25 Mar 2026
In the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, the Institute for Communication Science and Media Research at LMU Munich confirms its position among the leading communication science departments globally.
In the latest QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026, the Institute for Communication Science and Media Research at LMU Munich ranks 24th worldwide, confirming its position among the leading communication science departments globally. It is also the second-highest ranked institute across all of LMU.
At a time when communication, media, and digital public spheres are shaping society more than ever, this result sends a clear message: communication science is not a peripheral discipline, but an indispensable integrative social science for the core competencies of the present and future.
The QS Ranking evaluates disciplines worldwide based on academic reputation, citation performance, research quality, and international connectivity. Ranking 24th among hundreds of departments worldwide is a strong signal for the quality of our research and teaching.
This picture is echoed in the Shanghai Ranking 2025: in the Communication category, the IfKW ranks 9th worldwide – one of the strongest results ever achieved by a European communication institute in this ranking. The ranking assesses research output, citation impact, international collaborations, and recognition through awards for excellent research, among other criteria.
More on studying communication science at LMU:
https://www.sw.lmu.de/ifkw/en/studies/
Full QS Ranking 2026 results: https://www.topuniversities.com/world-university-rankings
Shanghai Ranking 2025 – Communication:
https://www.shanghairanking.com/rankings/gras/2025/AS0507