100 Best universities for Civil Engineering in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 4.3M citations received by 128K 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

#18 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University College London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#4 in Europe

#27 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

3. Imperial College London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#5 in Europe

#31 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Civil Engineering

#6 in Europe

#34 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

5. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Civil Engineering

#10 in Europe

#62 in the World

Founded: 1904

6. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Civil Engineering

#12 in Europe

#72 in the World

Founded: 1824

7. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Civil Engineering

#16 in Europe

#79 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

8. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Civil Engineering

#19 in Europe

#85 in the World

Founded: 1905

9. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Civil Engineering

#20 in Europe

#91 in the World

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

10. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Civil Engineering

#31 in Europe

#125 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

11. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Civil Engineering

#32 in Europe

#126 in the World

Founded: 1948

12. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Civil Engineering

#36 in Europe

#144 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

13. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Civil Engineering

#40 in Europe

#156 in the World

Founded: 1451

14. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Civil Engineering

#45 in Europe

#168 in the World

Founded: 1900

15. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Civil Engineering

#52 in Europe

#193 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

16. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Civil Engineering

#53 in Europe

#196 in the World

Founded: 1963

17. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Civil Engineering

#58 in Europe

#214 in the World

Founded: 1964

18. King's College London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#65 in Europe

#228 in the World

Founded: 1829

19. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Civil Engineering

#68 in Europe

#234 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

20. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Civil Engineering

#70 in Europe

#237 in the World

Founded: 1997

21. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Civil Engineering

#81 in Europe

#264 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

22. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Civil Engineering

#84 in Europe

#268 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

23. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#89 in Europe

#284 in the World

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

24. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Civil Engineering

#102 in Europe

#308 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

25. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Civil Engineering

#103 in Europe

#310 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

26. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Civil Engineering

#106 in Europe

#315 in the World

Founded: 1892

27. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Civil Engineering

#111 in Europe

#327 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

28. Durham University

England | Durham

For Civil Engineering

#112 in Europe

#332 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

29. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Civil Engineering

#116 in Europe

#340 in the World

Founded: 1495

30. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Civil Engineering

#122 in Europe

#349 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

31. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Civil Engineering

#126 in Europe

#361 in the World

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

32. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Civil Engineering

#138 in Europe

#390 in the World

Founded: 1966

33. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Civil Engineering

#145 in Europe

#418 in the World

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

34. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Civil Engineering

#148 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

#423 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

36. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Civil Engineering

#156 in Europe

#445 in the World

Founded: 1920

37. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Civil Engineering

#159 in Europe

#450 in the World

Founded: 1967

38. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Civil Engineering

#168 in Europe

#473 in the World

Founded: 1968

39. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Civil Engineering

#170 in Europe

#480 in the World

Founded: 1893

40. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#173 in Europe

#499 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

41. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Civil Engineering

#177 in Europe

#504 in the World

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

42. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Civil Engineering

#195 in Europe

#560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

43. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Civil Engineering

#199 in Europe

#569 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

44. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Civil Engineering

#200 in Europe

#571 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

45. University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#204 in Europe

#588 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

46. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Civil Engineering

#205 in Europe

#592 in the World

Founded: 1992

47. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Civil Engineering

#206 in Europe

#595 in the World

Founded: 1967

48. City, University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#218 in Europe

#619 in the World

Founded: 1966

49. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Civil Engineering

#230 in Europe

#650 in the World

Founded: 1964

50. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Civil Engineering

#238 in Europe

#665 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

51. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Civil Engineering

#241 in Europe

#673 in the World

Founded: 1965

52. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Civil Engineering

#262 in Europe

#731 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

53. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Civil Engineering

#265 in Europe

#743 in the World

Founded: 1992

54. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Civil Engineering

#268 in Europe

#756 in the World

Founded: 1849

55. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Civil Engineering

#282 in Europe

#792 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

56. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Civil Engineering

#287 in Europe

#803 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

57. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Civil Engineering

#289 in Europe

#809 in the World

Founded: 1954

58. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Civil Engineering

#298 in Europe

#840 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

59. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Civil Engineering

#303 in Europe

#857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

60. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Civil Engineering

#305 in Europe

#860 in the World

Founded: 1992

61. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#312 in Europe

#879 in the World

Founded: 1890

62. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Civil Engineering

#315 in Europe

#884 in the World

Founded: 1895

63. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Civil Engineering

#316 in Europe

#885 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

64. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Civil Engineering

#328 in Europe

#912 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

65. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Civil Engineering

#329 in Europe

#913 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

66. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Civil Engineering

#331 in Europe

#916 in the World

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

67. Keele University

England | Keele

For Civil Engineering

#335 in Europe

#936 in the World

Founded: 1962

68. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Civil Engineering

#338 in Europe

#953 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

69. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Civil Engineering

#341 in Europe

#968 in the World

Founded: 1992

70. University of Westminster

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#344 in Europe

#986 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

71. London South Bank University

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#347 in Europe

#993 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

72. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Civil Engineering

#349 in Europe

#1003 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

73. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Civil Engineering

#356 in Europe

#1023 in the World

Founded: 1992

74. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#361 in Europe

#1039 in the World

Founded: 1823

75. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Civil Engineering

#391 in Europe

#1128 in the World

Founded: 1872

76. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Civil Engineering

#403 in Europe

#1176 in the World

Founded: 1992

77. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Civil Engineering

#409 in Europe

#1192 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

78. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Civil Engineering

#418 in Europe

#1209 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

79. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Civil Engineering

#433 in Europe

#1246 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

80. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Civil Engineering

#438 in Europe

#1273 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Civil Engineering

#468 in Europe

#1374 in the World

Founded: 1841

82. Middlesex University

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#473 in Europe

#1390 in the World

Founded: 1973

83. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Civil Engineering

#492 in Europe

#1467 in the World

Founded: 1992

84. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#494 in Europe

#1483 in the World

Founded: 1904

85. University of East London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#514 in Europe

#1568 in the World

Founded: 1992

86. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Civil Engineering

#521 in Europe

#1584 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

87. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Civil Engineering

#532 in Europe

#1622 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

88. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Civil Engineering

#540 in Europe

#1651 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

89. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Civil Engineering

#541 in Europe

#1652 in the World

Founded: 1858

90. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Civil Engineering

#550 in Europe

#1694 in the World

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

91. University of Northampton

England | Northampton

For Civil Engineering

#571 in Europe

#1793 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

92. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Civil Engineering

#572 in Europe

#1797 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

93. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Civil Engineering

#581 in Europe

#1849 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

94. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Civil Engineering

#582 in Europe

#1858 in the World

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

95. London Business School

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#599 in Europe

#1943 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

96. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#602 in Europe

#1961 in the World

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

97. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#606 in Europe

#1981 in the World

Founded: 1848

98. University of Roehampton

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#614 in Europe

#2014 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

99. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#638 in Europe

#2141 in the World

Founded: 1733

100. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Civil Engineering

#643 in Europe

#2165 in the World

Founded: 1791

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.