100 Best universities for Archaeology in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 15, 2026

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 29M citations received by 905K 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

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

6. Imperial College London

England | London

For Archaeology

#9 in Europe

#59 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

7. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Archaeology

#11 in Europe

#67 in the World

Founded: 1904

8. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Archaeology

#14 in Europe

#73 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

#77 in the World

Founded: 1829

11. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#18 in Europe

#81 in the World

Founded: 1900

12. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Archaeology

#19 in Europe

#84 in the World

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

13. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Archaeology

#21 in Europe

#88 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Archaeology

#23 in Europe

#95 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

15. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Archaeology

#24 in Europe

#96 in the World

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

16. Durham University

England | Durham

For Archaeology

#32 in Europe

#119 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

17. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Archaeology

#37 in Europe

#131 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

18. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Archaeology

#38 in Europe

#132 in the World

Founded: 1997

19. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Archaeology

#39 in Europe

#134 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

20. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Archaeology

#44 in Europe

#144 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

21. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Archaeology

#46 in Europe

#146 in the World

Founded: 1963

22. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Archaeology

#53 in Europe

#163 in the World

Founded: 1892

23. University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#54 in Europe

#165 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

#57 in Europe

#169 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

26. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Archaeology

#62 in Europe

#182 in the World

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

27. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Archaeology

#63 in Europe

#185 in the World

Founded: 1495

28. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Archaeology

#66 in Europe

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

29. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#77 in Europe

#229 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

30. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Archaeology

#80 in Europe

#233 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

31. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Archaeology

#82 in Europe

#236 in the World

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

32. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Archaeology

#85 in Europe

#246 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

33. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Archaeology

#99 in Europe

#280 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

34. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Archaeology

#104 in Europe

#297 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

35. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Archaeology

#120 in Europe

#338 in the World

Founded: 1964

36. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Archaeology

#123 in Europe

#343 in the World

Founded: 1965

37. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Archaeology

#127 in Europe

#357 in the World

Founded: 1964

38. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Archaeology

#135 in Europe

#373 in the World

Founded: 1849

39. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Archaeology

#139 in Europe

#382 in the World

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

40. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Archaeology

#142 in Europe

#390 in the World

Founded: 1968

41. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Archaeology

#145 in Europe

#394 in the World

Founded: 1893

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

#155 in Europe

#409 in the World

Founded: 1920

44. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Archaeology

#165 in Europe

#430 in the World

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

45. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Archaeology

#169 in Europe

#436 in the World

Founded: 1967

46. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Archaeology

#170 in Europe

#439 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

47. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Archaeology

#171 in Europe

#452 in the World

Founded: 1992

48. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Archaeology

#173 in Europe

#454 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

49. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Archaeology

#182 in Europe

#485 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

50. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Archaeology

#191 in Europe

#508 in the World

Founded: 1992

51. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#192 in Europe

#509 in the World

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

52. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#201 in Europe

#531 in the World

Founded: 1823

53. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Archaeology

#202 in Europe

#533 in the World

Founded: 1954

54. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Archaeology

#204 in Europe

#536 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

55. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Archaeology

#210 in Europe

#549 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

56. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Archaeology

#214 in Europe

#556 in the World

Founded: 1992

57. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Archaeology

#215 in Europe

#557 in the World

Founded: 1872

58. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Archaeology

#220 in Europe

#572 in the World

Founded: 1967

59. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Archaeology

#223 in Europe

#583 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

60. City, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#226 in Europe

#589 in the World

Founded: 1966

61. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Archaeology

#230 in Europe

#596 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

62. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Archaeology

#235 in Europe

#608 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

63. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Archaeology

#236 in Europe

#611 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

64. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Archaeology

#248 in Europe

#635 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

65. Keele University

England | Keele

For Archaeology

#255 in Europe

#650 in the World

Founded: 1962

66. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Archaeology

#257 in Europe

#653 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

67. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Archaeology

#260 in Europe

#659 in the World

Founded: 1966

68. University of Westminster

England | London

For Archaeology

#279 in Europe

#722 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

69. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#280 in Europe

#724 in the World

Founded: 1895

70. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Archaeology

#282 in Europe

#734 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

71. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Archaeology

#283 in Europe

#735 in the World

Founded: 1890

72. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Archaeology

#289 in Europe

#753 in the World

Founded: 1992

73. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Archaeology

#299 in Europe

#777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

74. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Archaeology

#300 in Europe

#781 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. Middlesex University

England | London

For Archaeology

#306 in Europe

#794 in the World

Founded: 1973

76. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Archaeology

#308 in Europe

#799 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

77. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#334 in Europe

#851 in the World

Founded: 1904

78. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Archaeology

#342 in Europe

#881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

79. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Archaeology

#345 in Europe

#899 in the World

Founded: 1992

80. London Business School

England | London

For Archaeology

#357 in Europe

#935 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

81. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Archaeology

#363 in Europe

#955 in the World

Founded: 1733

82. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Archaeology

#371 in Europe

#978 in the World

Founded: 1841

83. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Archaeology

#378 in Europe

#994 in the World

Founded: 1848

84. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Archaeology

#380 in Europe

#1001 in the World

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

85. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Archaeology

#382 in Europe

#1007 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

86. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Archaeology

#387 in Europe

#1025 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

87. University of East London

England | London

For Archaeology

#403 in Europe

#1075 in the World

Founded: 1992

88. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Archaeology

#405 in Europe

#1077 in the World

Founded: 1992

89. London South Bank University

England | London

For Archaeology

#434 in Europe

#1179 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

90. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Archaeology

#446 in Europe

#1241 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

91. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Archaeology

#448 in Europe

#1244 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

92. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Archaeology

#463 in Europe

#1287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

93. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Archaeology

#471 in Europe

#1328 in the World

Founded: 1992

94. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Archaeology

#473 in Europe

#1330 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

95. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Archaeology

#474 in Europe

#1332 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

96. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Archaeology

#486 in Europe

#1375 in the World

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

97. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Archaeology

#492 in Europe

#1394 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

98. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Wales | Carmarthen

For Archaeology

#493 in Europe

#1395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2010

99. University of Gloucestershire

England | Cheltenham

For Archaeology

#494 in Europe

#1400 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

100. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Archaeology

#497 in Europe

#1410 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

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.