100 Best universities for Mechanical 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 Mechanical Engineering. A graph of 16M citations received by 527K 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

#12 in Europe

#59 in the World

Founded: 1948

7. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Mechanical Engineering

#14 in Europe

#66 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

#110 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

11. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Mechanical Engineering

#23 in Europe

#112 in the World

Founded: 1904

12. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Mechanical Engineering

#30 in Europe

#126 in the World

Founded: 1451

13. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Mechanical Engineering

#32 in Europe

#131 in the World

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

14. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Mechanical Engineering

#50 in Europe

#176 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

15. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Mechanical Engineering

#53 in Europe

#181 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

16. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Mechanical Engineering

#54 in Europe

#182 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

17. King's College London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#57 in Europe

#186 in the World

Founded: 1829

18. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Mechanical Engineering

#60 in Europe

#193 in the World

Founded: 1963

19. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#63 in Europe

#201 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

20. Durham University

England | Durham

For Mechanical Engineering

#67 in Europe

#213 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

21. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Mechanical Engineering

#69 in Europe

#222 in the World

Founded: 1964

22. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Mechanical Engineering

#72 in Europe

#233 in the World

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

23. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Mechanical Engineering

#86 in Europe

#271 in the World

Founded: 1997

24. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Mechanical Engineering

#89 in Europe

#276 in the World

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

25. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Mechanical Engineering

#91 in Europe

#283 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

#119 in Europe

#345 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

#361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

30. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Mechanical Engineering

#133 in Europe

#375 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

31. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#140 in Europe

#390 in the World

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

32. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Mechanical Engineering

#141 in Europe

#391 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

33. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Mechanical Engineering

#153 in Europe

#423 in the World

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

34. University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#158 in Europe

#430 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

35. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Mechanical Engineering

#159 in Europe

#432 in the World

Founded: 1495

36. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Mechanical Engineering

#160 in Europe

#436 in the World

Founded: 1920

37. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Mechanical Engineering

#168 in Europe

#451 in the World

Founded: 1892

38. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#173 in Europe

#466 in the World

Founded: 1966

39. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Mechanical Engineering

#185 in Europe

#506 in the World

Founded: 1967

40. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Mechanical Engineering

#195 in Europe

#528 in the World

Founded: 1893

41. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Mechanical Engineering

#208 in Europe

#555 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

42. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Mechanical Engineering

#216 in Europe

#569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

43. City, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#218 in Europe

#571 in the World

Founded: 1966

44. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Mechanical Engineering

#230 in Europe

#616 in the World

Founded: 1968

45. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Mechanical Engineering

#232 in Europe

#618 in the World

Founded: 1954

46. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Mechanical Engineering

#233 in Europe

#623 in the World

Founded: 1964

47. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Mechanical Engineering

#237 in Europe

#631 in the World

Founded: 1965

48. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Mechanical Engineering

#240 in Europe

#640 in the World

Founded: 1967

49. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Mechanical Engineering

#242 in Europe

#651 in the World

Founded: 1992

50. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Mechanical Engineering

#257 in Europe

#693 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

51. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Mechanical Engineering

#260 in Europe

#700 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

52. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Mechanical Engineering

#275 in Europe

#736 in the World

Founded: 1992

53. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Mechanical Engineering

#276 in Europe

#739 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

54. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Mechanical Engineering

#284 in Europe

#759 in the World

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

55. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Mechanical Engineering

#287 in Europe

#763 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

56. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#288 in Europe

#764 in the World

Founded: 1733

57. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#304 in Europe

#802 in the World

Founded: 1895

58. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#321 in Europe

#850 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

59. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Mechanical Engineering

#322 in Europe

#851 in the World

Founded: 1992

60. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Mechanical Engineering

#326 in Europe

#864 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

61. London South Bank University

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#330 in Europe

#875 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

62. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Mechanical Engineering

#339 in Europe

#907 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

63. Keele University

England | Keele

For Mechanical Engineering

#341 in Europe

#909 in the World

Founded: 1962

64. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Mechanical Engineering

#354 in Europe

#961 in the World

Founded: 1849

65. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Mechanical Engineering

#365 in Europe

#1003 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

66. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Mechanical Engineering

#366 in Europe

#1004 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

67. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Mechanical Engineering

#368 in Europe

#1010 in the World

Founded: 1992

68. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Mechanical Engineering

#390 in Europe

#1084 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

69. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#396 in Europe

#1097 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

70. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Mechanical Engineering

#397 in Europe

#1098 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

71. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Mechanical Engineering

#398 in Europe

#1100 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

72. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Mechanical Engineering

#399 in Europe

#1105 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

73. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#400 in Europe

#1106 in the World

Founded: 1823

74. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Mechanical Engineering

#418 in Europe

#1170 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

75. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#419 in Europe

#1173 in the World

Founded: 1890

76. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Mechanical Engineering

#429 in Europe

#1200 in the World

Founded: 1872

77. London Business School

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#436 in Europe

#1215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

78. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Mechanical Engineering

#444 in Europe

#1243 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

79. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Mechanical Engineering

#460 in Europe

#1292 in the World

Founded: 1992

80. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Mechanical Engineering

#476 in Europe

#1363 in the World

Founded: 1841

81. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Mechanical Engineering

#486 in Europe

#1393 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

82. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Mechanical Engineering

#499 in Europe

#1439 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Mechanical Engineering

#503 in Europe

#1451 in the World

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

84. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Mechanical Engineering

#507 in Europe

#1464 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

85. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Mechanical Engineering

#519 in Europe

#1504 in the World

Founded: 1992

86. Middlesex University

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#522 in Europe

#1518 in the World

Founded: 1973

87. University of Westminster

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#541 in Europe

#1600 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

88. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Mechanical Engineering

#542 in Europe

#1604 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

89. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#572 in Europe

#1717 in the World

Founded: 1904

90. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Mechanical Engineering

#587 in Europe

#1771 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

91. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#588 in Europe

#1786 in the World

Founded: 1848

92. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Mechanical Engineering

#594 in Europe

#1811 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

93. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#597 in Europe

#1841 in the World

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

94. University of East London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#598 in Europe

#1847 in the World

Founded: 1992

95. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Mechanical Engineering

#607 in Europe

#1882 in the World

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

96. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Mechanical Engineering

#618 in Europe

#1948 in the World

Founded: 1858

97. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#656 in Europe

#2100 in the World

Founded: 1992

98. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Mechanical Engineering

#672 in Europe

#2168 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

99. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Mechanical Engineering

#681 in Europe

#2213 in the World

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

100. Cardiff Metropolitan University

Wales | Cardiff

For Mechanical Engineering

#688 in Europe

#2240 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Enrollment: 31,517
Founded: 2011

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.