100 Best universities for Media Studies in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Media Studies. A graph of 1.06M citations received by 104K academic papers made by 128 universities in the United Kingdom 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. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Media Studies

#1 in Europe

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Media Studies

#2 in Europe

#5 in the World

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

3. University College London

England | London

For Media Studies

#4 in Europe

#14 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Media Studies

#5 in Europe

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Media Studies

#6 in Europe

#22 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Media Studies

#7 in Europe

#23 in the World

Founded: 1904

7. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Media Studies

#8 in Europe

#29 in the World

Founded: 1997

8. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Media Studies

#9 in Europe

#30 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

9. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Media Studies

#10 in Europe

#31 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

10. King's College London

England | London

For Media Studies

#11 in Europe

#36 in the World

Founded: 1829

11. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Media Studies

#12 in Europe

#37 in the World

Founded: 1451

12. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Media Studies

#13 in Europe

#40 in the World

Founded: 1900

13. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Media Studies

#14 in Europe

#41 in the World

Founded: 1905

14. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Media Studies

#15 in Europe

#44 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

15. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Media Studies

#17 in Europe

#48 in the World

Founded: 1948

16. University of London

England | London

For Media Studies

#18 in Europe

#49 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

17. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Media Studies

#19 in Europe

#51 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

18. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Media Studies

#20 in Europe

#52 in the World

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

19. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Media Studies

#21 in Europe

#54 in the World

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

20. Durham University

England | Durham

For Media Studies

#22 in Europe

#57 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

21. University of York

England | York

For Media Studies

#23 in Europe

#59 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

22. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Media Studies

#24 in Europe

#65 in the World

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

23. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Media Studies

#25 in Europe

#70 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

24. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Media Studies

#26 in Europe

#73 in the World

Founded: 1963

25. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Media Studies

#27 in Europe

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

26. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Media Studies

#29 in Europe

#83 in the World

Founded: 1965

27. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Media Studies

#30 in Europe

#84 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

28. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Media Studies

#31 in Europe

#85 in the World

Founded: 1904

29. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Media Studies

#32 in Europe

#95 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

30. Keele University

England | Keele

For Media Studies

#36 in Europe

#100 in the World

Founded: 1962

31. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Media Studies

#38 in Europe

#107 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

32. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Media Studies

#39 in Europe

#109 in the World

Founded: 1849

33. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Media Studies

#40 in Europe

#112 in the World

Founded: 1964

34. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Media Studies

#41 in Europe

#113 in the World

Founded: 1892

35. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Media Studies

#44 in Europe

#118 in the World

Founded: 1823

36. City, University of London

England | London

For Media Studies

#45 in Europe

#122 in the World

Founded: 1966

37. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Media Studies

#46 in Europe

#125 in the World

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

38. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Media Studies

#47 in Europe

#127 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

39. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Media Studies

#48 in Europe

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

40. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Media Studies

#51 in Europe

#145 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1967

41. University of Westminster

England | London

For Media Studies

#55 in Europe

#154 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

42. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Media Studies

#57 in Europe

#163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

43. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Media Studies

#59 in Europe

#169 in the World

Founded: 1964

44. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Media Studies

#60 in Europe

#171 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

45. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Media Studies

#61 in Europe

#173 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

46. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Media Studies

#62 in Europe

#179 in the World

Founded: 1893

47. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Media Studies

#65 in Europe

#183 in the World

Founded: 1495

48. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Media Studies

#72 in Europe

#208 in the World

Founded: 1992

49. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Media Studies

#73 in Europe

#209 in the World

Founded: 1954

50. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Media Studies

#74 in Europe

#216 in the World

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

51. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Media Studies

#77 in Europe

#226 in the World

Founded: 1920

52. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Media Studies

#79 in Europe

#229 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

53. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Media Studies

#80 in Europe

#231 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

54. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Media Studies

#81 in Europe

#232 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

55. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Media Studies

#82 in Europe

#234 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Media Studies

#85 in Europe

#240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

57. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Media Studies

#86 in Europe

#241 in the World

Founded: 1968

58. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Media Studies

#88 in Europe

#246 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Media Studies

#89 in Europe

#248 in the World

Founded: 1858

60. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Media Studies

#91 in Europe

#252 in the World

Founded: 1992

61. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Media Studies

#92 in Europe

#253 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

62. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Media Studies

#93 in Europe

#256 in the World

Founded: 1967

63. Imperial College London

England | London

For Media Studies

#97 in Europe

#261 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

64. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Media Studies

#99 in Europe

#268 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

65. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Media Studies

#100 in Europe

#270 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

66. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Media Studies

#102 in Europe

#275 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Media Studies

#104 in Europe

#277 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

68. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Media Studies

#105 in Europe

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

69. University of East London

England | London

For Media Studies

#111 in Europe

#300 in the World

Founded: 1992

70. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Media Studies

#112 in Europe

#304 in the World

Founded: 1967

71. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Media Studies

#114 in Europe

#309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 19,710
Founded: 1992

72. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Media Studies

#120 in Europe

#321 in the World

Founded: 1872

73. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Media Studies

#122 in Europe

#328 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Media Studies

#126 in Europe

#344 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

75. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Media Studies

#127 in Europe

#345 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

76. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Media Studies

#129 in Europe

#348 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

77. University of Buckingham

England | Buckingham

For Media Studies

#130 in Europe

#350 in the World

Founded: 1973

78. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Media Studies

#131 in Europe

#358 in the World

Founded: 1848

79. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Media Studies

#135 in Europe

#373 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

80. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Media Studies

#141 in Europe

#389 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. University of Winchester

England | Winchester

For Media Studies

#142 in Europe

#390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

82. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Media Studies

#148 in Europe

#410 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

83. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Media Studies

#152 in Europe

#419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

84. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Media Studies

#154 in Europe

#421 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

85. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Media Studies

#158 in Europe

#430 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

86. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Media Studies

#169 in Europe

#449 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

87. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Media Studies

#176 in Europe

#466 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

88. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Media Studies

#178 in Europe

#470 in the World

Founded: 2006

89. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Media Studies

#183 in Europe

#491 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

90. London South Bank University

England | London

For Media Studies

#184 in Europe

#494 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

91. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Media Studies

#194 in Europe

#525 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

92. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Media Studies

#200 in Europe

#538 in the World

Founded: 1895

93. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Media Studies

#205 in Europe

#546 in the World

Founded: 2005

94. University of Chester

England | Chester

For Media Studies

#207 in Europe

#554 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

95. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Media Studies

#210 in Europe

#560 in the World

Founded: 1890

96. Middlesex University

England | London

For Media Studies

#211 in Europe

#564 in the World

Founded: 1973

97. York St John University

England | York

For Media Studies

#216 in Europe

#572 in the World

Founded: 1841

98. University of Northampton

England | Northampton

For Media Studies

#219 in Europe

#581 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

99. Liverpool Hope University

England | Liverpool

For Media Studies

#220 in Europe

#582 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

100. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Media Studies

#222 in Europe

#586 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1992

The best cities to study Media Studies in the United Kingdom based on the number of universities and their ranks are Oxford, London, Cambridge, and Manchester.