100 Best universities for Optical Engineering in England

Updated: March 15, 2026

Ranking by academic field

Below is a list of best universities in England ranked based on their research performance in Optical Engineering. A graph of 24.1M citations received by 629K academic papers made by 103 universities in England 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

Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#1 in the United Kingdom

#1 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University of Oxford

Oxford

For Optical Engineering

#2 in the United Kingdom

#2 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University College London

London

For Optical Engineering

#3 in the United Kingdom

#3 in Europe

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. Imperial College London

London

For Optical Engineering

#4 in the United Kingdom

#4 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

5. University of Manchester

Manchester

For Optical Engineering

#5 in the United Kingdom

#8 in Europe

Founded: 1824

6. University of Southampton

Southampton

For Optical Engineering

#6 in the United Kingdom

#10 in Europe

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

7. University of Bristol

Bristol

For Optical Engineering

#7 in the United Kingdom

#27 in Europe

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

8. University of Sheffield

Sheffield

For Optical Engineering

#9 in the United Kingdom

#32 in Europe

Founded: 1905

9. University of Nottingham

Nottingham

For Optical Engineering

#11 in the United Kingdom

#41 in Europe

Founded: 1948

10. University of Leeds

Leeds

For Optical Engineering

#12 in the United Kingdom

#46 in Europe

Founded: 1904

11. University of Birmingham

Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#13 in the United Kingdom

#47 in Europe

Founded: 1900

12. University of Liverpool

Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#14 in the United Kingdom

#60 in Europe

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

13. Durham University

Durham

For Optical Engineering

#15 in the United Kingdom

#61 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

14. King's College London

London

For Optical Engineering

#16 in the United Kingdom

#68 in Europe

Founded: 1829

15. University of Bath

Bath

For Optical Engineering

#19 in the United Kingdom

#89 in Europe

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

16. University of Warwick

Coventry

For Optical Engineering

#20 in the United Kingdom

#94 in Europe

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

17. Queen Mary University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#22 in the United Kingdom

#97 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

18. University of Exeter

Exeter

For Optical Engineering

#23 in the United Kingdom

#98 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

19. University of Surrey

Guildford

For Optical Engineering

#24 in the United Kingdom

#114 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

20. Loughborough University

Loughborough

For Optical Engineering

#27 in the United Kingdom

#130 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

21. Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Optical Engineering

#28 in the United Kingdom

#131 in Europe

Founded: 1963

22. University of Sussex

Brighton

For Optical Engineering

#29 in the United Kingdom

#142 in Europe

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

23. University of York

York

For Optical Engineering

#30 in the United Kingdom

#149 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

24. University of Leicester

Leicester

For Optical Engineering

#31 in the United Kingdom

#159 in Europe

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

25. University of Reading

Reading

For Optical Engineering

#32 in the United Kingdom

#164 in Europe

Founded: 1892

26. Lancaster University

Lancaster

For Optical Engineering

#33 in the United Kingdom

#174 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

27. Aston University

Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#34 in the United Kingdom

#177 in Europe

Founded: 1895

28. University of East Anglia

Norwich

For Optical Engineering

#35 in the United Kingdom

#189 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

29. University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#36 in the United Kingdom

#195 in Europe

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

30. University of Essex

Colchester

For Optical Engineering

#38 in the United Kingdom

#215 in Europe

Founded: 1964

31. University of Kent

Canterbury

For Optical Engineering

#39 in the United Kingdom

#216 in Europe

Founded: 1965

32. Cranfield University

Cranfield

For Optical Engineering

#43 in the United Kingdom

#230 in Europe

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

33. City, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#45 in the United Kingdom

#248 in Europe

Founded: 1966

34. University of Bradford

Bradford

For Optical Engineering

#46 in the United Kingdom

#263 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

35. Brunel University London

Uxbridge

For Optical Engineering

#47 in the United Kingdom

#267 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

36. University of Hull

Kingston upon Hull

For Optical Engineering

#48 in the United Kingdom

#269 in Europe

Founded: 1954

37. University of Salford

Salford

For Optical Engineering

#50 in the United Kingdom

#301 in Europe

Founded: 1967

38. Keele University

Keele

For Optical Engineering

#51 in the United Kingdom

#313 in Europe

Founded: 1962

39. University of Portsmouth

Portsmouth

For Optical Engineering

#52 in the United Kingdom

#323 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

40. Birkbeck, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#53 in the United Kingdom

#357 in Europe

Founded: 1823

41. Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Optical Engineering

#54 in the United Kingdom

#360 in Europe

Founded: 1992

42. University of Plymouth

Plymouth

For Optical Engineering

#55 in the United Kingdom

#370 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

43. Royal Holloway, University of London

Egham

For Optical Engineering

#57 in the United Kingdom

#374 in Europe

Founded: 1849

44. University of Hertfordshire

Hatfield

For Optical Engineering

#58 in the United Kingdom

#381 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

45. Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#59 in the United Kingdom

