The Best UK Universities for Media Studies

Police say 57 people and 20 organisations ‘remain as suspects’ over the deadly blaze but any trials are unlikely to start for three years Paul Spence set up the Hull-based charity after an attack left him with a brain haemorrhage. Simon Pope is calling on Network Rail to improve the Pewsey crossing where his mother died in 2025. High service charges and fire safety issues leave many in Stratford's East Village unable to sell up.

• Brighton Pier is a popular destination for holidaymakers in England and is UK bucket list material, no doubt.
• Take up this tour and explore St. George’s Chapel, the beautiful State Apartments, and the stunning miniature Queen Mary’s Dolls’ House.
• Now don’t get me wrong, I’m almost certainly looking forward to packing my backpack and scampering off further afield but, at the same time, I truly have appreciated getting to know more of my homeland over these last 15 months.
• Southampton fans have been reacting to the news that the team has been expelled from the play-offs.
• Others (politicians, for example!) are less popular, but still very well known by most people.

If you’re into your wine, it’s all Tillingham, Tillingham, Tillingham nowadays. From hikes over sweeping landscapes to world-famous music festivals and legendary landmarks, check out our bucket list of the best things to do in the UK Big World Small Pockets was created to share with you the tips and tricks of travelling better for less… read more

This stunning Victorian covered market with a decorative roof is a sight to see. You can choose the morning or afternoon time slot for the tour. One of the most iconic tourist attractions in London, the London Eye offers you a bird’s-eye view of the city’s landmarks. Check out iconic buildings like Trinity College, King’s College, Corpus Christi College, and the Senate House. They’re perfect for days when food stops along the trail are limited or unpredictable. One standout was Layside, with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking beautiful farmland.

The two exceptions were Channel 4 (which like the BBC includes non-news content), which was up 14% month on month to 764.8 million minutes, and The New York Times, up 10% to 468.9 million. Eight of the top-ten newsbrands by total minutes spent with their content saw a drop compared to March. They include Reach’s site for the UK capital, MyLondon, which re-entered the ranking in 38th place with an audience of 4.4 million (up 75% month on month and 61% year on year). After entering Press Gazette’s top-50 audience ranking for the first time in March, Substack has dropped back out (it would be in 51st place). Mail Online fell from second place behind the BBC to fifth (21.2 million, flat month on month and down 6% year on year).

The Guardian US earned nearly $2m in reader revenue over three days after its editor wrote an open letter pitching the title as a journalistic counterweight to the Trump campaign. It generates income by listing estate agents on its website and charging for advertising. In 2012, the company acquired financial journalist Martin Lewis’ consumer finance site, Moneysavingexpert.com. The UK accounts do not, however, show consolidated earnings for the global business as the FT says it generates a large proportion of its revenue overseas.

For centuries travellers have made this epic journey through Britain’s heartlands – and now it’s your turn to tackle The Explorer’s Road. With peaceful gardens tucked away in bustling cities and a countryside full of enchanting green spaces, nourish your soul in nature across all corners of Britain. Britain’s coast holds centuries of stories which our maritime destinations bring to life. Head east along the coast to the Kent towns of Deal, Margate and Whitstable for more piers, vintage fairground rides and incredibly fresh seafood. If you like being active and adventurous – think boating, biking and hiking – this countryside is your playground.

The scenery is totally breathtaking, but the Scottish Highlands and islands are steeped in history, mystery, folklore and legend too. But from the gay clubs of Canal Street to the ever-popular Parklife weekender in summer, this northern powerhouse still has a varied and vibrant clubbing scene that attracts partygoers from all over the country. Yeah, Happy Mondays might be a more common sight on daytime telly than on stage.

#4 Road Trip Scotland

Celebrity magazine Ok (up 14.1% month on month to 2.6 million) and the Oxford Mail entered the top 50 in March, replacing Herald Scotland and Lancashire Live. Reach-owned Examiner Live (Yorkshire Live) dropped 44.3% to 3.9 million, behind fellow Reach title the Daily Record which was down 36.5% to 5.4 million. The Newsquest-owned title saw visitors increase by 183% to 3.4 million compared with the same period last year, up 136.4% month on month. The Oxford Mail re-entered Press Gazette’s top 50 ranking of leading UK news websites in March, leading audience growth both month on month and year on year. Social media platforms like Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram are widely used for news consumption and social interaction—they have become essential tools for journalists and news organisations to reach audiences.

