Best Universities for Film Production in the UK 2027
Bangor University tops our 2027 film production ranking with 218 points, achieving 100% on both teaching quality and academic support — the joint-highest double in the field. Durham University comes second with 215 points, also achieving 100% academic support. York St John University is third with 213 points and 100% academic support. We ranked 87 UK universities across eight metrics: graduate earnings, teaching quality, student satisfaction, academic support, safety, cost of living, social life and sustainability.
Film production graduate earnings range from £17,000 (Liverpool John Moores, 16th) to £33,000 (University of Surrey, 43rd). Eight universities achieve 100% academic support: Bangor, Durham, York St John, Exeter, UWE Bristol, Salford, NTU, Bedfordshire, Staffordshire and Leicester. University of Edinburgh (joint 57th) has the lowest teaching quality in the entire field at 53%. Oxford Brookes (joint 45th) has the lowest academic support at 63%. Arts University Bournemouth (35th) achieves 83% student satisfaction but only 64% academic support — the second-lowest in the ranking.
For how these universities compare across all subjects, see the Unifresher best universities overall ranking and our best universities for employability.
Film Production University Rankings 2027
| # | University | Grad Earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching Quality | Academic Support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bangor University Bangor |
£22,500 | 76% | 100% | 100% | 218 |
| 2 | Durham University Durham |
£24,000 | 78% | 93% | 100% | 215 |
| 3 | York St John University York |
£23,000 | 80% | 95% | 100% | 213 |
| 4 | Swansea University Swansea |
£24,000 | 79% | 84% | 95% | 212 |
| 5 | University of Exeter Exeter |
£25,000 | 79% | 84% | 100% | 207 |
| 6 | University of Worcester Worcester |
£21,000 | 79% | 94% | 92% | 205 |
| 7 | Bath Spa University Bath |
£24,000 | 79% | 87% | 85% | 201 |
| 8 | University of the West of England, Bristol Bristol |
£20,000 | 74% | 99% | 100% | 200 |
| 9 | Northumbria University, Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne |
£21,500 | 74% | 89% | 94% | 196 |
| 10 | University of Salford Salford |
£24,500 | 73% | 100% | 100% | 193 |
| 11 | University of Bristol Bristol |
£27,000 | 73% | 88% | 94% | 192 |
| 11 | University of Lincoln Lincoln |
£24,500 | 78% | 90% | 90% | 192 |
| 12 | University of Essex Colchester |
£28,000 | 74% | 95% | 95% | 188 |
| 13 | Edge Hill University Ormskirk |
£22,000 | 83% | 85% | 90% | 186 |
| 14 | Nottingham Trent University Nottingham |
£21,000 | 76% | 98% | 100% | 184 |
| 15 | Canterbury Christ Church University Canterbury |
£24,000 | 73% | 87% | 95% | 182 |
| 16 | Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool |
£17,000 | 72% | 94% | 96% | 179 |
| 17 | Bournemouth University Bournemouth |
£26,000 | 71% | 72% | 90% | 178 |
| 18 | Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester |
£25,000 | 73% | 83% | 85% | 174 |
| 19 | University of Liverpool Liverpool |
£22,500 | 71% | 90% | 93% | 172 |
| 20 | Newcastle University Newcastle upon Tyne |
£26,000 | 75% | 79% | 100% | 171 |
| 21 | University of Reading Reading |
£25,000 | 74% | 75% | 79% | 169 |
| 21 | University of East Anglia (UEA) Norwich |
£25,000 | 79% | 85% | 82% | 169 |
| 21 | University of Wales Trinity Saint David Lampeter / Carmarthen / Swansea |
£24,000 | 79% | 95% | 97% | 169 |
| 21 | Coventry University Coventry |
£24,000 | 72% | 98% | 95% | 169 |
| 22 | Robert Gordon University Aberdeen |
£19,000 | 77% | 96% | 93% | 168 |
| 23 | De Montfort University Leicester |
£24,000 | 70% | 75% | 88% | 167 |
| 23 | Royal Holloway, University of London Egham |
£26,000 | 74% | 93% | 82% | 167 |
| 24 | Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield |
£22,000 | 73% | 92% | 92% | 166 |
| 24 | Keele University Newcastle-under-Lyme |
£21,000 | 81% | 93% | 96% | 166 |
| 25 | University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham / Gloucester |
£24,000 | 76% | 84% | 88% | 165 |
| 25 | Lancaster University Lancaster |
£22,000 | 82% | 94% | 95% | 165 |
| 25 | University of Bedfordshire Luton |
