UCL or LSE for anthropology

Hi everyone - I have an offer from LSE and UCL for anthropology BSc and I am very uncertain on what to pick. I was wondering if anyone could offer an insight to help me decide. I am either planning to apply for a masters at Oxbridge, or a grad program into investment banking (i know its an odd route to get into IB, but have spoken to those in the industry and its very doable).

My current pros for LSE:

- More globally known than UCL
- No biological Anthropology
- Great networking opportunities for IB

Cons for LSE:

- Exam based assessment
- Supposedly worse social life? Although i am aware this is only a stereotype
- Less broad degree
- Year abroad locations are very few

Pros for UCL

- course is more diverse and covers biological anthro
- supposedly better social life??
- more appealing year abroad locations
- coursework assessed

Cons for UCL

- perhaps lesser career opportunities?
- lesser globally known?
- I haven’t done biology a level so might be at a disadvantage regarding biological anthropology

Thank you for any help at all! :smile:

Reply 1

random_matt

20

UCL offer biological anthropology, easy win for me. LSE is not in the worlds top ten if you care about that.

Reply 2

tiny birds

4

I studied at LSE - I don't think there's much, if any, difference re employability between LSE and UCL. It sounds like you prefer the course at UCL so that seems to make more sense.

Reply 3

Anonymous #2

While I didnt do my BA at either - I did my MSc at UCL anthropology, and am starting a funded PhD in anthropology at LSE in September, so I feel pretty balanced to comment. You should be aware that UCL is a much, much bigger department with lots of different specialities (med anth, bio anth, material culture etc). LSE is really only social anthropology, and is small / boutiquey feel. As you're early in studying the subject, you might not know what direction you want to take it in - for that I would suggest you go to UCL (you also seem to like the course better) . for what its worth, UCL anthropology is a very very well respected department (ranked higher than LSE for the subject for UG)

Reply 4

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

21

Original post by Anonymous

Hi everyone - I have an offer from LSE and UCL for anthropology BSc and I am very uncertain on what to pick. I was wondering if anyone could offer an insight to help me decide. I am either planning to apply for a masters at Oxbridge, or a grad program into investment banking (i know its an odd route to get into IB, but have spoken to those in the industry and its very doable).

My current pros for LSE:

- More globally known than UCL
- No biological Anthropology
- Great networking opportunities for IB

Cons for LSE:

- Exam based assessment
- Supposedly worse social life? Although i am aware this is only a stereotype
- Less broad degree
- Year abroad locations are very few

Pros for UCL

- course is more diverse and covers biological anthro
- supposedly better social life??
- more appealing year abroad locations
- coursework assessed

Cons for UCL

- perhaps lesser career opportunities?
- lesser globally known?
- I haven’t done biology a level so might be at a disadvantage regarding biological anthropology

Thank you for any help at all! :smile:

To be honest I think the main differences are going to be the vastly different scope and content of the courses at each. UCL is also a target university for investment banking and unless you have a concrete goal for working internationally, marginal differences in international "reputation" are pretty meaningless (not to mention depending on exactly where and for what you are considering, other unis such as e.g. SOAS might have an even stronger reputation abroad).

I'm not sure why you have "no biological anthropology" listed as a pro for LSE and "more diverse course with biological anthropology" as a pro for UCL. Is the presence or absence of biological/physical anthropology a good thing or not for you? Note that biological anthropology isn't a bioscience field, it's understanding humans in biological contexts (mainly although not exclusively in evolutionary and ecological contexts). They won't expect and you won't need any specific biology background beyond a basic understanding of GCSE science.

Note that the UCL course is not broader simply because it encompasses biological anthropology - as above it in fact covers also medical anthropology, material culture, and has options in documentary film-making, writing, and radio. The LSE course is strictly social/cultural anthropology (aside from requiring you to take a couple of options outside of anthropology in first year as I recall). I think also UCL has a greater range of optional modules too, perhaps in part because of the wider range of areas covered.

Reply 5

Anonymous #1

OP

Thank you everyone this was unbelievably helpful!

UCL or LSE for anthropology

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