100 Best universities for Geotechnical 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 Geotechnical Engineering. A graph of 4.85M citations received by 127K academic papers made by 112 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. Imperial College London

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#1 in Europe

#7 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

2. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Geotechnical Engineering

#4 in Europe

#20 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Geotechnical Engineering

#8 in Europe

#59 in the World

Founded: 1824

4. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Geotechnical Engineering

#10 in Europe

#67 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

5. University College London

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#12 in Europe

#84 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

6. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Geotechnical Engineering

#16 in Europe

#95 in the World

Founded: 1904

7. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Geotechnical Engineering

#18 in Europe

#100 in the World

Founded: 1900

8. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Geotechnical Engineering

#19 in Europe

#104 in the World

Founded: 1948

9. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Geotechnical Engineering

#22 in Europe

#116 in the World

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

10. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Geotechnical Engineering

#24 in Europe

#121 in the World

Founded: 1905

11. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Geotechnical Engineering

#26 in Europe

#127 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

12. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Geotechnical Engineering

#29 in Europe

#137 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

13. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Geotechnical Engineering

#31 in Europe

#144 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

14. Durham University

England | Durham

For Geotechnical Engineering

#43 in Europe

#176 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

15. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Geotechnical Engineering

#44 in Europe

#179 in the World

Founded: 1495

16. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Geotechnical Engineering

#46 in Europe

#182 in the World

Founded: 1963

17. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Geotechnical Engineering

#57 in Europe

#213 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

18. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Geotechnical Engineering

#64 in Europe

#247 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

19. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Geotechnical Engineering

#66 in Europe

#253 in the World

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

20. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Geotechnical Engineering

#75 in Europe

#285 in the World

Founded: 1892

21. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Geotechnical Engineering

#77 in Europe

#291 in the World

Founded: 1451

22. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Geotechnical Engineering

#79 in Europe

#295 in the World

Founded: 1997

23. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Geotechnical Engineering

#81 in Europe

#299 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

24. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Geotechnical Engineering

#85 in Europe

#308 in the World

Founded: 1964

25. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Geotechnical Engineering

#93 in Europe

#323 in the World

Founded: 1920

26. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Geotechnical Engineering

#102 in Europe

#345 in the World

Founded: 1966

27. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Geotechnical Engineering

#111 in Europe

#365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

28. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Geotechnical Engineering

#114 in Europe

#377 in the World

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

29. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Geotechnical Engineering

#117 in Europe

#385 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

30. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Geotechnical Engineering

#123 in Europe

#398 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

31. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Geotechnical Engineering

#124 in Europe

#402 in the World

Founded: 1967

32. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#126 in Europe

#412 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

33. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Geotechnical Engineering

#130 in Europe

#424 in the World

Founded: 1893

34. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Geotechnical Engineering

#134 in Europe

#432 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

35. King's College London

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#135 in Europe

#435 in the World

Founded: 1829

36. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Geotechnical Engineering

#147 in Europe

#470 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

37. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Geotechnical Engineering

#169 in Europe

#533 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

38. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Geotechnical Engineering

#175 in Europe

#546 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

39. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Geotechnical Engineering

#181 in Europe

#560 in the World

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

40. University of York

England | York

For Geotechnical Engineering

#207 in Europe

#638 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

41. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Geotechnical Engineering

#215 in Europe

#673 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

42. University of London

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#218 in Europe

#681 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

43. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Geotechnical Engineering

#224 in Europe

#702 in the World

Founded: 1872

44. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Geotechnical Engineering

#236 in Europe

#747 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

45. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Geotechnical Engineering

#240 in Europe

#757 in the World

Founded: 1967

46. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Geotechnical Engineering

#243 in Europe

#762 in the World

Founded: 1954

47. City, University of London

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#252 in Europe

#779 in the World

Founded: 1966

48. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Geotechnical Engineering

#268 in Europe

#824 in the World

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

49. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Geotechnical Engineering

#279 in Europe

#848 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

50. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Geotechnical Engineering

