100 Best universities for Classics and Ancient History 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 Classics and Ancient History. A graph of 2.14M citations received by 160K academic papers made by 126 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 Classics and Ancient History

#1 in Europe

#1 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

2. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Classics and Ancient History

#2 in Europe

#2 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University College London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#3 in Europe

#5 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Classics and Ancient History

#4 in Europe

#17 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Classics and Ancient History

#5 in Europe

#19 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. King's College London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#6 in Europe

#20 in the World

Founded: 1829

7. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Classics and Ancient History

#7 in Europe

#21 in the World

Founded: 1963

8. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Classics and Ancient History

#8 in Europe

#25 in the World

Founded: 1900

9. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#9 in Europe

#26 in the World

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

10. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Classics and Ancient History

#10 in Europe

#32 in the World

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

11. Durham University

England | Durham

For Classics and Ancient History

#11 in Europe

#33 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

12. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Classics and Ancient History

#12 in Europe

#36 in the World

Founded: 1904

13. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Classics and Ancient History

#14 in Europe

#41 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

14. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Classics and Ancient History

#15 in Europe

#42 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

15. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Classics and Ancient History

#16 in Europe

#47 in the World

Founded: 1451

16. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Classics and Ancient History

#17 in Europe

#49 in the World

Founded: 1948

17. University of London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#18 in Europe

#51 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

18. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Classics and Ancient History

#19 in Europe

#52 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

19. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Classics and Ancient History

#20 in Europe

#56 in the World

Founded: 1905

20. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Classics and Ancient History

#21 in Europe

#58 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

21. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Classics and Ancient History

#23 in Europe

#64 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

22. University of York

England | York

For Classics and Ancient History

#27 in Europe

#76 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

23. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Classics and Ancient History

#29 in Europe

#80 in the World

Founded: 1892

24. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Classics and Ancient History

#30 in Europe

#82 in the World

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

25. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Classics and Ancient History

#31 in Europe

#86 in the World

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

26. Imperial College London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#35 in Europe

#91 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

27. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#36 in Europe

#94 in the World

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

28. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Classics and Ancient History

#41 in Europe

#115 in the World

Founded: 1849

29. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#42 in Europe

#118 in the World

Founded: 1823

30. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Classics and Ancient History

#43 in Europe

#120 in the World

Founded: 1965

31. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Classics and Ancient History

#46 in Europe

#126 in the World

Founded: 1997

32. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Classics and Ancient History

#47 in Europe

#129 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

33. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Classics and Ancient History

#48 in Europe

#130 in the World

Founded: 1495

34. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#49 in Europe

#132 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

35. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Classics and Ancient History

#60 in Europe

#161 in the World

Founded: 1893

36. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Classics and Ancient History

#69 in Europe

#179 in the World

Founded: 1954

37. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Classics and Ancient History

#70 in Europe

#180 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

38. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Classics and Ancient History

#73 in Europe

#185 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

39. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Classics and Ancient History

#80 in Europe

#205 in the World

Founded: 1964

40. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Classics and Ancient History

#91 in Europe

#234 in the World

Founded: 1920

41. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Classics and Ancient History

#98 in Europe

#253 in the World

Founded: 1968

42. Keele University

England | Keele

For Classics and Ancient History

#99 in Europe

#257 in the World

Founded: 1962

43. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Classics and Ancient History

#100 in Europe

#267 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

44. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Classics and Ancient History

#104 in Europe

#272 in the World

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

45. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Wales | Carmarthen

For Classics and Ancient History

#112 in Europe

#285 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2010

46. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Classics and Ancient History

#117 in Europe

#295 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

47. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Classics and Ancient History

#119 in Europe

#297 in the World

Founded: 1964

48. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Classics and Ancient History

#127 in Europe

#319 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

49. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Classics and Ancient History

#129 in Europe

#327 in the World

Founded: 1992

50. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Classics and Ancient History

#132 in Europe

#335 in the World

Founded: 1967

51. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Classics and Ancient History

