100 Best universities for Mechanical Engineering in the United Kingdom

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 11.5M citations received by 459K academic papers made by 134 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

#9 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

#22 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. University College London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#6 in Europe

#31 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Mechanical Engineering

#8 in Europe

#40 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

#13 in Europe

#60 in the World

Founded: 1905

8. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#17 in Europe

#83 in the World

Founded: 1900

9. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Mechanical Engineering

#22 in Europe

#102 in the World

Founded: 1904

10. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Mechanical Engineering

#23 in Europe

#104 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

11. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#25 in Europe

#106 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

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

#33 in Europe

#131 in the World

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

14. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Mechanical Engineering

#44 in Europe

#157 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

15. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Mechanical Engineering

#53 in Europe

#178 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

16. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Mechanical Engineering

#54 in Europe

#187 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

17. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Mechanical Engineering

#56 in Europe

#189 in the World

Founded: 1963

18. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Mechanical Engineering

#57 in Europe

#191 in the World

Founded: 1964

19. King's College London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#62 in Europe

#207 in the World

Founded: 1829

20. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Mechanical Engineering

#69 in Europe

#222 in the World

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

21. Durham University

England | Durham

For Mechanical Engineering

#72 in Europe

#228 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

22. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#76 in Europe

#241 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

23. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Mechanical Engineering

#84 in Europe

#266 in the World

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

24. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Mechanical Engineering

#93 in Europe

#287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

25. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Mechanical Engineering

#95 in Europe

#292 in the World

Founded: 1997

26. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Mechanical Engineering

#108 in Europe

#322 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

27. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Mechanical Engineering

#115 in Europe

#339 in the World

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

28. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Mechanical Engineering

#118 in Europe

#345 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

29. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Mechanical Engineering

#122 in Europe

#351 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

30. University of York

England | York

For Mechanical Engineering

#131 in Europe

#365 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

31. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Mechanical Engineering

#143 in Europe

#391 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

32. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Mechanical Engineering

#150 in Europe

#411 in the World

Founded: 1920

33. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#156 in Europe

#426 in the World

Founded: 1966

34. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Mechanical Engineering

#159 in Europe

#432 in the World

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

35. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Mechanical Engineering

#161 in Europe

#434 in the World

Founded: 1893

36. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Mechanical Engineering

#164 in Europe

#440 in the World

Founded: 1495

37. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Mechanical Engineering

#169 in Europe

#454 in the World

Founded: 1892

38. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#173 in Europe

#465 in the World

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

39. University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#181 in Europe

#483 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

40. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Mechanical Engineering

#185 in Europe

#495 in the World

Founded: 1967

41. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Mechanical Engineering

#204 in Europe

#544 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

42. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Mechanical Engineering

#213 in Europe

#560 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

43. City, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#215 in Europe

#563 in the World

Founded: 1966

44. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Mechanical Engineering

#220 in Europe

#570 in the World

Founded: 1968

45. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Mechanical Engineering

#230 in Europe

#596 in the World

Founded: 1954

46. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Mechanical Engineering

#235 in Europe

#607 in the World

Founded: 1967

47. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Mechanical Engineering

#240 in Europe

#628 in the World

Founded: 1992

48. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Mechanical Engineering

#246 in Europe

#649 in the World

Founded: 1965

49. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Mechanical Engineering

#251 in Europe

#659 in the World

Founded: 1964

50. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Mechanical Engineering

#264 in Europe

#696 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

51. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Mechanical Engineering

#269 in Europe

#704 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

52. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Mechanical Engineering

#276 in Europe

#732 in the World

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

53. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#283 in Europe

#749 in the World

Founded: 1733

54. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#288 in Europe

#757 in the World

Founded: 1895

55. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Mechanical Engineering

#289 in Europe

#760 in the World

Founded: 1992

56. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Mechanical Engineering

#295 in Europe

#777 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

57. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Mechanical Engineering

#315 in Europe

#829 in the World

Founded: 1992

58. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Mechanical Engineering

#319 in Europe

#838 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Mechanical Engineering

#320 in Europe

#851 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

60. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Mechanical Engineering

#325 in Europe

#863 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

61. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Mechanical Engineering

#336 in Europe

#893 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

62. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Mechanical Engineering

#338 in Europe

#896 in the World

Founded: 1849

63. London South Bank University

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#344 in Europe

#910 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

64. Keele University

England | Keele

For Mechanical Engineering

#354 in Europe

#948 in the World

Founded: 1962

65. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Mechanical Engineering

#370 in Europe

#989 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

66. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Mechanical Engineering

#374 in Europe

#999 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

67. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Mechanical Engineering

#375 in Europe

#1001 in the World

Founded: 1992

68. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#381 in Europe

#1026 in the World

Founded: 1823

69. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Mechanical Engineering

#395 in Europe

#1067 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

70. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Mechanical Engineering

#397 in Europe

#1074 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

71. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Mechanical Engineering

#399 in Europe

#1082 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

72. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Mechanical Engineering

#403 in Europe

#1097 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

73. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#405 in Europe

#1102 in the World

Founded: 1890

74. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Mechanical Engineering

#406 in Europe

#1109 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

75. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Mechanical Engineering

#420 in Europe

#1149 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

76. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Mechanical Engineering

#422 in Europe

#1156 in the World

Founded: 1872

77. London Business School

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#423 in Europe

#1157 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

78. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Mechanical Engineering

#447 in Europe

#1214 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

79. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Mechanical Engineering

#469 in Europe

#1303 in the World

Founded: 1841

80. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Mechanical Engineering

#473 in Europe

#1317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

81. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Mechanical Engineering

#484 in Europe

#1362 in the World

Founded: 1992

82. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Mechanical Engineering

#497 in Europe

#1408 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Mechanical Engineering

#502 in Europe

#1417 in the World

Founded: 1992

84. Middlesex University

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#511 in Europe

#1444 in the World

Founded: 1973

85. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Mechanical Engineering

#521 in Europe

#1476 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

86. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Mechanical Engineering

#522 in Europe

#1481 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

87. University of Westminster

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#537 in Europe

#1565 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

88. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Mechanical Engineering

#539 in Europe

#1572 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

89. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#544 in Europe

#1590 in the World

Founded: 1904

90. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#567 in Europe

#1664 in the World

Founded: 1848

91. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Mechanical Engineering

#578 in Europe

#1698 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

92. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Mechanical Engineering

#612 in Europe

#1876 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

93. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Mechanical Engineering

#615 in Europe

#1893 in the World

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

94. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Mechanical Engineering

#616 in Europe

#1894 in the World

Founded: 1858

95. University of East London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#625 in Europe

#1934 in the World

Founded: 1992

96. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Mechanical Engineering

#636 in Europe

#2000 in the World

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

97. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Mechanical Engineering

#662 in Europe

#2119 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

98. Cardiff Metropolitan University

Wales | Cardiff

For Mechanical Engineering

#669 in Europe

#2136 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 86%
Founded: 2011

99. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#672 in Europe

#2142 in the World

Founded: 1791

100. SOAS, University of London

England | London

For Mechanical Engineering

#681 in Europe

#2177 in the World

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

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.