#385 in Europe

Founded: 1992

46. London School of Economics and Political Science

London

For Optical Engineering

#60 in the United Kingdom

#388 in Europe

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

47. St George's, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#61 in the United Kingdom

#390 in Europe

Founded: 1733

48. Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester

For Optical Engineering

#62 in the United Kingdom

#406 in Europe

Founded: 1992

49. Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham

For Optical Engineering

#63 in the United Kingdom

#412 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

50. De Montfort University

Leicester

For Optical Engineering

#64 in the United Kingdom

#426 in Europe

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

51. Sheffield Hallam University

Sheffield

For Optical Engineering

#65 in the United Kingdom

#432 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

52. University of Huddersfield

Huddersfield

For Optical Engineering

#67 in the United Kingdom

#450 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

53. University of Greenwich

London

For Optical Engineering

#68 in the United Kingdom

#453 in Europe

Founded: 1890

54. Oxford Brookes University

Oxford

For Optical Engineering

#70 in the United Kingdom

#490 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

55. University of Central Lancashire

Preston

For Optical Engineering

#71 in the United Kingdom

#497 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

56. Coventry University

Coventry

For Optical Engineering

#72 in the United Kingdom

#500 in Europe

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

57. Kingston University

Kingston upon Thames

For Optical Engineering

#74 in the United Kingdom

#531 in Europe

Founded: 1992

58. University of the West of England

Bristol

For Optical Engineering

#75 in the United Kingdom

#533 in Europe

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

59. University of Brighton

Brighton

For Optical Engineering

#76 in the United Kingdom

#548 in Europe

Founded: 1992

60. University of Westminster

London

For Optical Engineering

#77 in the United Kingdom

#552 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

61. London South Bank University

London

For Optical Engineering

#78 in the United Kingdom

#562 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

62. Middlesex University

London

For Optical Engineering

#79 in the United Kingdom

#563 in Europe

Founded: 1973

63. Bournemouth University

Poole

For Optical Engineering

#80 in the United Kingdom

#569 in Europe

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

64. University of Derby

Derby

For Optical Engineering

#81 in the United Kingdom

#573 in Europe

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

65. University of Lincoln

Lincoln

For Optical Engineering

#82 in the United Kingdom

#578 in Europe

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

66. Anglia Ruskin University

Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#84 in the United Kingdom

#588 in Europe

Founded: 1858

67. University of Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton

For Optical Engineering

#85 in the United Kingdom

#607 in Europe

Founded: 1992

68. Royal Veterinary College University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#86 in the United Kingdom

#608 in Europe

Founded: 1791

69. Leeds Beckett University

Leeds

For Optical Engineering

#89 in the United Kingdom

#635 in Europe

Founded: 1992

70. Teesside University

Middlesbrough

For Optical Engineering

#90 in the United Kingdom

#638 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

71. London Metropolitan University

London

For Optical Engineering

#91 in the United Kingdom

#654 in Europe

Founded: 1848

72. Royal Agricultural University

Cirencester

For Optical Engineering

#92 in the United Kingdom

#690 in Europe

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

73. Goldsmiths, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#93 in the United Kingdom

#693 in Europe

Founded: 1904

74. University of Bedfordshire

Luton

For Optical Engineering

#94 in the United Kingdom

#694 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

75. University of Sunderland

Sunderland

For Optical Engineering

#95 in the United Kingdom

#699 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

76. Staffordshire University

Stoke-on-Trent

For Optical Engineering

#96 in the United Kingdom

#723 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

77. University of Bolton

Bolton

For Optical Engineering

#98 in the United Kingdom

#740 in Europe