#136 in Europe

#342 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

52. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Classics and Ancient History

#145 in Europe

#360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

53. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Classics and Ancient History

#150 in Europe

#375 in the World

Founded: 1872

54. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Classics and Ancient History

#153 in Europe

#386 in the World

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

55. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Classics and Ancient History

#158 in Europe

#393 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

56. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Classics and Ancient History

#168 in Europe

#419 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

57. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Classics and Ancient History

#171 in Europe

#428 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

58. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Classics and Ancient History

#182 in Europe

#459 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#183 in Europe

#460 in the World

Founded: 1904

60. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Classics and Ancient History

#192 in Europe

#487 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

61. City, University of London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#211 in Europe

#539 in the World

Founded: 1966

62. University of Westminster

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#216 in Europe

#547 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

63. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Classics and Ancient History

#220 in Europe

#565 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

64. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Classics and Ancient History

#222 in Europe

#567 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

65. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#227 in Europe

#589 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

66. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Classics and Ancient History

#229 in Europe

#597 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

67. London Business School

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#234 in Europe

#611 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

68. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#240 in Europe

#625 in the World

Founded: 1733

69. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Classics and Ancient History

#243 in Europe

#634 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

70. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Classics and Ancient History

#247 in Europe

#652 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

71. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Classics and Ancient History

#253 in Europe

#666 in the World

Founded: 1992

72. University of Winchester

England | Winchester

For Classics and Ancient History

#258 in Europe

#677 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

73. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Classics and Ancient History

#260 in Europe

#682 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#266 in Europe

#698 in the World

Founded: 1848

75. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#270 in Europe

#704 in the World

Founded: 1932

76. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Classics and Ancient History

#274 in Europe

#710 in the World

Founded: 1967

77. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Classics and Ancient History

#279 in Europe

#720 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

78. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Classics and Ancient History

#281 in Europe

#730 in the World

Founded: 1895

79. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Classics and Ancient History

#282 in Europe

#731 in the World

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

80. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#289 in Europe

#752 in the World

Founded: 1890

81. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Classics and Ancient History

#292 in Europe

#761 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

82. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Classics and Ancient History

#302 in Europe

#782 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Classics and Ancient History

#307 in Europe

#793 in the World

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

84. University of East London

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#320 in Europe

#813 in the World

Founded: 1992

85. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Classics and Ancient History

#329 in Europe

#844 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

86. University of Worcester

England | Worcester

For Classics and Ancient History

#336 in Europe

#878 in the World

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

87. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Classics and Ancient History

#338 in Europe

#881 in the World

Founded: 1992

88. Middlesex University

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#340 in Europe

#884 in the World

Founded: 1973

89. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Classics and Ancient History

#345 in Europe

#901 in the World

Founded: 1841

90. Canterbury Christ Church University

England | Canterbury

For Classics and Ancient History

#346 in Europe

#902 in the World

Founded: 2005

91. Heythrop College

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#355 in Europe

#926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 79%
Founded: 1614

92. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Classics and Ancient History

#367 in Europe

#955 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

93. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Classics and Ancient History

#368 in Europe

#960 in the World

Founded: 1992

94. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Classics and Ancient History

#369 in Europe

#965 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

95. University of Chester

England | Chester

For Classics and Ancient History

#392 in Europe

#1027 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

96. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Classics and Ancient History

#400 in Europe

#1052 in the World

Founded: 1966

97. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Classics and Ancient History

#401 in Europe

#1058 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

98. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Classics and Ancient History

#405 in Europe

#1065 in the World

Founded: 1858

99. Liverpool Hope University

England | Liverpool

For Classics and Ancient History

#408 in Europe

#1070 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

100. London South Bank University

England | London

For Classics and Ancient History

#414 in Europe

#1096 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

The best cities to study Classics and Ancient History in the United Kingdom based on the number of universities and their ranks are Oxford, Cambridge, London, and Edinburgh.