100 Best universities for Optical Engineering in England

Updated: February 29, 2024

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 17.4M citations received by 560K 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

#9 in Europe

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

7. University of Bristol

Bristol

For Optical Engineering

#7 in the United Kingdom

#22 in Europe

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

8. University of Sheffield

Sheffield

For Optical Engineering

#8 in the United Kingdom

#24 in Europe

Founded: 1905

9. University of Nottingham

Nottingham

For Optical Engineering

#11 in the United Kingdom

#40 in Europe

Founded: 1948

10. University of Leeds

Leeds

For Optical Engineering

#12 in the United Kingdom

#44 in Europe

Founded: 1904

11. University of Birmingham

Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#13 in the United Kingdom

#51 in Europe

Founded: 1900

12. Durham University

Durham

For Optical Engineering

#14 in the United Kingdom

#61 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

13. University of Liverpool

Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#15 in the United Kingdom

#63 in Europe

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

14. King's College London

London

For Optical Engineering

#17 in the United Kingdom

#71 in Europe

Founded: 1829

15. University of Bath

Bath

For Optical Engineering

#19 in the United Kingdom

#88 in Europe

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

16. Queen Mary University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#21 in the United Kingdom

#99 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

17. University of Warwick

Coventry

For Optical Engineering

#22 in the United Kingdom

#100 in Europe

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

18. University of Exeter

Exeter

For Optical Engineering

#23 in the United Kingdom

#104 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

19. University of Surrey

Guildford

For Optical Engineering

#24 in the United Kingdom

#111 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

20. Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Optical Engineering

#26 in the United Kingdom

#124 in Europe

Founded: 1963

21. Loughborough University

Loughborough

For Optical Engineering

#28 in the United Kingdom

#135 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

22. University of Sussex

Brighton

For Optical Engineering

#29 in the United Kingdom

#137 in Europe

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

23. University of York

York

For Optical Engineering

#30 in the United Kingdom

#147 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

24. University of Leicester

Leicester

For Optical Engineering

#31 in the United Kingdom

#154 in Europe

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

25. University of Reading

Reading

For Optical Engineering

#32 in the United Kingdom

#159 in Europe

Founded: 1892

26. Aston University

Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#33 in the United Kingdom

#171 in Europe

Founded: 1895

27. Lancaster University

Lancaster

For Optical Engineering

#34 in the United Kingdom

#172 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

28. University of East Anglia

Norwich

For Optical Engineering

#35 in the United Kingdom

#194 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

29. University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#37 in the United Kingdom

#206 in Europe

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

30. University of Essex

Colchester

For Optical Engineering

#39 in the United Kingdom

#212 in Europe

Founded: 1964

31. University of Kent

Canterbury

For Optical Engineering

#40 in the United Kingdom

#213 in Europe

Founded: 1965

32. Cranfield University

Cranfield

For Optical Engineering

#42 in the United Kingdom

#228 in Europe

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

33. City, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#45 in the United Kingdom

#249 in Europe

Founded: 1966

34. University of Hull

Kingston upon Hull

For Optical Engineering

#46 in the United Kingdom

#254 in Europe

Founded: 1954

35. University of Bradford

Bradford

For Optical Engineering

#47 in the United Kingdom

#258 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

36. Brunel University London

Uxbridge

For Optical Engineering

#48 in the United Kingdom

#286 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

37. University of Salford

Salford

For Optical Engineering

#49 in the United Kingdom

#294 in Europe

Founded: 1967

38. Keele University

Keele

For Optical Engineering

#51 in the United Kingdom

#320 in Europe

Founded: 1962

39. University of Portsmouth

Portsmouth

For Optical Engineering

#52 in the United Kingdom

#330 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

40. Birkbeck, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#54 in the United Kingdom

