100 Best universities for Archaeology in England

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in England ranked based on their research performance in Archaeology. A graph of 24M citations received by 746K academic papers made by 116 universities in England was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Oxford

For Archaeology

#1 in the United Kingdom

#1 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University of Cambridge

For Archaeology

#2 in the United Kingdom

#2 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University College London

For Archaeology

#3 in the United Kingdom

#3 in Europe

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. University of Manchester

For Archaeology

#4 in the United Kingdom

#5 in Europe

Founded: 1824

5. Imperial College London

For Archaeology

#6 in the United Kingdom

#9 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

6. University of Leeds

For Archaeology

#7 in the United Kingdom

#11 in Europe

Founded: 1904

7. University of Sheffield

For Archaeology

#8 in the United Kingdom

#14 in Europe

Founded: 1905

8. University of Nottingham

For Archaeology

#9 in the United Kingdom

#15 in Europe

Founded: 1948

9. King's College London

For Archaeology

#10 in the United Kingdom

#16 in Europe

Founded: 1829

10. University of Birmingham

For Archaeology

#11 in the United Kingdom

#18 in Europe

Founded: 1900

11. University of Bristol

For Archaeology

#12 in the United Kingdom

#19 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

12. University of Southampton

For Archaeology

#14 in the United Kingdom

#23 in Europe

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

13. London School of Economics and Political Science

For Archaeology

#15 in the United Kingdom

#24 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

14. Durham University

For Archaeology

#16 in the United Kingdom

#32 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

15. University of Warwick

For Archaeology

#17 in the United Kingdom

#37 in Europe

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

16. University of Liverpool

For Archaeology

#19 in the United Kingdom

#39 in Europe

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

17. University of Exeter

For Archaeology

#20 in the United Kingdom

#44 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

18. Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Archaeology

#21 in the United Kingdom

#46 in Europe

Founded: 1963

19. University of Reading

For Archaeology

#22 in the United Kingdom

#53 in Europe

Founded: 1892

20. University of London

For Archaeology

#23 in the United Kingdom

#54 in Europe

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

21. University of York

For Archaeology

#24 in the United Kingdom

#56 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

22. Lancaster University

For Archaeology

#25 in the United Kingdom

#57 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

23. University of Sussex

For Archaeology

#26 in the United Kingdom

#62 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,319
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1961

24. University of East Anglia

For Archaeology

#28 in the United Kingdom

#66 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

25. Queen Mary University of London

For Archaeology

#29 in the United Kingdom

#77 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

26. Loughborough University

For Archaeology

#30 in the United Kingdom

#80 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

27. University of Leicester

For Archaeology

#31 in the United Kingdom

#82 in Europe

Enrollment: 24,409
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1957

28. University of Surrey

For Archaeology

#32 in the United Kingdom

#85 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

29. University of Kent

For Archaeology

#36 in the United Kingdom

#123 in Europe

Founded: 1965

30. University of Essex

For Archaeology

#37 in the United Kingdom

#127 in Europe

Founded: 1964

31. Royal Holloway, University of London

For Archaeology

#38 in the United Kingdom

#135 in Europe

Founded: 1849

32. University of Bath

For Archaeology

#39 in the United Kingdom

#139 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 18,857
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1966

33. Cranfield University

For Archaeology

#42 in the United Kingdom

#153 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Enrollment: 4,825
Founded: 1993

