100 Best universities for Mechanical 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 Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 15.2M citations received by 518K academic papers made by 135 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 Mechanical Engineering

#1 in Europe

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Mechanical Engineering

#2 in Europe

#14 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. Imperial College London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#3 in Europe

#23 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. University College London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Europe

#30 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Europe

#44 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#11 in Europe

#59 in the World

Founded: 1948

7. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Mechanical Engineering

#13 in Europe

#63 in the World

Founded: 1905

8. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in Europe

#78 in the World

Founded: 1900

9. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#19 in Europe

#90 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

10. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Mechanical Engineering

#22 in Europe

#108 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

11. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Mechanical Engineering

#23 in Europe

#109 in the World

Founded: 1904

12. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Mechanical Engineering

#30 in Europe

#125 in the World

Founded: 1451

13. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Mechanical Engineering

#33 in Europe

#132 in the World

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

14. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Mechanical Engineering

#48 in Europe

#171 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

15. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Mechanical Engineering

#50 in Europe

#175 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

16. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Mechanical Engineering

#54 in Europe

#183 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

17. King's College London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#56 in Europe

#186 in the World

Founded: 1829

18. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Mechanical Engineering

#58 in Europe

#190 in the World

Founded: 1963

19. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#60 in Europe

#195 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

20. Durham University

England | Durham

For Mechanical Engineering

#66 in Europe

#211 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

21. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Mechanical Engineering

#68 in Europe

#215 in the World

Founded: 1964

22. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Mechanical Engineering

#75 in Europe

#237 in the World

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

23. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Mechanical Engineering

#86 in Europe

#274 in the World

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

24. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Mechanical Engineering

#88 in Europe

#276 in the World

Founded: 1997

25. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Mechanical Engineering

#92 in Europe

#282 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

26. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Mechanical Engineering

#105 in Europe

#319 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

27. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Mechanical Engineering

#118 in Europe

#342 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

28. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Mechanical Engineering

#120 in Europe

#346 in the World

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

29. University of York

England | York

For Mechanical Engineering

#126 in Europe

#358 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

30. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Mechanical Engineering

#134 in Europe

#372 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

31. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#140 in Europe

#385 in the World

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

32. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Mechanical Engineering

#142 in Europe

#391 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

33. University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#149 in Europe

#413 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

34. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Mechanical Engineering

#151 in Europe

#416 in the World

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

35. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Mechanical Engineering

#154 in Europe

#421 in the World

Founded: 1495

36. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Mechanical Engineering

#161 in Europe

#434 in the World

Founded: 1920

37. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Mechanical Engineering

#164 in Europe

#443 in the World

Founded: 1892

38. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#173 in Europe

#460 in the World

Founded: 1966

39. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Mechanical Engineering

#185 in Europe

#504 in the World

Founded: 1967

40. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Mechanical Engineering

#189 in Europe

#510 in the World

Founded: 1893

41. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Mechanical Engineering

#204 in Europe

#549 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

42. City, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#216 in Europe

#566 in the World

Founded: 1966

43. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Mechanical Engineering

#218 in Europe

#570 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

44. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Mechanical Engineering

#230 in Europe

#607 in the World

Founded: 1968

45. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Mechanical Engineering

#231 in Europe

#609 in the World

Founded: 1954

46. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Mechanical Engineering

#234 in Europe

#616 in the World

Founded: 1964

47. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Mechanical Engineering

#235 in Europe

#622 in the World

Founded: 1965

48. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Mechanical Engineering

#236 in Europe

#625 in the World

Founded: 1967

49. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Mechanical Engineering

#244 in Europe

#651 in the World

Founded: 1992

50. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Mechanical Engineering

#262 in Europe

#698 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

51. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Mechanical Engineering

#266 in Europe

#702 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

52. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Mechanical Engineering

#273 in Europe

#728 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

53. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Mechanical Engineering

#281 in Europe

#749 in the World

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

54. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Mechanical Engineering

#284 in Europe

#758 in the World

Founded: 1992

55. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#287 in Europe

#763 in the World

Founded: 1733

56. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Mechanical Engineering

#289 in Europe

#765 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

57. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#305 in Europe

#798 in the World

Founded: 1895

58. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Mechanical Engineering

#322 in Europe

#846 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Mechanical Engineering

#325 in Europe

#856 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

60. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#326 in Europe

#858 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

61. London South Bank University

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#327 in Europe

#859 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

62. Keele University

England | Keele

For Mechanical Engineering

#336 in Europe

#897 in the World

Founded: 1962

63. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Mechanical Engineering

#342 in Europe

#916 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

64. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Mechanical Engineering

#352 in Europe

#944 in the World

Founded: 1849

65. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Mechanical Engineering

#365 in Europe

#992 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

66. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Mechanical Engineering

#366 in Europe

#1000 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Mechanical Engineering

#368 in Europe

#1004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

68. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#391 in Europe

#1077 in the World

Founded: 1823

69. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Mechanical Engineering

#394 in Europe

#1081 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

70. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Mechanical Engineering

#395 in Europe

#1082 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

71. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Mechanical Engineering

#400 in Europe

#1093 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

72. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#401 in Europe

#1094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

73. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Mechanical Engineering

#402 in Europe

#1096 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

74. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#418 in Europe

#1161 in the World

Founded: 1890

75. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Mechanical Engineering

#421 in Europe

#1169 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

76. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Mechanical Engineering

#422 in Europe

#1170 in the World

Founded: 1872

77. London Business School

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#430 in Europe

#1190 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

78. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Mechanical Engineering

#445 in Europe

#1227 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

79. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Mechanical Engineering

#461 in Europe

#1281 in the World

Founded: 1992

80. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Mechanical Engineering

#466 in Europe

#1334 in the World

Founded: 1841

81. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Mechanical Engineering

#480 in Europe

#1371 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

82. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Mechanical Engineering

#499 in Europe

#1431 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Mechanical Engineering

#510 in Europe

#1459 in the World

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

84. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Mechanical Engineering

#512 in Europe

#1462 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

85. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Mechanical Engineering

#518 in Europe

#1478 in the World

Founded: 1992

86. Middlesex University

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#520 in Europe

#1491 in the World

Founded: 1973

87. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Mechanical Engineering

#540 in Europe

#1573 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

88. University of Westminster

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#543 in Europe

#1592 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

89. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#570 in Europe

#1695 in the World

Founded: 1904

90. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#588 in Europe

#1770 in the World

Founded: 1848

91. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Mechanical Engineering

#590 in Europe

#1792 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

92. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Mechanical Engineering

#591 in Europe

#1800 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

93. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#595 in Europe

#1826 in the World

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

94. University of East London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#604 in Europe

#1872 in the World

Founded: 1992

95. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Mechanical Engineering

#605 in Europe

#1877 in the World

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

96. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Mechanical Engineering

#622 in Europe

#1972 in the World

Founded: 1858

97. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#666 in Europe

#2138 in the World

Founded: 1992

98. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Mechanical Engineering

#667 in Europe

#2146 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

99. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Mechanical Engineering

#675 in Europe

#2178 in the World

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

100. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#686 in Europe

#2235 in the World

Founded: 1791

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