100 Best universities for Civil Engineering in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in the United Kingdom ranked based on their research performance in Civil Engineering. A graph of 4.6M citations received by 131K academic papers made by 121 universities in the United Kingdom was used to calculate publications' ratings, which then were adjusted for release dates and added to final scores.

We don't distinguish between undergraduate and graduate programs nor do we adjust for current majors offered. You can find information about granted degrees on a university page but always double-check with the university website.

1. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Civil Engineering

#2 in Europe

#19 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University College London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Europe

#28 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. Imperial College London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Europe

#30 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Europe

#33 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

5. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Europe

#63 in the World

Founded: 1904

6. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Civil Engineering

#13 in Europe

#74 in the World

Founded: 1824

7. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Civil Engineering

#17 in Europe

#83 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

8. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Civil Engineering

#18 in Europe

#85 in the World

Founded: 1905

9. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Civil Engineering

#20 in Europe

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Enrollment: 27,513
Founded: 1909

10. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Civil Engineering

#32 in Europe

#128 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

11. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Civil Engineering

#33 in Europe

#131 in the World

Founded: 1948

12. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Civil Engineering

#37 in Europe

#146 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

13. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Civil Engineering

#40 in Europe

#160 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Civil Engineering

#44 in Europe

#169 in the World

Founded: 1900

15. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Civil Engineering

#55 in Europe

#198 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

16. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Civil Engineering

#56 in Europe

#202 in the World

Founded: 1963

17. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Civil Engineering

#60 in Europe

#218 in the World

Founded: 1964

18. King's College London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#65 in Europe

#227 in the World

Founded: 1829

19. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Civil Engineering

#69 in Europe

#236 in the World

Founded: 1997

20. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Civil Engineering

#70 in Europe

#238 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

21. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Civil Engineering

#81 in Europe

#263 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

22. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Civil Engineering

#83 in Europe

#266 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

23. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#90 in Europe

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 8%
Enrollment: 9,218
Founded: 1895

24. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Civil Engineering

#100 in Europe

#306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

25. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Civil Engineering

#105 in Europe

#315 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

26. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Civil Engineering

#107 in Europe

#320 in the World

Founded: 1892

27. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Civil Engineering

#111 in Europe

#326 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

28. Durham University

England | Durham

For Civil Engineering

#114 in Europe

#336 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

29. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Civil Engineering

#117 in Europe

#343 in the World

Founded: 1495

30. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Civil Engineering

#121 in Europe

#350 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

31. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Civil Engineering

#124 in Europe

#360 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Enrollment: 18,857
Male:Female: 53:47
Founded: 1966

32. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Civil Engineering

#139 in Europe

#399 in the World

Founded: 1966

33. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Civil Engineering

#145 in Europe

#417 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 59%
Enrollment: 4,825
Founded: 1993

34. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Civil Engineering

#147 in Europe

#421 in the World

Enrollment: 17,319
Male:Female: 44:56
Founded: 1961

35. University of York

England | York

For Civil Engineering

#149 in Europe

#426 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

36. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Civil Engineering

#158 in Europe

#451 in the World

Founded: 1920

37. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Civil Engineering

#161 in Europe

#456 in the World

Founded: 1967

38. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Civil Engineering

#170 in Europe

#481 in the World

Founded: 1968

39. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#173 in Europe

#496 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

40. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Civil Engineering

#174 in Europe

#506 in the World

Founded: 1893

41. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Civil Engineering

#179 in Europe

#512 in the World

Enrollment: 24,409
Male:Female: 46:54
Founded: 1957

42. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Civil Engineering

#195 in Europe

#566 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

43. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Civil Engineering

#198 in Europe

#573 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

44. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Civil Engineering

#200 in Europe

#577 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

45. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Civil Engineering

#202 in Europe

#582 in the World

Founded: 1992

46. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Civil Engineering

#207 in Europe

#597 in the World

Founded: 1967

47. University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#209 in Europe

#601 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

48. City, University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#221 in Europe

#629 in the World

Founded: 1966

49. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Civil Engineering

#232 in Europe

#656 in the World

Founded: 1964

50. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Civil Engineering

#237 in Europe

#671 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

51. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Civil Engineering

#240 in Europe

#683 in the World

Founded: 1965

52. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Civil Engineering

#263 in Europe

#747 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

53. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Civil Engineering

#264 in Europe

#748 in the World

Founded: 1992

54. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Civil Engineering

#269 in Europe

#766 in the World

Founded: 1849

55. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Civil Engineering

#284 in Europe

#804 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

56. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Civil Engineering

#288 in Europe

#812 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

57. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Civil Engineering

#289 in Europe

#817 in the World

Founded: 1954

58. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Civil Engineering

#302 in Europe

#852 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

59. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Civil Engineering

#303 in Europe

#853 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

60. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Civil Engineering

#307 in Europe

#864 in the World

Founded: 1992

61. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#315 in Europe

#884 in the World

Founded: 1890

62. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Civil Engineering

#319 in Europe

#893 in the World

Founded: 1895

63. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Civil Engineering

#320 in Europe

#895 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

64. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Civil Engineering

#326 in Europe

#918 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

65. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Civil Engineering

#329 in Europe

#926 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

66. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Civil Engineering

#331 in Europe

#929 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 11%
Enrollment: 14,000
Founded: 1967

67. Keele University

England | Keele

For Civil Engineering

#335 in Europe

#949 in the World

Founded: 1962

68. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Civil Engineering

#336 in Europe

#953 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

69. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Civil Engineering

#342 in Europe

#974 in the World

Founded: 1992

70. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Civil Engineering

#345 in Europe

#993 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

71. University of Westminster

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#346 in Europe

#996 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

72. London South Bank University

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#347 in Europe

#1001 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

73. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Civil Engineering

#360 in Europe

#1039 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#367 in Europe

#1063 in the World

Founded: 1823

75. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Civil Engineering

#395 in Europe

#1153 in the World

Founded: 1872

76. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Civil Engineering

#407 in Europe

#1190 in the World

Founded: 1992

77. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Civil Engineering

#414 in Europe

#1206 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

78. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Civil Engineering

#419 in Europe

#1221 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

79. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Civil Engineering

#435 in Europe

#1265 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

80. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Civil Engineering

#440 in Europe

#1290 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Civil Engineering

#471 in Europe

#1403 in the World

Founded: 1841

82. Middlesex University

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#472 in Europe

#1404 in the World

Founded: 1973

83. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Civil Engineering

#487 in Europe

#1460 in the World

Founded: 1992

84. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#501 in Europe

#1511 in the World

Founded: 1904

85. University of East London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#510 in Europe

#1553 in the World

Founded: 1992

86. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Civil Engineering

#519 in Europe

#1578 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

87. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Civil Engineering

#533 in Europe

#1634 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

88. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Civil Engineering

#539 in Europe

#1658 in the World

Founded: 1858

89. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Civil Engineering

#542 in Europe

#1662 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

90. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Civil Engineering

#546 in Europe

#1676 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Enrollment: 19,710
Founded: 1992

91. University of Northampton

England | Northampton

For Civil Engineering

#571 in Europe

#1822 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

92. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Civil Engineering

#575 in Europe

#1839 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

93. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Civil Engineering

#580 in Europe

#1856 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 76%
Enrollment: 25,000
Founded: 1992

94. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Civil Engineering

#581 in Europe

#1870 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

95. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#599 in Europe

#1946 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 44%
Enrollment: 6,295
Founded: 1916

96. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#606 in Europe

#1994 in the World

Founded: 1733

97. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#611 in Europe

#2017 in the World

Founded: 1848

98. London Business School

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#613 in Europe

#2027 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

99. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#615 in Europe

#2034 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

100. University of Bolton

England | Bolton

For Civil Engineering

#643 in Europe

#2169 in the World

Founded: 2004

The best cities to study Civil Engineering in the United Kingdom based on the number of universities and their ranks are Cambridge, London, Oxford, and Leeds.