34. Brunel University London

For Archaeology

#46 in the United Kingdom

#170 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

35. Manchester Metropolitan University

For Archaeology

#47 in the United Kingdom

#171 in Europe

Founded: 1992

36. University of Plymouth

For Archaeology

#48 in the United Kingdom

#173 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

37. Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Archaeology

#50 in the United Kingdom

#191 in Europe

Founded: 1992

38. SOAS, University of London

For Archaeology

#51 in the United Kingdom

#192 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 6,295
Founded: 1916

39. Birkbeck, University of London

For Archaeology

#52 in the United Kingdom

#201 in Europe

Founded: 1823

40. University of Hull

Kingston upon Hull

For Archaeology

#53 in the United Kingdom

#202 in Europe

Founded: 1954

41. Bournemouth University

For Archaeology

#54 in the United Kingdom

#204 in Europe

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

42. University of Portsmouth

For Archaeology

#55 in the United Kingdom

#210 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

43. Liverpool John Moores University

For Archaeology

#56 in the United Kingdom

#214 in Europe

Founded: 1992

44. University of Salford

For Archaeology

#58 in the United Kingdom

#220 in Europe

Founded: 1967

45. University of Bradford

For Archaeology

#59 in the United Kingdom

#223 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

46. City, University of London

For Archaeology

#60 in the United Kingdom

#226 in Europe

Founded: 1966

47. Oxford Brookes University

For Archaeology

#61 in the United Kingdom

#230 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

48. Nottingham Trent University

For Archaeology

#62 in the United Kingdom

#235 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

49. University of the West of England

For Archaeology

#63 in the United Kingdom

#236 in Europe

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

50. Sheffield Hallam University

For Archaeology

#64 in the United Kingdom

#248 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

51. Keele University

For Archaeology

#65 in the United Kingdom

#255 in Europe

Founded: 1962

52. Coventry University

For Archaeology

#66 in the United Kingdom

#257 in Europe

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

53. University of Westminster

For Archaeology

#68 in the United Kingdom

#279 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

54. Aston University

For Archaeology

#69 in the United Kingdom

#280 in Europe

Founded: 1895

55. De Montfort University

For Archaeology

#70 in the United Kingdom

#282 in Europe

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

56. University of Greenwich

For Archaeology

#71 in the United Kingdom

#283 in Europe

Founded: 1890

57. Leeds Beckett University

For Archaeology

#72 in the United Kingdom

#289 in Europe

Founded: 1992

58. University of Central Lancashire

For Archaeology

#73 in the United Kingdom

#299 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

59. University of Brighton

For Archaeology

#74 in the United Kingdom

#300 in Europe

Founded: 1992

60. Middlesex University

For Archaeology

#75 in the United Kingdom

#306 in Europe

Founded: 1973

61. University of Huddersfield

For Archaeology

#76 in the United Kingdom

#308 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

62. Goldsmiths, University of London

For Archaeology

#77 in the United Kingdom

#334 in Europe

Founded: 1904

63. University of Hertfordshire

For Archaeology

#78 in the United Kingdom

#342 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

64. University of Wolverhampton

For Archaeology

#79 in the United Kingdom

#345 in Europe

Founded: 1992

65. London Business School

For Archaeology

#80 in the United Kingdom

#357 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

66. St George's, University of London

For Archaeology

#81 in the United Kingdom

#363 in Europe

Founded: 1733

67. London Metropolitan University

For Archaeology

#83 in the United Kingdom

#378 in Europe

Founded: 1848

68. University of Lincoln

For Archaeology

#84 in the United Kingdom

#380 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 19,710
Founded: 1992

69. University of East London

For Archaeology

#87 in the United Kingdom

#403 in Europe

Founded: 1992

70. Kingston University

Kingston upon Thames

For Archaeology

#88 in the United Kingdom

#405 in Europe

Founded: 1992

71. London South Bank University

For Archaeology

#89 in the United Kingdom

#434 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

72. Teesside University

For Archaeology

#90 in the United Kingdom

#446 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

73. University of Roehampton

For Archaeology

#91 in the United Kingdom

#448 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

74. Staffordshire University

For Archaeology

#92 in the United Kingdom

#463 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

75. Birmingham City University

For Archaeology

#93 in the United Kingdom

#471 in Europe

Founded: 1992

76. University of Bedfordshire

For Archaeology

#95 in the United Kingdom

#474 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

77. University of Derby

For Archaeology

#96 in the United Kingdom

#486 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1992

78. University of Gloucestershire

For Archaeology

#99 in the United Kingdom

#494 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

79. University of Sunderland

For Archaeology

#100 in the United Kingdom

#497 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

80. Anglia Ruskin University

For Archaeology

#101 in the United Kingdom

#507 in Europe

Founded: 1858

81. Canterbury Christ Church University

For Archaeology

#103 in the United Kingdom

#515 in Europe

Founded: 2005

82. Royal Veterinary College University of London

For Archaeology

#104 in the United Kingdom

#549 in Europe

Founded: 1791

83. University of Chester

For Archaeology

#105 in the United Kingdom

#559 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

84. University of Winchester

For Archaeology

#106 in the United Kingdom

#567 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

85. Edge Hill University

For Archaeology

#107 in the United Kingdom

#569 in Europe

Founded: 2006

86. University of Bolton

For Archaeology

#109 in the United Kingdom

#602 in Europe

Founded: 2004

87. University of West London

For Archaeology

#110 in the United Kingdom

#630 in Europe

Founded: 1990

88. University of Worcester

For Archaeology

#111 in the United Kingdom

#631 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Enrollment: 10,798
Founded: 2005

89. University of Northampton

For Archaeology

#113 in the United Kingdom

#645 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

90. Liverpool Hope University

For Archaeology

#114 in the United Kingdom

#670 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

91. University of the Arts London

For Archaeology

#115 in the United Kingdom

#699 in Europe

Founded: 1986

92. York St John University

For Archaeology

#116 in the United Kingdom

#705 in Europe

Founded: 1841

93. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

For Archaeology

#118 in the United Kingdom

#735 in Europe

Founded: 1932

94. Bath Spa University

For Archaeology

#119 in the United Kingdom

#738 in Europe

Enrollment: 6,863
Founded: 1975

95. Buckinghamshire New University

For Archaeology

#121 in the United Kingdom

#752 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2007

96. University of Cumbria

For Archaeology

#122 in the United Kingdom

#756 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Founded: 2007

97. Royal Agricultural University

For Archaeology

#123 in the United Kingdom

#774 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 1,100
Founded: 2013

98. Royal College of Art

For Archaeology

#125 in the United Kingdom

#813 in Europe

Founded: 1896

99. University of Chichester

For Archaeology

#126 in the United Kingdom

#833 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

100. University of Buckingham

For Archaeology

#127 in the United Kingdom

#855 in Europe

Founded: 1973

Closest to England states to learn Archaeology

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wales	10	18
Scotland	18	5

Liberal Arts & Social Sciences subfields in England

Anthropology109

Broadcast Journalism69

Classics and Ancient History101

Communications and Public Relations106

Criminology and Criminal Justice92

Early Childhood Education71

Education Majors110

Forensic Science64

Gender Studies105

Human Rights Law78

Intellectual Property and Patent Law56

International Law68

International Relations and Diplomacy69

Journalism and Digital Media86

Law Enforcement84

Library and Information science104

Media Studies104

Military science76

Negotiation and Conflict Resolution81

Occupational Safety and Health62

Political Economy89

Political Science119

Public Policy / Administration92

Radio and Television broadcasting60

Special Education81

Sports / Exercise science79

Theology / Divinity / Religious studies110

Urban and Regional planning72