Media and Communication University Rankings 2027

And finally, I would never head off anywhere without my trusty Anker Portable Charger, which keeps my phone and camera batteries full all day every day! I never go on any UK travels without a sturdy backpack to ensure I’ve got everything I need and that the weight is equally distributed across my back and shoulders. Whatever the time of year, you have to remember this is the UK after all, a region in which the heavens can open at any point! No doubt you’re going to be snapping like crazy in and need to ensure you have a good camera to do the UK justice.

What the ranking tells you about studying media and communication

On a weekend, you’re likely to find a healthy mix of fashion darlings, seasoned locals and tourists rummaging for treasures. Highlights include the beautiful cliffs at Beer, the historic seaside town of Lyme Regis, the sweeping shingle ridge of Chesil Beach, Old Harry Rocks and West Bay’s golden sands. Running from Exmouth in Devon to Studland Bay in Dorset, the rocks record 185 million years of the Earth’s history – and they look pretty good, too. Once you’ve wandered around the historic site, head to Thermae Bath Spa for your own chance to wallow in Bath’s warming waters.

Artists & Writers

With Meltwater’s public relations (PR) suite, you can boost your brand’s outreach and build stronger relationships with media outlets, influencers, journalists, and editors. Media Studies A-level is accepted at all programmes but is not required — strong essay-based subjects demonstrate the critical analysis skills relevant to media theory and communication research. For students specifically prioritising the strongest-measured course delivery in media and communication, Chichester's data is the most compelling in this ranking regardless of overall position. Founded in 1821 as the Manchester Guardian, over half of the Guardian’s recurring digital supporters are based outside the UK, and the brand has an especially strong presence in Australia, Europe and the US. Commercial broadcaster ITV saw revenue decline 3% in its most recent annual accounts, for 2023, while statutory operating profit dropped 54% to £238m. This article was updated after publication to add Private Equity Investor publisher PEI Media, which with media revenue of £45.4m in its most recent accounts entered the ranking at 43rd place.

• You’ve got stacks of Michelin-starred joints, understated neighbourhood spots, street food galore and innovative plant-based places pushing the boundaries of cooking.
• Geoffrey Hinton, often called the 'godfather of AI,' is a British-Canadian computer scientist known for his contributions to artificial intelligence and deep learning.
• Six Reach-owned regionals were among the ten brands with the biggest month-on-month audience growth in February, led by Chronicle Live in Newcastle (up 26.9% to 4 million) and Leeds Live (up 24.8% to 4.8 million).
• The home of Harry Potter, the UK is awash with famous sites from the film and searching for them, spotting them and sharing them, is all part of the fun… if you’re a Harry Potter fan!

Dwell in the lap of nature at Malvern Hills and Commons

• The Guardian (21.9 million, up 4% month on month and 7% year on year) jumped up a place to be the biggest behind the BBC (40.2 million, including non-news content at the same domain).
• The Daily Star, which has undergone a year of change under editor-in-chief Ben Rankin, continued to see the strongest year-on-year growth, with a 147.8% increase in audience to eight million.
• For a broader view of how these universities compare, see the Unifresher overall best universities ranking.
• From wildlife and adventure to history and heritage, this ultimate UK bucket list reveals the best things to do in the UK.
• Based on the information provided in the most recent News Corp accounts, News UK would have ranked 11th, rather than sixth, in Press Gazette’s last top 50 ranking.
• Media Studies A-level is accepted at all programmes but is not required — strong essay-based subjects demonstrate the critical analysis skills relevant to media theory and communication research.

