100 Best universities for Archaeology in the United Kingdom

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 19.4M citations received by 793K 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

#5 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University College London

England | London

For Archaeology

#2 in Europe

#8 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Archaeology

#3 in Europe

#9 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

4. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Archaeology

#5 in Europe

#41 in the World

Founded: 1824

5. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Archaeology

#6 in Europe

#47 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

6. Imperial College London

England | London

For Archaeology

#7 in Europe

#50 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

7. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Archaeology

#10 in Europe

#63 in the World

Founded: 1904

8. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Archaeology

#11 in Europe

#68 in the World

Founded: 1905

9. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Archaeology

#14 in Europe

#71 in the World

Founded: 1948

10. King's College London

England | London

For Archaeology

#16 in Europe

#75 in the World

Founded: 1829

11. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#17 in Europe

#77 in the World

Founded: 1900

12. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Archaeology

#18 in Europe

#80 in the World

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

13. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Archaeology

#22 in Europe

#90 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

14. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Archaeology

#25 in Europe

#102 in the World

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

15. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Archaeology

#29 in Europe

#109 in the World

Founded: 1451

16. Durham University

England | Durham

For Archaeology

#30 in Europe

#114 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

17. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Archaeology

#32 in Europe

#117 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

18. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Archaeology

#38 in Europe

#129 in the World

Founded: 1963

19. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Archaeology

#43 in Europe

#137 in the World

Founded: 1997

20. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Archaeology

#44 in Europe

#138 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

21. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Archaeology

#46 in Europe

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

22. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Archaeology

#49 in Europe

#152 in the World

Founded: 1892

23. University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#50 in Europe

#154 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

24. University of York

England | York

For Archaeology

#52 in Europe

#157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

25. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Archaeology

#55 in Europe

#160 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

26. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Archaeology

#58 in Europe

#174 in the World

Founded: 1495

27. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Archaeology

#61 in Europe

#180 in the World

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

28. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Archaeology

#62 in Europe

#181 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

29. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Archaeology

#79 in Europe

#225 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

30. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Archaeology

#81 in Europe

#229 in the World

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

31. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#82 in Europe

#234 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

32. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Archaeology

#87 in Europe

#241 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

33. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Archaeology

#101 in Europe

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

34. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Archaeology

#106 in Europe

#295 in the World

Founded: 1964

35. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Archaeology

#107 in Europe

#296 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

36. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Archaeology

#108 in Europe

#298 in the World

Founded: 1893

37. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Archaeology

#115 in Europe

#320 in the World

Founded: 1965

38. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Archaeology

#124 in Europe

#345 in the World

Founded: 1849

39. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Archaeology

#135 in Europe

#367 in the World

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

40. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Archaeology

#138 in Europe

#370 in the World

Founded: 1964

41. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Archaeology

#140 in Europe

#372 in the World

Founded: 1968

42. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Archaeology

#145 in Europe

#385 in the World

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

43. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Archaeology

#148 in Europe

#390 in the World

Founded: 1920

44. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Archaeology

#158 in Europe

#414 in the World

Founded: 1967

45. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Archaeology

#160 in Europe

#420 in the World

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

46. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Archaeology

#167 in Europe

#435 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

47. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Archaeology

#168 in Europe

#437 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

48. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Archaeology

#173 in Europe

#455 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

49. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Archaeology

#174 in Europe

#456 in the World

Founded: 1992

50. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Archaeology

#189 in Europe

#498 in the World

Founded: 1954

51. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#193 in Europe

#508 in the World

Founded: 1823

52. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Archaeology

#200 in Europe

#526 in the World

Founded: 1992

53. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Archaeology

#205 in Europe

#534 in the World

Founded: 1872

54. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#206 in Europe

#535 in the World

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

55. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Archaeology

#208 in Europe

#540 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

56. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Archaeology

#209 in Europe

#546 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

57. City, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#216 in Europe

#560 in the World

Founded: 1966

58. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Archaeology

#217 in Europe

#561 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Archaeology

#219 in Europe

#563 in the World

Founded: 1967

60. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Archaeology

#223 in Europe

#571 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

61. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Archaeology

#227 in Europe

#582 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

62. Keele University

England | Keele

For Archaeology

#236 in Europe

#602 in the World

Founded: 1962

63. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Archaeology

#237 in Europe

#603 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

64. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Archaeology

#239 in Europe

#607 in the World

Founded: 1966

65. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Archaeology

#242 in Europe

#610 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

66. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Archaeology

#253 in Europe

#626 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

67. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Archaeology

#258 in Europe

#649 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

68. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#261 in Europe

#656 in the World

Founded: 1895

69. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Archaeology

#277 in Europe

#701 in the World

Founded: 1992

70. University of Westminster

England | London

For Archaeology

#278 in Europe

#702 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

71. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Archaeology

#285 in Europe

#728 in the World

Founded: 1890

72. Middlesex University

England | London

For Archaeology

#286 in Europe

#731 in the World

Founded: 1973

73. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Archaeology

#290 in Europe

#738 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Archaeology

#291 in Europe

#739 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Archaeology

#306 in Europe

#774 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

76. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Archaeology

#309 in Europe

#785 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

77. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#310 in Europe

#786 in the World

Founded: 1904

78. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Archaeology

#333 in Europe

#835 in the World

Founded: 1992

79. London Business School

England | London

For Archaeology

#339 in Europe

#851 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

80. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Archaeology

#342 in Europe

#857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

81. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Archaeology

#349 in Europe

#890 in the World

Founded: 1841

82. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#350 in Europe

#891 in the World

Founded: 1733

83. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Archaeology

#360 in Europe

#924 in the World

Founded: 1848

84. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Archaeology

#367 in Europe

#938 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

85. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Archaeology

#380 in Europe

#968 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

86. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Archaeology

#389 in Europe

#995 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

87. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Archaeology

#402 in Europe

#1034 in the World

Founded: 1992

88. London South Bank University

England | London

For Archaeology

#412 in Europe

#1091 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

89. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Archaeology

#413 in Europe

#1092 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

90. University of East London

England | London

For Archaeology

#415 in Europe

#1096 in the World

Founded: 1992

91. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Archaeology

#429 in Europe

#1163 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

92. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Archaeology

#440 in Europe

#1192 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

93. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Archaeology

#454 in Europe

#1236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

94. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Archaeology

#472 in Europe

#1301 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

95. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Archaeology

#478 in Europe

#1321 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

96. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Archaeology

#482 in Europe

#1329 in the World

Founded: 2005

97. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Wales | Carmarthen

For Archaeology

#489 in Europe

#1350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2010

98. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#490 in Europe

#1352 in the World

Founded: 1992

99. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Archaeology

#495 in Europe

#1370 in the World

Founded: 1858

100. University of Gloucestershire

England | Cheltenham

For Archaeology

#496 in Europe

#1371 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, London, Cambridge, and Manchester.