Top UK Universities for Anthropology

Anthropology is a discipline that encompasses the study of human societies, cultures, and their development over time. As a field of academic inquiry, it offers a unique perspective on humanity, addressing key issues such as social structures, cultural norms, human evolution, and the ways in which societies adapt to their environments. In the UK, universities with strong anthropology departments have earned high reputations for their rigorous research output, intellectual rigor, and their contributions to both theoretical and applied anthropology. Among these institutions, the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford stand out as leaders in the field. According to the Complete University Guide 2009, LSE was ranked first for Anthropology, followed by Cambridge in second place and Oxford in third. This ranking, coupled with the recognition of LSE's anthropology department in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE) and the prestige of Oxford's Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology (ISCA), reflects the central role these universities play in shaping the academic landscape of anthropology.

LSE’s ranking as the number one institution for anthropology in the UK, according to the Complete University Guide 2009, highlights the institution’s academic excellence and its commitment to advancing the field through both teaching and research. Known for its strong emphasis on social sciences, LSE’s Anthropology Department stands out for its interdisciplinary approach, combining the study of human societies with insights drawn from economics, sociology, political science, and international relations. LSE's focus on contemporary social issues, global inequalities, and development, combined with its extensive research output, makes it an attractive destination for students and scholars interested in understanding the complexities of modern societies.

One of the key features of LSE’s anthropology program is its integration with other social science disciplines. Students studying anthropology at LSE have the opportunity to engage with political economy, development studies, and sociology, which allows them to understand human cultures and social structures in a global context. This interdisciplinary approach is especially useful for students who wish to explore anthropological questions through the lenses of economics, policy, and social theory. LSE’s reputation in economics, law, and social policy further strengthens the department’s interdisciplinary offerings, enabling students to examine anthropological issues from a variety of intellectual perspectives.

The high ranking of LSE’s anthropology department in the Complete University Guide reflects the department's commitment to cutting-edge research. In the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), LSE was also ranked as the top institution for anthropology in the UK. The RAE, which evaluates the quality of research conducted at UK universities, is a key indicator of academic excellence, and LSE's top position in this assessment underscores the depth and breadth of its research in anthropology. Faculty members at LSE are engaged in a wide range of research areas, including globalization, migration, identity, gender, health, and the politics of race. The department is particularly known for its strong focus on contemporary issues, and its scholars are at the forefront of addressing the social, political, and economic challenges facing societies around the world.

LSE’s reputation for research excellence in anthropology is further reflected in its robust funding, its involvement in international collaborations, and its extensive network of academic partners. The university’s anthropology department regularly hosts conferences, seminars, and workshops, providing students with opportunities to engage directly with scholars and researchers from around the world. The department’s emphasis on empirical research, coupled with its commitment to theoretical and methodological innovation, ensures that students receive a rigorous and well-rounded education in the field.

While LSE’s anthropology department is widely regarded as one of the top in the UK, Cambridge and Oxford also hold prominent positions in the field, as evidenced by their rankings in the Complete University Guide 2009 and their strong reputations in the broader academic community. The University of Cambridge’s Department of Archaeology and Anthropology is consistently ranked among the best in the world, and the university’s anthropology program is renowned for its depth and breadth, offering students an opportunity to study a wide range of anthropological topics, from human evolution to contemporary social issues.

At Cambridge, anthropology is taught within the broader context of archaeological and biological sciences, and students have access to a wealth of resources and expertise across multiple fields. The Department of Archaeology and Anthropology is home to world-class scholars who are engaged in cutting-edge research across a wide range of areas, including cultural anthropology, archaeological theory, evolutionary anthropology, and the anthropology of health and illness. Cambridge’s anthropology program is characterized by its strong focus on research-led teaching, which enables students to benefit from the latest developments in the field.

The university’s anthropology department is also known for its interdisciplinary approach, with students encouraged to engage with a wide variety of subjects, including archaeology, history, and sociology. Cambridge’s reputation for excellence in the humanities and social sciences further enhances the anthropology program, providing students with a rich intellectual environment in which to explore their academic interests. The department’s commitment to empirical research, combined with its focus on theoretical and methodological innovation, ensures that students receive a comprehensive and intellectually stimulating education in anthropology.

Like Cambridge, Oxford University has a long-standing tradition of excellence in anthropology. The Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology (ISCA) at Oxford is widely regarded as one of the leading anthropological research centres in the UK and the world. The ISCA is home to some of the most influential scholars in the field, and its faculty members are engaged in a wide range of research areas, from the anthropology of religion to political anthropology and the study of indigenous cultures. The institute is known for its interdisciplinary approach, drawing on insights from history, sociology, political science, and economics to enrich the study of human societies and cultures.

At Oxford, anthropology is taught within the broader context of social sciences, and students have access to a wide range of courses and research opportunities. The university’s anthropology program emphasizes both theoretical and applied approaches to the study of human cultures, and students are encouraged to develop a critical understanding of the diverse ways in which societies function. Oxford’s ISCA is particularly well-known for its focus on ethnographic research, and students are given the opportunity to engage with primary data collected from fieldwork in a variety of cultural contexts.

The ISCA at Oxford is also distinguished by its commitment to research excellence. The institute’s faculty members are engaged in cutting-edge research in areas such as the anthropology of politics, globalisation, human rights, and the study of contemporary social movements. Oxford’s anthropology department is characterized by its strong emphasis on interdisciplinary collaboration, and students are encouraged to explore anthropological questions from a variety of perspectives. The university’s world-class library resources, its extensive network of academic partners, and its vibrant research community make Oxford a leading destination for students interested in pursuing advanced study in anthropology.

The strength of Oxford’s Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology is further evidenced by its role in shaping the global academic community. The ISCA’s faculty members are regularly invited to contribute to international conferences, publications, and research collaborations, further solidifying Oxford’s position as a leader in anthropological research. The institute’s contributions to the field extend beyond the academy, as its scholars are often involved in policy discussions, public debates, and advocacy work on issues related to human rights, development, and social justice.

In summary, the London School of Economics, the University of Cambridge, and the University of Oxford are all recognized as leaders in the field of anthropology, both in the UK and internationally. LSE’s top ranking for anthropology in the Complete University Guide 2009, as well as its recognition in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, underscores its reputation for academic excellence and its strong focus on contemporary issues. The interdisciplinary nature of LSE’s anthropology program, combined with its emphasis on empirical research, ensures that students are well-prepared to engage with the complex social, political, and economic issues of the modern world. Similarly, Cambridge and Oxford are renowned for their strong anthropology programs, with Oxford’s Institute of Social and Cultural Anthropology standing out as a global leader in anthropological research. The contributions of these universities to the field of anthropology ensure that they remain at the forefront of academic inquiry, shaping the future of the discipline for generations to come.

Following is the ranking of top 10 UK institutions for Anthropology:
1 London School of Economics
2 Cambridge
3 Oxford
4 University College London
5 St Andrews

6 Sussex 

7 Durham
8 Aberdeen

9 Goldsmiths College 

10 SOAS 

Source: Complete University Guide