Founded: 2004

78. London Business School

London

For Optical Engineering

#99 in the United Kingdom

#743 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

79. University of East London

London

For Optical Engineering

#101 in the United Kingdom

#788 in Europe

Founded: 1992

80. University of West London

Ealing

For Optical Engineering

#103 in the United Kingdom

#802 in Europe

Founded: 1990

81. University of Northampton

Northampton

For Optical Engineering

#104 in the United Kingdom

#809 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

82. University of Roehampton

London

For Optical Engineering

#105 in the United Kingdom

#812 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

83. University of Chester

Chester

For Optical Engineering

#106 in the United Kingdom

#840 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

84. Canterbury Christ Church University

Canterbury

For Optical Engineering

#107 in the United Kingdom

#855 in Europe

Founded: 2005

85. University of Gloucestershire

Cheltenham

For Optical Engineering

#108 in the United Kingdom

#880 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

86. Birmingham City University

Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#109 in the United Kingdom

#885 in Europe

Founded: 1992

87. Edge Hill University

Ormskirk

For Optical Engineering

#110 in the United Kingdom

#896 in Europe

Founded: 2006

88. SOAS, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#111 in the United Kingdom

#901 in Europe

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

89. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#113 in the United Kingdom

#920 in Europe

Founded: 1932

90. University of Worcester

Worcester

For Optical Engineering

#114 in the United Kingdom

#943 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 89%
Enrollment: 10,798
Founded: 2005

91. Liverpool Hope University

Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#115 in the United Kingdom

#947 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

92. University of Winchester

Winchester

For Optical Engineering

#116 in the United Kingdom

#948 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

93. University of Chichester

Chichester

For Optical Engineering

#118 in the United Kingdom

#969 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

94. University of Buckingham

Buckingham

For Optical Engineering

#120 in the United Kingdom

#1054 in Europe

Founded: 1973

95. Royal College of Art

London

For Optical Engineering

#121 in the United Kingdom

#1066 in Europe

Founded: 1896

96. University of Cumbria

Carlisle

For Optical Engineering

#122 in the United Kingdom

#1067 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Founded: 2007

97. Solent University

Southampton

For Optical Engineering

#123 in the United Kingdom

#1082 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Enrollment: 11,340
Founded: 2004

98. Bath Spa University

Bath

For Optical Engineering

#124 in the United Kingdom

#1084 in Europe

Enrollment: 6,863
Founded: 1975

99. Buckinghamshire New University

High Wycombe

For Optical Engineering

#125 in the United Kingdom

#1085 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2007

100. University of the Arts London

London

For Optical Engineering

#126 in the United Kingdom

#1092 in Europe

Founded: 1986

Closest to England states to learn Optical Engineering

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wales	10	25
Scotland	17	8

Engineering subfields in England

Acoustical Engineering112

Aerospace Engineering97

Agricultural Engineering27

Applied/Engineering Physics53

Architectural Engineering76

Architecture71

Automation and Control engineering59

Automotive Engineering72

Aviation59

Biochemical Engineering50

Biomedical Engineering65

Biotechnology82

Chemical Engineering90

Civil Engineering95

Computer Engineering69

Computer Networking96

Construction Management64

Electrical Engineering99

Electronic Engineering81

Engineering Management72

Environmental Engineering73

Firefighting and Fire Science39

Geotechnical Engineering87

Human-Computer Interaction92

Industrial Engineering51

Landscape Architecture56

Marine Engineering48

Materials Science106

Mechanical Engineering106

Metallurgical Engineering96

Mining Engineering33

Nanotechnology83

Nuclear Engineering42

Operations Research74

Petroleum Engineering53

Polymer science and Plastics engineering43

Product and Industrial Design56

Reliability and Quality Engineering71

Remote Sensing65

Renewable Energy Engineering68

Robotics58

Structural Engineering96

Systems Engineering91

Technical Drawing46

Telecommunications98

Transportation Engineering67