£17,500 | 68% | 98% | 100% | 165 |
| 26 | Falmouth University Falmouth |
£23,000 | 82% | 89% | 86% | 163 |
| 27 | University of Leeds Leeds |
£25,000 | 74% | 88% | 84% | 162 |
| 28 | University of Warwick Coventry |
£27,000 | 74% | 95% | 94% | 161 |
| 29 (tie) | Norwich University of the Arts Norwich |
£24,000 | 85% | 93% | 93% | 159 |
| 30 | King's College London London |
£27,000 | 67% | 89% | 93% | 156 |
| 31 | University of Kent Canterbury |
£23,000 | 72% | 85% | 86% | 155 |
| 32 | University of Greenwich London |
£24,000 | 69% | 88% | 89% | 155 |
| 33 | University of the Arts London London |
£21,000 | 81% | 80% | 91% | 154 |
| 34 | Arts University Bournemouth Bournemouth |
£25,000 | 83% | 76% | 64% | 153 |
| 35 | University of Huddersfield Huddersfield |
£28,000 | 74% | 91% | 89% | 152 |
| 36 | University of West London London |
£26,000 | 72% | 70% | 89% | 150 |
| 36 | University of Brighton Brighton |
£24,000 | 72% | 86% | 90% | 150 |
| 37 | Birmingham City University Birmingham |
£22,500 | 69% | 88% | 85% | 149 |
| 38 | University of Manchester Manchester |
£26,000 | 70% | 79% | 84% | 148 |
| 38 | University of Winchester Winchester |
£24,000 | 82% | 83% | 88% | 148 |
| 39 | University of York York |
£24,000 | 77% | 78% | 81% | 146 |
| 39 | University of Hertfordshire Hertfordshire |
£23,000 | 71% | 81% | 86% | 146 |
| 39 | University of Leicester Leicester |
£22,500 | 73% | 92% | 100% | 146 |
| 40 | Edinburgh Napier University Edinburgh |
£18,500 | 72% | 84% | 79% | 145 |
| 41 | University of South Wales Pontypridd |
£23,000 | 72% | 64% | 64% | 144 |
| 42 | University of Surrey Guildford |
£33,000 | 78% | 86% | 85% | 143 |
| 43 | University for the Creative Arts Canterbury / Epsom / Farnham / Rochester |
£23,000 | 82% | 75% | 83% | 141 |
| 43 | University of Sunderland Sunderland |
£20,500 | 74% | 79% | 79% | 141 |
| 44 | Oxford Brookes University Oxford |
£23,000 | 74% | 81% | 63% | 140 |
| 44 | University of Nottingham Nottingham |
£25,500 | 74% | 93% | 91% | 140 |
| 45 | Staffordshire University Stoke-on-Trent |
£22,000 | 72% | 99% | 100% | 136 |
| 46 | University of Sussex Brighton and Hove |
£24,000 | 77% | 78% | 94% | 133 |
| 46 | Queen Mary University of London London |
£24,500 | 69% | 86% | 98% | 133 |
| 46 | Queen Margaret University Edinburgh |
£23,000 | 78% | 91% | 94% | 133 |
| 47 | Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge |
£23,000 | 70% | 67% | 71% | 132 |
| 48 | University of Southampton Southampton |
£22,000 | 76% | 96% | 92% | 131 |
| 49 | University of Derby Derby |
£22,000 | 74% | 80% | 80% | 130 |
| 49 | University of Suffolk Ipswich |
£23,500 | 76% | 94% | 92% | 130 |
| 50 | University of Chester Chester |
£20,000 | 78% | 70% | 97% | 126 |
| 51 | Liverpool Hope University Liverpool |
£25,000 | 80% | 89% | 84% | 124 |
| 52 | University of Portsmouth Portsmouth |
£23,500 | 77% | 85% | 92% | 122 |
| 53 | St Mary's University, Twickenham Twickenham |
£21,500 | 80% | 85% | 77% | 121 |
| 54 | Leeds Trinity University Leeds |
£19,000 | 78% | 86% | 98% | 117 |
| 55 | Teesside University Middlesbrough |
£23,000 | 78% | 92% | 96% | 115 |
| 56 | University of Edinburgh Edinburgh |
£24,000 | 74% | 53% | 67% | 112 |
| 56 | University of Northampton Northampton |
£23,000 | 75% | 88% | 95% | 112 |
| 57 | University of Hull Hull |
£23,000 | 76% | 92% | 97% | 110 |
| 58 | University of Cumbria Carlisle |
£24,000 | 77% | 71% | 79% | 109 |
| 58 | University of Stirling Stirling |
£23,500 | 78% | 83% | 88% | 109 |
| 58 | Solent University Southampton |
£24,000 | 71% | 84% | 88% | 109 |
| 59 | University of Wolverhampton Wolverhampton |
£23,000 | 71% | 96% | 95% | 105 |
| 60 | Buckinghamshire New University High Wycombe |
£24,000 | 70% | 73% | 88% | 102 |
| 61 | Brunel University London Uxbridge |
£25,000 | 68% | 60% | 65% | 95 |
| 62 | University of Westminster London |
£22,000 | 68% | 72% | 81% | 86 |
| 63 | University of Chichester Chichester |
£22,000 | 80% | 81% | 82% | 76 |
| 64 | University of Roehampton London |
£21,000 | 72% | 83% | 87% | 75 |
| 64 | London South Bank University London |
£19,500 | 68% | 87% | 90% | 75 |
| 65 | Middlesex University Middlesex |
£20,500 | 69% | 70% | 70% | 73 |
