University of Birmingham ranked first for Communications and Media Studies

The University of Birmingham has been ranked as the best university in the UK to study Communications and Media Studies, according to the latest 2026 edition of the Complete University Guide. The independent ratings site, which uses comprehensive data on research quality, student satisfaction, teaching ratios and facilities, saw rises across nearly all of the College of Arts and Law’s courses.

Our Creative Writing and History of Art, Architecture and Design courses are both ranked in the top four, while Law, Music and Iberian Languages have made some of the biggest rises to all sit in the top quartile for UK universities. The University of Birmingham is ranked 14th in the UK overall and 2nd in the West Midlands.

Much of the table-topping leap for Communications and Media Studies – up nine places on last year – is down to our new Digital Media and Communications courses, which have become some of the University of Birmingham’s most successful undergraduate and postgraduate programme launches. Our pioneering research and collaborations within the creative industries have also helped boost our reputation in this field.

Professor Daniel Moore, Head of English, Drama and Creative Studies, says: “I’m so pleased our new provision in Digital Media and Communications is ranked first. It’s testament to the brilliant academics on the programmes, who are drawn from across our whole School.

“The programmes blend critical, historical and theoretical study of media and communications practice with a strong employability dimension, which is supported through placements and work-based learning opportunities delivered in collaboration with our amazing partners in the sector. We’ve invested significantly in our facilities, including new content creation studios, podcasting suites and film edit suites, which are soon to be joined by an immersive studio.”