100 Best universities for Archaeology in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 02, 2025

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Archaeology. A graph of 27.5M citations received by 886K academic papers made by 147 universities in the United Kingdom 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

England | Oxford

For Archaeology

#1 in Europe

#3 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Archaeology

#2 in Europe

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University College London

England | London

For Archaeology

#3 in Europe

#9 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Archaeology

#5 in Europe

#38 in the World

Founded: 1824

5. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Archaeology

#6 in Europe

#46 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

6. Imperial College London

England | London

For Archaeology

#8 in Europe

#59 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

7. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Archaeology

#10 in Europe

#65 in the World

Founded: 1904

8. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Archaeology

#14 in Europe

#72 in the World

Founded: 1905

9. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Archaeology

#15 in Europe

#75 in the World

Founded: 1948

10. King's College London

England | London

For Archaeology

#16 in Europe

#78 in the World

Founded: 1829

11. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#17 in Europe

#80 in the World

Founded: 1900

12. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Archaeology

#18 in Europe

#83 in the World

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

13. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Archaeology

#19 in Europe

#85 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Archaeology

#22 in Europe

#92 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

15. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Archaeology

#23 in Europe

#93 in the World

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

16. Durham University

England | Durham

For Archaeology

#31 in Europe

#117 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

17. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Archaeology

#36 in Europe

#127 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

18. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Archaeology

#38 in Europe

#129 in the World

Founded: 1997

19. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Archaeology

#39 in Europe

#132 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

20. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Archaeology

#45 in Europe

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

21. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Archaeology

#46 in Europe

#145 in the World

Founded: 1963

22. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Archaeology

#51 in Europe

#160 in the World

Founded: 1892

23. University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#52 in Europe

#161 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

24. University of York

England | York

For Archaeology

#56 in Europe

#168 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

25. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Archaeology

#58 in Europe

#170 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

26. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Archaeology

#62 in Europe

#181 in the World

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

27. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Archaeology

#63 in Europe

#182 in the World

Founded: 1495

28. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Archaeology

#65 in Europe

#194 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

29. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#76 in Europe

#224 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

30. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Archaeology

#80 in Europe

#230 in the World

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

31. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Archaeology

#81 in Europe

#232 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

32. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Archaeology

#84 in Europe

#243 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

33. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Archaeology

#100 in Europe

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

34. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Archaeology

#104 in Europe

#293 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

35. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Archaeology

#118 in Europe

#334 in the World

Founded: 1964

36. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Archaeology

#121 in Europe

#338 in the World

Founded: 1965

37. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Archaeology

#128 in Europe

#354 in the World

Founded: 1964

38. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Archaeology

#134 in Europe

#370 in the World

Founded: 1849

39. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Archaeology

#135 in Europe

#371 in the World

Founded: 1893

40. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Archaeology

#136 in Europe

#374 in the World

Founded: 1968

41. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Archaeology

#144 in Europe

#388 in the World

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

42. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Archaeology

#153 in Europe

#407 in the World

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

43. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Archaeology

#154 in Europe

#408 in the World

Founded: 1920

44. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Archaeology

#165 in Europe

#429 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1967

45. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Archaeology

#166 in Europe

#430 in the World

Founded: 1967

46. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Archaeology

#169 in Europe

#435 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

47. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Archaeology

#172 in Europe

#446 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

48. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Archaeology

#174 in Europe

#455 in the World

Founded: 1992

49. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Archaeology

#183 in Europe

#484 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

50. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#191 in Europe

#504 in the World

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

51. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Archaeology

#193 in Europe

#517 in the World

Founded: 1992

52. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#196 in Europe

#522 in the World

Founded: 1823

53. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Archaeology

#202 in Europe

#531 in the World

Founded: 1954

54. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Archaeology

#205 in Europe

#542 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

55. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Archaeology

#207 in Europe

#544 in the World

Founded: 1872

56. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Archaeology

#214 in Europe

#556 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

57. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Archaeology

#216 in Europe

#560 in the World

Founded: 1992

58. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Archaeology

#219 in Europe

#575 in the World

Founded: 1967

59. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Archaeology

#221 in Europe

#578 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

60. City, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#222 in Europe

#580 in the World

Founded: 1966

61. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Archaeology

#226 in Europe

#588 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

62. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Archaeology

#235 in Europe

#605 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

63. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Archaeology

#245 in Europe

#625 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

64. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Archaeology

#249 in Europe

#632 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

65. Keele University

England | Keele

For Archaeology

#254 in Europe

#637 in the World

Founded: 1962

66. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Archaeology

#259 in Europe

#653 in the World

Founded: 1966

67. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Archaeology

#260 in Europe

#656 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

68. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#278 in Europe

#714 in the World

Founded: 1895

69. University of Westminster

England | London

For Archaeology

#280 in Europe

#721 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

70. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Archaeology

#281 in Europe

#722 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

71. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Archaeology

#283 in Europe

#725 in the World

Founded: 1890

72. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Archaeology

#290 in Europe

#749 in the World

Founded: 1992

73. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Archaeology

#298 in Europe

#771 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Middlesex University

England | London

For Archaeology

#303 in Europe

#780 in the World

Founded: 1973

75. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Archaeology

#307 in Europe

#798 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

76. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Archaeology

#308 in Europe

#801 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

77. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#330 in Europe

#845 in the World

Founded: 1904

78. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Archaeology

#339 in Europe

#873 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

79. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Archaeology

#340 in Europe

#879 in the World

Founded: 1992

80. London Business School

England | London

For Archaeology

#347 in Europe

#904 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

81. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Archaeology

#367 in Europe

#963 in the World

Founded: 1841

82. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Archaeology

#370 in Europe

#974 in the World

Founded: 1848

83. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#372 in Europe

#978 in the World

Founded: 1733

84. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Archaeology

#383 in Europe

#1001 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

85. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Archaeology

#385 in Europe

#1013 in the World

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

86. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Archaeology

#392 in Europe

#1026 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

87. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Archaeology

#402 in Europe

#1063 in the World

Founded: 1992

88. University of East London

England | London

For Archaeology

#405 in Europe

#1073 in the World

Founded: 1992

89. London South Bank University

England | London

For Archaeology

#426 in Europe

#1157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

90. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Archaeology

#440 in Europe

#1208 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

91. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Archaeology

#446 in Europe

#1224 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

92. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Archaeology

#462 in Europe

#1274 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

93. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Archaeology

#469 in Europe

#1307 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

94. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Archaeology

#476 in Europe

#1336 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

95. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#477 in Europe

#1340 in the World

Founded: 1992

96. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Wales | Carmarthen

For Archaeology

#480 in Europe

#1349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2010

97. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Archaeology

#490 in Europe

#1380 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

98. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Archaeology

#491 in Europe

#1382 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

99. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Archaeology

#493 in Europe

#1388 in the World

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

100. University of Gloucestershire

England | Cheltenham

For Archaeology

#500 in Europe

#1414 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

The best cities to study Archaeology in the United Kingdom based on the number of universities and their ranks are Oxford, Cambridge, London, and Manchester.