| 65 | London Metropolitan University London |
£26,000 | 66% | 79% | 79% | 73 |
What the ranking tells you about studying film production
Film production is one of the most practically demanding creative arts degrees in the UK. With 87 universities offering it, the variation in studio infrastructure, equipment access, industry connections and placement opportunities is substantial. This ranking scores all 87 on eight consistent metrics — giving you comparative data on teaching quality, academic support and the wider student experience that most applicant guidance overlooks.
University of Salford at 10th: 100% on both metrics, strongest industry connections in the North
University of Salford ranks 10th with 193 points, achieving 100% on both teaching quality and academic support — the joint-highest double in the field. Salford's MediaCityUK campus is directly co-located with BBC North and ITV Studios, which makes it one of the most practically positioned film and media programmes in the UK. Students have direct access to live broadcast environments, professional studios and working practitioners as part of their programme infrastructure — not just as occasional guest lectures. Its lower overall position relative to the top 9 reflects Salford's safety index and lower social life scores rather than course quality. For students specifically focused on the practical production side of screen industries, Salford's combination of 100% course delivery and MediaCityUK placement is the most compelling industry-integrated programme in the North of England.
University of Edinburgh at joint 56th: the lowest teaching quality in this field
University of Edinburgh ranks joint 56th with 112 points and achieves 53% teaching quality — the lowest of any film production department in this entire 87-university ranking. Its academic support of 67% is also among the lowest in the field. Edinburgh's film production programme sits alongside its Theatre, Film and Television Studies faculty — a primarily academic and theoretical environment with more limited practical production infrastructure compared to dedicated film schools. For students comparing Edinburgh's brand with its film production-specific data, the course delivery scores are the most important context to apply. Edinburgh produces graduates earning £24,000 — mid-table. Students interested in Edinburgh for film studies or film theory rather than hands-on production may find the academic environment suits them; for those expecting strong practical production training, the data suggests looking elsewhere.
Arts University Bournemouth at 34th: high satisfaction, low academic support. AUB achieves 83% student satisfaction — the joint-highest in the top 35 of the ranking — alongside 76% teaching quality and 64% academic support, which is the second-lowest in the entire field. AUB is widely regarded as a specialist creative arts institution with strong industry connections in film, animation and visual effects. Its teaching quality score of 76% and academic support of 64% are specific course-level metrics that applicants should weigh against the reputation. For students who want AUB's specialist creative environment, the academic support score is worth questioning directly at an open day.
University of Surrey at 42nd: the highest graduate earnings in the field
University of Surrey ranks 42nd with 143 points but produces film production graduates earning £33,000 — the highest in this entire ranking by £5,000. Surrey's film production programme benefits from its proximity to Guildford and the South East's film and television infrastructure, including proximity to Pinewood Studios, Shepperton and multiple major production companies. The high graduate earnings likely reflect a cohort that accesses production roles in the South East's premium film and TV sector quickly after graduation. Its low overall ranking reflects Guildford's high cost of living relative to the field average and a low sustainability score rather than poor course quality — 86% teaching and 85% academic support are both above the field median.
For a broader view of how these universities compare, see the Unifresher overall best universities ranking.
