leeds

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#9 in the United Kingdom

#11 in Europe

Founded: 1904

10. University College London

London

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#10 in the United Kingdom

#12 in Europe

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

11. University of London

London

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#11 in the United Kingdom

#13 in Europe

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

12. University of Bristol

Bristol

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#14 in the United Kingdom

#18 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

13. University of Manchester

Manchester

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#15 in the United Kingdom

#19 in Europe

Founded: 1824

14. Keele University

Keele

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#16 in the United Kingdom

#20 in Europe

Founded: 1962

15. University of Sheffield

Sheffield

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#17 in the United Kingdom

#21 in Europe

Founded: 1905

16. University of Nottingham

Nottingham

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#18 in the United Kingdom

#25 in Europe

Founded: 1948

17. University of Exeter

Exeter

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#19 in the United Kingdom

#26 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

18. SOAS, University of London

London

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#22 in the United Kingdom

#33 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 6,295
Founded: 1916

19. University of Leicester

Leicester

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#23 in the United Kingdom

#34 in Europe

Enrollment: 24,409
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1957

20. University of Reading

Reading

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#24 in the United Kingdom

#35 in Europe

Founded: 1892

21. Lancaster University

Lancaster

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#25 in the United Kingdom

#36 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

22. University of East Anglia

Norwich

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#27 in the United Kingdom

#39 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

23. Durham University

Durham

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#28 in the United Kingdom

#41 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

24. University of Southampton

Southampton

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#29 in the United Kingdom

#44 in Europe

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

25. University of Westminster

London

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#30 in the United Kingdom

#45 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

26. University of Bath

Bath

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#31 in the United Kingdom

#46 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 18,857
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1966

27. University of Essex

Colchester

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#32 in the United Kingdom

#47 in Europe

Founded: 1964

28. Loughborough University

Loughborough

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#33 in the United Kingdom

#52 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

29. Queen Mary University of London

London

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#34 in the United Kingdom

#55 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

30. Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#35 in the United Kingdom

#56 in Europe

Founded: 1963

31. Royal Holloway, University of London

Egham

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#37 in the United Kingdom

#63 in Europe

Founded: 1849

32. University of Liverpool

Liverpool

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#39 in the United Kingdom

#67 in Europe

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

33. University of Hull

Kingston upon Hull

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#41 in the United Kingdom

#69 in Europe

Founded: 1954

34. Brunel University London

Uxbridge

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#42 in the United Kingdom

#71 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

35. Birkbeck, University of London

London

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#43 in the United Kingdom

#72 in Europe

Founded: 1823

36. Coventry University

Coventry

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#45 in the United Kingdom

#81 in Europe

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

37. City, University of London

London

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#46 in the United Kingdom

#88 in Europe

Founded: 1966

38. University of York

York

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#47 in the United Kingdom

#92 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

39. London Metropolitan University

London

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#48 in the United Kingdom

#97 in Europe

Founded: 1848

40. University of Surrey

Guildford

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#49 in the United Kingdom

#101 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

41. University of Bradford

Bradford

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#50 in the United Kingdom

#104 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

42. Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#51 in the United Kingdom

#115 in Europe

Founded: 1992

43. Oxford Brookes University

Oxford

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#52 in the United Kingdom

#117 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

44. De Montfort University

Leicester

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#54 in the United Kingdom

#125 in Europe

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

45. University of Plymouth

Plymouth

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#55 in the United Kingdom

#126 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

46. Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#59 in the United Kingdom

#141 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

47. University of Salford

Salford

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#60 in the United Kingdom

#146 in Europe

Founded: 1967

48. University of the West of England

Bristol

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#61 in the United Kingdom

#147 in Europe

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

49. University of Buckingham

Buckingham

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#62 in the United Kingdom

#155 in Europe

Founded: 1973

50. Aston University

Birmingham

For International Relations and Diplomacy

#63 in the United Kingdom

#157 in Europe

Founded: 1895

Closest to England states to learn International Relations and Diplomacy

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wales	4	13
Scotland	7	12

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in England

Broadcast Journalism69

Classics and Ancient History101

Communications and Public Relations106

Criminology and Criminal Justice92

Demography104

Early Childhood Education71

Intellectual Property and Patent Law56

International Law68

Journalism and Digital Media86

Law119

Law Enforcement84

Library and Information science104

Linguistics116

Media Studies104

Military science76

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution81

Occupational Safety and Health62

Philosophy120

Political Economy89

Political Science119

Public Policy / Administration92

Publishing86

Radio and Television broadcasting60

Social Work84

Sociology119

Special Education81

Sports / Exercise science79

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies110

Urban and Regional planning72