Our reputation

The School of Media and Communication at the University of Leeds has a strong global reputation for its teaching and research across media and communication, from journalism and popular culture to digital media, political communication, and the screen industries. 

Our research is multidisciplinary, theoretically innovative and socially relevant. We're a leading centre for media and communication research, collaborating with academic institutions, the public sector and media industries, both in the UK and across the globe. 

The quality of our research and the funding it attracts means we’re able to invest in world-class facilities and academic staff who are actively engaged in cutting-edge research. As a result, our students will be taught by internationally renowned, inspirational academics working at the forefront of their fields.

Academic excellence

• 4^th in the UK for Communication and Media Studies (The Times and the Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026)
• 8^th in the UK for Communication and Media Studies (Complete University Guide 2026)
• 33^rd in the world for Communication and Media Studies (QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025)

University of Leeds rankings

• 86^th in the world, QS World University Rankings 2026 
• 6^th most targeted by employers, High Fliers 2025 Report 
• 21^st in the UK, Complete University Guide 
• Top 10 UK student city, Best Student Cities 2025 
• We are a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities 

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021

Every six years, the UK’s four higher education funding bodies undertake an exercise to measure the quality of research undertaken by UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The funding bodies use the outcomes to inform the allocation of their research funding to HEIs. The Research Excellence Framework was the framework used in 2021.

Unit of assessment: Media and Communication

• 87.5% of the research submitted across the School of Media and Communication is rated as either “world-leading” or “internationally excellent” by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.
• 85% submitted research environment rated at 4* by the Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2021.