Media and communication graduate salaries range from £17,000 to £30,000 (standard graduate outcomes) within six months based on 2027 data. If your goal is print, broadcast or digital journalism specifically, look for programmes with NCTJ (National Council for the Training of Journalists) accreditation, as this is the industry-standard qualification for editorial employment. Many programmes blend these disciplines under the broad "media and communication" label — check specific modules carefully before applying. Communication covers interpersonal, organisational and mass communication, with stronger links to PR, marketing communications, corporate communication and research methodology. Journalism focuses on news production, reporting, editing, investigative writing and broadcast journalism, often with strong practical and professional accreditation components.

British monarchs and leaders have shaped the course of world history for centuries. The nation that gave the world Shakespeare, Newton, and the Industrial Revolution continues to produce cultural icons, scientific innovators, and sporting legends who shape global popular culture. The United Kingdom, despite its relatively small size, has had an outsized influence on world history, culture, and science. In November 2002, the British public voted to find the Greatest Briton of all time. Although the BBC's original ranked list has been removed from their web server and what remains is only an alphabetical list of the Top 100, several other sources have preserved the original ranked list.

Liverpool

Home to independent shops and theatres, Bath is a pretty, honey-hued city famous for its grand, sweeping crescents and former resident Jane Austen. Once you’re back on dry land, explore the pretty villages of Blakeney, Stiffkey, Cley-next-the-Sea and Wells-next-the-Sea, as well as the wide expanse of Holkham Beach. The north Norfolk coastline is a sweet place to spend away a day or two. Embarking on the Otley Run (especially in costume) is a rite of passage for Leeds’s many uni students, but it’s great fun for anyone else too. Once you're out and feeling refreshed, go and explore the town's slew of cool cafes, shops and artsy hubs. Expect great bands, food, comedy, yoga and meditation, as well as the ritualistic burning of a pagan effigy at the end of the weekend.

Some well-known media businesses do not appear on their list either because they did not report revenue in their most recent accounts or recorded too little. Our ranking is based on the most recent full-year news, information and media revenue reported by each business. 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. It is the fifth biggest news website by total minutes spent even though it is tenth for total audience (15.6 million people in January). The Telegraph bucked the trend, with minutes up 20% year on year (and 10% month on month) to 883.6 million. However all ten sites saw month-on-month growth in their minutes spent, indicating a more recent upwards trajectory.

Manchester

• Enjoy the stunning views over Loch Duich, Loch Long, and Loch Alsh.
• If you’ve got some cash to splash, you could do a lot worse than hopping on one of the iconic luxury pullman trains, all decked out with vintage furnishings and a delicious food and drink menu to give you one of the most memorable train journeys out there.
• The perfect places for historic walking or cycling tours, if you prefer a set of oars to 2 feet or 2 wheels, then trying your hand at punting in either of these riverside cities is def a British bucket list classic!
• Big World Small Pockets was created to share with you the tips and tricks of travelling better for less… read more
• The biggest month-on-month audience growth in June was at Reach regional Devon Live, which was up by a third to reach 5.3 million people.
• Get a taste of the royal history of Great Britain and get lost in the splendor of the iconic structures.

In terms of engagement, MyLondon and Surrey Live also saw the biggest month-on-month growth in total minutes spent, up 128% (to 6.5 million minutes) and 63% (to 6.2 million) respectively. Just over half (27) saw month on month growth in total minutes spent, led by Bristol Live up 126.5% to 18.2 million minutes in May. CNN was back on the list, having dropped off in March, and recorded the biggest monthly increase in audience, up 60% to 3.6 million, plus a 6.9% increase year on year. Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Media Studies. Of the ten sites, the biggest month-on-month growth in minutes spent was at Express sister title the Mirror, up 16% to 236.2 million minutes.

February 2026

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush). Film actors are the largest category with 32 individuals, followed by 26 novelists and 21 television actors. The entertainment industry features figures like Academy Award-winner Peter Finch, contemporary actors Guy Pearce and Kiefer Sutherland, and singer-actress Olivia Newton-John. The Premier League is the most-watched football league in the world, British music acts consistently top global charts, and British actors have defined some of cinema's most iconic roles. One of the more controversial figures to be included on the list was the occultist Aleister Crowley.