The Department of Social Anthropology is consistently recognised as one of the top social anthropology departments in the world. Our department has a track record of teaching and research excellence and is consistently placed among the world’s leading institutions for the study of Anthropology; we retained a top three ranking over the past decade in the QS World University Rankings by Quacquarelli Symonds - the most widely read global league table in the world.
For 2025, we also secured the maximum possible Academic Reputation indicator of 100. This measure of the reputation of institutions and their programmes asks academic experts to nominate universities based on their subject area of expertise.
We have also held first place for Anthropology and Archaeology in the Guardian University Guide 2026. We are the only institution to achieve the maximum rating of excellence, a feat upheld since 2023. Additionally, we are also in the top three for Anthropology in the Complete University Guide 2026.
Find out more about our teaching at the Cambridge Open Days or visit London Anthropology Day on Friday 25th September 2026.