Best Universities for Anthropology in the UK 2027
The University of Plymouth ranks first for anthropology in 2027, with Durham University and the University of Reading sharing second place and the University of Exeter in third. The Unifresher ranking compares 24 universities through eight measures designed around both academic outcomes and the student experience.
Anthropology courses can differ substantially in their balance of social, cultural, biological, archaeological, medical and environmental study. Unifresher helps students compare those choices in context by looking beyond reputation to include teaching, support, graduate outcomes, affordability, safety, social life and sustainability.
Why this ranking is student-first: applicants are not choosing a department in isolation. Unifresher combines academic and graduate measures with the practical realities of living, studying and building a future in each university location.
Top universities for anthropology in 2027
The podium contains four universities because Durham and Reading share second place. Plymouth leads through exceptional teaching and support results, while Durham, Reading and Exeter each offer different strengths across earnings, satisfaction and course delivery.
University of Plymouth
Plymouth
The strongest overall result, with perfect published scores for both teaching quality and academic support.
Durham University
Durham
Joint second overall, combining strong earnings with 92% teaching quality and 78% satisfaction.
University of Reading
Reading
Joint second, with matching 96% results for teaching quality and academic support.
University of Exeter
Exeter
Third overall, with £27,500 graduate earnings and a strong student-satisfaction result.
How the anthropology ranking works
Eight measures create a fuller comparison
Unifresher does not use university reputation as a shortcut for course quality. The final score brings academic and graduate outcomes together with the factors students experience throughout their degree.
Anthropology University Rankings 2027
Search or sort all 24 universities. Sorting changes the comparison order only; every university's official published rank remains in the first column.
| Rank | University | Graduate earnings | Satisfaction | Teaching | Academic support | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | University of Plymouth Plymouth | £24,000 | 75% | 100% | 100% | 92 |
| 2 | Durham University Durham | £30,000 | 78% | 92% | 83% | 88 |
| 2 | University of Reading Reading | £27,500 | 74% | 96% | 96% | 88 |
| 3 | University of Exeter Exeter | £27,500 | 79% | 88% | 85% | 84 |
| 4 | University of East Anglia (UEA) Norwich | £25,500 | 79% | 92% | 88% | 81 |
| 5 | University of Wales Trinity Saint David Lampeter / Carmarthen / Swansea | £28,000 | 79% | 89% | 93% | 79 |
| 6 | Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool | £19,000 | 72% | 93% | 87% | 75 |
| 7 | University of Winchester Winchester | £26,500 | 88% | 87% | 97% | 72 |
| 8 | UCL (University College London) London | £30,500 | 68% | 91% | 95% | 70 |
| 8 | University of Manchester Manchester | £24,000 | 70% | 92% | 94% | 70 |
| 9 | Oxford Brookes University Oxford | £25,000 | 74% | 94% | 92% | 69 |
| 10 | University of Bristol Bristol | £27,000 | 73% | 88% | 71% | 67 |
| 10 | University of Central Lancashire Preston | £24,500 | 71% | 96% | 100% | 67 |
| 11 | University of Liverpool Liverpool | £28,000 | 71% | 85% | 77% | 65 |
| 12 | Brunel University London Uxbridge | £25,000 | 68% | 96% | 100% | 64 |
| 13 | University of Oxford Oxford | £29,000 | 76% | 88% | 85% | 63 |
| 13 | University of Dundee Dundee | £26,500 | 75% | 91% | 89% | 63 |
| 13 | SOAS University of London London | £25,000 | 66% | 94% | 94% | 63 |
| 14 | London School of Economics and Political Science London | £33,000 | 69% | 89% | 84% | 61 |
| 15 | University of Southampton Southampton | £25,000 | 76% | 93% | 86% | 60 |
| 16 | University of Bradford Bradford | £25,000 | 71% | 87% | 91% | 57 |
| 17 | University of Sussex Brighton and Hove | £28,000 | 77% | 85% | 80% | 54 |
| 18 | University of Birmingham Birmingham | £26,000 | 72% | 84% | 90% | 44 |
| 19 | Goldsmiths, University of London London | £28,000 | 64% | 94% | 81% | 44 |
What the anthropology ranking shows
Plymouth ranks first
The University of Plymouth leads with a score of 92 and perfect teaching and support results.
London School of Economics
LSE has the highest graduate-earnings figure in the table at £33,000 and ranks 14th overall.
University of Winchester
Winchester records the strongest student-satisfaction result at 88%.
University of Plymouth
Plymouth is the only university in the published table with 100% for teaching quality.
Three universities score 100%
Plymouth, the University of Central Lancashire and Brunel University London all reach 100%.
Median earnings are £26,500
The midpoint across all 24 graduate-earnings figures is £26,500.
What this ranking tells you about studying anthropology
Anthropology is not one uniform subject. Courses can focus on contemporary societies, material culture, human evolution, health, migration, politics, religion, development, museums, archaeology or environmental change. The best university for one student may be a poor match for another if the department's strengths do not fit their interests.
Plymouth leads because the ranking values the learning experience
Plymouth's 100% results for both teaching quality and academic support give it the strongest overall score. Durham and Reading share second place, while Exeter follows in third. The result demonstrates the value of comparing course delivery and support alongside graduate outcomes and institutional reputation.
