UCL vs LSE - Anthropology

Hi, i'm stuck on choosing between LSE and UCL for anthropology, and i was wondering if anyone knew which is best for future career prospects? As in which uni will offer a better career route for its students post-graduation considering differences in prestige/rankings between the two universities (however UCL is placed higher than LSE in the QS World Rankings for anthropology 2023, yet overall LSE is higher) as well as the difference in the specificity of the course at LSE. Would the difference in the course outline at LSE (strictly social anthropology alone) be more beneficial for me if i wanted to pursue a career directly associated with anthropology after university? Thanks.

Reply 1

kafka_six

6

Rankings are really only a semi-useful tool for making these decisions, especially when both the institutions rank very highly.
If you’re main concern is employability then choose the university that will offer the best research opportunities for undergraduates and modules directly related to practical skills and methods as well as theory.
Most careers that are ‘directly related to anthropology’ are research ones. So definitely go where you have the best chance of being able to participate directly in research

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

OP

Original post by kafka_six

Rankings are really only a semi-useful tool for making these decisions, especially when both the institutions rank very highly.
If you’re main concern is employability then choose the university that will offer the best research opportunities for undergraduates and modules directly related to practical skills and methods as well as theory.
Most careers that are ‘directly related to anthropology’ are research ones. So definitely go where you have the best chance of being able to participate directly in research

Thank you!

Reply 3

thegeek888

18

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, i'm stuck on choosing between LSE and UCL for anthropology, and i was wondering if anyone knew which is best for future career prospects? As in which uni will offer a better career route for its students post-graduation considering differences in prestige/rankings between the two universities (however UCL is placed higher than LSE in the QS World Rankings for anthropology 2023, yet overall LSE is higher) as well as the difference in the specificity of the course at LSE. Would the difference in the course outline at LSE (strictly social anthropology alone) be more beneficial for me if i wanted to pursue a career directly associated with anthropology after university? Thanks.

Go to LSE, as you will make loads of new friends in the first year by living in superb halls of residence accommodation.

Also, LSE is much better for careers, and you will be able to find research opportunities much more easily compared to UCL.

You could get a specialist degree classified:

Politics, International History and what you can't get at UCL is to study a language such as French, German, Spanish, Russian or Chinese. :wink:

Reply 4

Anonymous #1

OP

“and you will be able to find research opportunities much more easily compared to UCL.”
Hmm
do you know where I can find more information on this? When you say LSE is ‘much better for careers’, in what way exactly?
P.S thanks for your reply!

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

OP

Also if anyone is a student in (or has graduated from) either LSE or UCL for an anthropology degree, please feel free to share your experiences here as it will be very much appreciated! :smile:

Reply 6

Anonymous #2

Go to UCL, better for careers and research and much more multicultural and fun. LSE is known for being very toxic.

Reply 7

121ab

1

Original post by Anonymous

Hi, i'm stuck on choosing between LSE and UCL for anthropology, and i was wondering if anyone knew which is best for future career prospects? As in which uni will offer a better career route for its students post-graduation considering differences in prestige/rankings between the two universities (however UCL is placed higher than LSE in the QS World Rankings for anthropology 2023, yet overall LSE is higher) as well as the difference in the specificity of the course at LSE. Would the difference in the course outline at LSE (strictly social anthropology alone) be more beneficial for me if i wanted to pursue a career directly associated with anthropology after university? Thanks.

lse anthropology is entirely social, ucl is majority biological (it offers social anthropology courses but basic things like gender/development/religion aren't really offered). pick what you're most interested in and what is in line with your post grad plans rather than focusing on university specifics because the two degrees will take you in completely different directions. for example you couldn't do a biological anthropology master's with the lse degree because you will have no foundational knowledge and vice versa/ hope this helps :smile:

Reply 8

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by 121ab

lse anthropology is entirely social, ucl is majority biological (it offers social anthropology courses but basic things like gender/development/religion aren't really offered). pick what you're most interested in and what is in line with your post grad plans rather than focusing on university specifics because the two degrees will take you in completely different directions. for example you couldn't do a biological anthropology master's with the lse degree because you will have no foundational knowledge and vice versa/ hope this helps :smile:

UCL has options in both the anthropology of religion and in kinship/gender/ethnicity. The basic topics are also covered in the core theory module in second year. That said it does have a lot of biological anthropology options as you note, and also material culture.

Reply 9

NinaKVD

5

Original post by Anonymous

Also if anyone is a student in (or has graduated from) either LSE or UCL for an anthropology degree, please feel free to share your experiences here as it will be very much appreciated! :smile:

I went to UCL for anthropology but I didn't apply to LSE so I can't really compare them. The UCL programme is great for having a huge amount of choice in your degree and allowing you to shape it according to your interests (as someone else has mentioned, it does have modules in the 'classic' social anth topics like religion and gender - it would be difficult to teach without covering this, at least in part!). UCL also teach modules in applied anthropology (which I don't think LSE do as far as I can tell - I could be wrong) which helps to apply anthropology to real world scenarios. There has also been a movement towards making assessments more applied - for example, you might be asked to create a project pitch that is informed by a particular module's teaching (some people have actually got jobs from this after presenting their work for similar companies).
In terms of careers advice, there is a central UCL careers department who would be able to help you with applications and career decisions, but the anthropology department also has careers advisors who would be able to discuss career options with you. There are also 'careers seminars' throughout term time which can help students get contacts and opportunities.

I think the most important thing is to make the most of the opportunities that interest you at whichever uni you choose though! :smile:

Reply 10

Anonymous #3

does moral and political philosophy link to anthropology in any way?

Reply 11

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by Anonymous

does moral and political philosophy link to anthropology in any way?

Not really - also if you have an unrelated question you should make a new thread, not put it on someone elses :smile:

Reply 12

Mussel

hiii I recently graduated from UCL Anthropology and am currently looking for full time jobs. Career options associated with anthro that are available after undergrad degree aren’t as many as I thought, many positions require you to at least have a postgrad degree to apply. Hope it helps!

UCL vs LSE - Anthropology

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