#298 in Europe

#915 in the World

Founded: 1849

51. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Geotechnical Engineering

#300 in Europe

#922 in the World

Founded: 1968

52. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Geotechnical Engineering

#303 in Europe

#927 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

53. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Geotechnical Engineering

#310 in Europe

#952 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

54. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Geotechnical Engineering

#315 in Europe

#972 in the World

Founded: 1895

55. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#320 in Europe

#988 in the World

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

56. Keele University

England | Keele

For Geotechnical Engineering

#332 in Europe

#1055 in the World

Founded: 1962

57. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Geotechnical Engineering

#336 in Europe

#1061 in the World

Founded: 1992

58. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Geotechnical Engineering

#353 in Europe

#1113 in the World

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

59. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Geotechnical Engineering

#363 in Europe

#1166 in the World

Founded: 1992

60. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Geotechnical Engineering

#370 in Europe

#1192 in the World

Founded: 1992

61. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Geotechnical Engineering

#388 in Europe

#1246 in the World

Founded: 1992

62. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Geotechnical Engineering

#394 in Europe

#1267 in the World

Founded: 1992

63. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Geotechnical Engineering

#396 in Europe

#1272 in the World

Founded: 1965

64. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#399 in Europe

#1278 in the World

Founded: 1823

65. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Geotechnical Engineering

#400 in Europe

#1283 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

66. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Geotechnical Engineering

#402 in Europe

#1296 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Geotechnical Engineering

#403 in Europe

#1298 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

68. London South Bank University

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#411 in Europe

#1309 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

69. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#414 in Europe

#1325 in the World

Founded: 1890

70. Middlesex University

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#424 in Europe

#1393 in the World

Founded: 1973

71. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Geotechnical Engineering

#460 in Europe

#1547 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

72. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Geotechnical Engineering

#461 in Europe

#1548 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

73. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Geotechnical Engineering

#463 in Europe

#1552 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

74. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Geotechnical Engineering

#464 in Europe

#1559 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

75. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Geotechnical Engineering

#468 in Europe

#1573 in the World

Founded: 1841

76. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Geotechnical Engineering

#473 in Europe

#1585 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

77. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Geotechnical Engineering

#481 in Europe

#1623 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

78. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Geotechnical Engineering

#493 in Europe

#1656 in the World

Founded: 1964

79. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Geotechnical Engineering

#516 in Europe

#1769 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

80. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Geotechnical Engineering

#518 in Europe

#1778 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

81. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#546 in Europe

#1941 in the World

Founded: 1733

82. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Geotechnical Engineering

#551 in Europe

#1971 in the World

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

83. Abertay University

Scotland | Dundee

For Geotechnical Engineering

#553 in Europe

#1975 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

84. University of East London

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#562 in Europe

#2015 in the World

Founded: 1992

85. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Geotechnical Engineering

#565 in Europe

#2027 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

86. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Geotechnical Engineering

#574 in Europe

#2084 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

87. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Geotechnical Engineering

#577 in Europe

#2095 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

88. University of Northampton

England | Northampton

For Geotechnical Engineering

#584 in Europe

#2136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

89. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Geotechnical Engineering

#596 in Europe

#2212 in the World

Founded: 1858

90. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Geotechnical Engineering

#601 in Europe

#2236 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

91. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#603 in Europe

#2238 in the World

Founded: 1848

92. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Geotechnical Engineering

#604 in Europe

#2243 in the World

Founded: 1992

93. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Geotechnical Engineering

#608 in Europe

#2258 in the World

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

94. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Geotechnical Engineering

#628 in Europe

#2339 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Enrollment: 1,100
Founded: 2013

95. University of Wales Trinity Saint David

Wales | Carmarthen

For Geotechnical Engineering

#635 in Europe

#2390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 91%
Founded: 2010

96. University of Bolton

England | Bolton

For Geotechnical Engineering

#648 in Europe

#2453 in the World

Founded: 2004

97. University of Westminster

England | London

For Geotechnical Engineering

#651 in Europe

#2463 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

98. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Geotechnical Engineering

#665 in Europe

#2577 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

99. Scotland's Rural College

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Geotechnical Engineering

#668 in Europe

#2597 in the World

Enrollment: 6,000
Founded: 2012

100. University of West London

England | Ealing

For Geotechnical Engineering

#691 in Europe

#2741 in the World

Founded: 1990

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