Why Unifresher looks beyond prestige: students experience seminars, feedback, costs, safety, community and support every week of their degree. Bringing those measures into the ranking helps reveal universities that may be overlooked by reputation-led tables but perform strongly where students feel the difference.
The highest earnings do not produce the highest overall position
LSE has the highest graduate-earnings figure at £33,000 but ranks 14th overall. UCL is next at £30,500 and ranks joint eighth, while Durham combines £30,000 with joint second place. Earnings are important, but the student-first ranking places them alongside teaching, support and the wider experience of living in each location.
Fieldwork can mean very different things
Some courses centre on ethnographic research with communities, while others may include museums, archives, laboratories, archaeological sites, biological methods or applied projects. Ask how fieldwork is taught, how students are prepared to work ethically, whether travel is required and which costs are covered by the university.
Specialist departments still need a course-level comparison
Oxford, UCL, SOAS, LSE and Goldsmiths are associated with influential anthropological research, but their positions vary once the complete set of Unifresher measures is considered. A specialist department may be the right choice for a particular region or branch of anthropology, yet students should still compare teaching, support, affordability and day-to-day fit.
Satisfaction and support highlight different strengths
Winchester has the highest satisfaction result at 88% and 97% academic support, placing seventh overall. Reading records 96% for both teaching and support, while the University of Central Lancashire and Brunel each reach 100% for support. These results can help identify smaller or less obvious courses with a strong learning environment.
Graduate earnings need context
The table ranges from £19,000 to £33,000, with a median of £26,500. HESA Graduate Outcomes information is collected approximately 15 months after course completion. Individual outcomes vary by role, location, prior experience, further study and the way graduates apply their research and communication skills.
How to use the ranking when choosing an anthropology degree
Match the department to your interests
Compare social, cultural, biological, archaeological, medical, material and environmental anthropology at module level.
Ask how fieldwork and ethics are taught
Look at research methods, ethical approval, interviewing, observation, data analysis and opportunities to conduct an independent project.
Check what fieldwork expenses are covered
Find out whether travel, accommodation, equipment, vaccinations or other fieldwork costs are included, subsidised or self-funded.
Build experience alongside the degree
Compare placements, volunteering, museums, charities, research projects, study abroad and support for postgraduate applications.
Related Unifresher rankings and anthropology advice
Frequently asked questions
Which is the best university for anthropology in the UK in 2027?
The University of Plymouth ranks first in the 2027 Unifresher anthropology ranking with an overall score of 92. Durham University and the University of Reading share second place with 88, while the University of Exeter is third with 84.
How many universities are included in the anthropology ranking?
The published 2027 Unifresher anthropology ranking compares 24 universities across eight academic, career and student-experience measures. All 24 universities and every supplied result appear in the table.
What graduate earnings are shown for anthropology?
The graduate-earnings figures range from £19,000 to £33,000, with a median of £26,500 across the 24 universities. The London School of Economics and Political Science has the highest figure at £33,000. These are comparative graduate outcomes rather than guaranteed starting salaries.
When are graduate outcomes measured?
HESA Graduate Outcomes information is collected approximately 15 months after students complete their higher education studies. The figures describe outcomes at that survey point, not salaries six months after graduation.
What is the difference between social, cultural and biological anthropology?
Social and cultural anthropology examine societies, relationships, beliefs, institutions and everyday life, with considerable overlap between the terms. Biological anthropology studies human evolution, variation and primates. Some degrees also include archaeology, material culture, medical anthropology or environmental anthropology, so compare the actual modules.
How important is fieldwork in an anthropology degree?
Fieldwork is central to many anthropology courses, but its form varies. It may involve ethnographic observation, interviews, community research, museums, archives, laboratories or archaeological work. Check whether fieldwork is compulsory, where it takes place, how ethical approval works and whether travel or accommodation costs are funded.
Is anthropology a good degree for getting a job?
Anthropology develops research, interviewing, observation, analysis, writing and cross-cultural communication skills. Graduates move into areas including policy, charities, public services, user research, communications, museums, education, development and further study. Career outcomes depend heavily on experience and how clearly students can explain their transferable skills.
What should I look for in an anthropology course?
Compare the department's balance of social, cultural, biological, archaeological, medical and environmental anthropology; fieldwork and research-methods training; staff expertise; placement or study-abroad options; dissertation support; teaching and academic support; and any extra fieldwork costs.
Should I choose a prestigious university for anthropology?
Reputation can be useful, particularly for specialist research interests and postgraduate routes, but it should not replace course-level comparison. The Unifresher ranking shows that universities with different profiles can lead on teaching, support, satisfaction or earnings, so compare the exact programme and student experience.
Why does Unifresher include student-life measures in an anthropology ranking?
Anthropology students are choosing both an academic department and a place to live. Unifresher combines teaching, support and graduate outcomes with affordability, safety, social life and sustainability so the ranking reflects more of the real student experience than reputation alone.
Ranking, course and fieldwork information
- Unifresher university rankings methodology for the eight measures and subject-ranking process.
- HESA Graduate Outcomes definitions for the approximately 15-month survey point.
- UCAS anthropology subject guide for course research and current entry information.
- Discover Uni for official course-level information and student data.
- Royal Anthropological Institute ethical policy for further guidance on ethics in anthropological work.
- Royal Anthropological Institute jobs and opportunities for anthropology-related vacancies and experience.