#364 in Europe

Founded: 1823

41. Royal Holloway, University of London

Egham

For Optical Engineering

#55 in the United Kingdom

#365 in Europe

Founded: 1849

42. Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Optical Engineering

#56 in the United Kingdom

#369 in Europe

Founded: 1992

43. University of Plymouth

Plymouth

For Optical Engineering

#57 in the United Kingdom

#372 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

44. Liverpool John Moores University

Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#58 in the United Kingdom

#382 in Europe

Founded: 1992

45. St George's, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#59 in the United Kingdom

#384 in Europe

Founded: 1733

46. University of Hertfordshire

Hatfield

For Optical Engineering

#60 in the United Kingdom

#385 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

47. London School of Economics and Political Science

London

For Optical Engineering

#61 in the United Kingdom

#397 in Europe

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

48. Nottingham Trent University

Nottingham

For Optical Engineering

#62 in the United Kingdom

#415 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

49. Manchester Metropolitan University

Manchester

For Optical Engineering

#63 in the United Kingdom

#417 in Europe

Founded: 1992

50. De Montfort University

Leicester

For Optical Engineering

#64 in the United Kingdom

#424 in Europe

Founded: 1992

51. Sheffield Hallam University

Sheffield

For Optical Engineering

#65 in the United Kingdom

#425 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

52. University of Huddersfield

Huddersfield

For Optical Engineering

#67 in the United Kingdom

#451 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

53. University of Greenwich

London

For Optical Engineering

#68 in the United Kingdom

#452 in Europe

Founded: 1890

54. University of Central Lancashire

Preston

For Optical Engineering

#70 in the United Kingdom

#482 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

55. Oxford Brookes University

Oxford

For Optical Engineering

#71 in the United Kingdom

#490 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

56. Coventry University

Coventry

For Optical Engineering

#73 in the United Kingdom

#505 in Europe

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

57. Kingston University

Kingston upon Thames

For Optical Engineering

#74 in the United Kingdom

#534 in Europe

Founded: 1992

58. University of Brighton

Brighton

For Optical Engineering

#75 in the United Kingdom

#538 in Europe

Founded: 1992

59. London South Bank University

London

For Optical Engineering

#76 in the United Kingdom

#541 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

60. University of the West of England

Bristol

For Optical Engineering

#77 in the United Kingdom

#545 in Europe

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

61. University of Westminster

London

For Optical Engineering

#78 in the United Kingdom

#546 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

62. University of Derby

Derby

For Optical Engineering

#79 in the United Kingdom

#554 in Europe

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

63. Middlesex University

London

For Optical Engineering

#80 in the United Kingdom

#560 in Europe

Founded: 1973

64. Bournemouth University

Poole

For Optical Engineering

#82 in the United Kingdom

#570 in Europe

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

65. University of Lincoln

Lincoln

For Optical Engineering

#83 in the United Kingdom

#574 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

66. Royal Veterinary College University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#84 in the United Kingdom

#586 in Europe

Founded: 1791

67. Anglia Ruskin University

Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#85 in the United Kingdom

#590 in Europe

Founded: 1858

68. University of Wolverhampton

Wolverhampton

For Optical Engineering

#87 in the United Kingdom

#619 in Europe

Founded: 1992

69. Teesside University

Middlesbrough

For Optical Engineering

#89 in the United Kingdom

#627 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

70. Royal Agricultural University

Cirencester

For Optical Engineering

#90 in the United Kingdom

#638 in Europe

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

71. London Metropolitan University

London

For Optical Engineering

#91 in the United Kingdom

#650 in Europe

Founded: 1848

72. Goldsmiths, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#92 in the United Kingdom

#672 in Europe

Founded: 1904

73. Leeds Beckett University

Leeds

For Optical Engineering

#93 in the United Kingdom

#679 in Europe

Founded: 1992

74. University of Bedfordshire

Luton

For Optical Engineering

#94 in the United Kingdom

#690 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

75. University of Sunderland

Sunderland

For Optical Engineering

#95 in the United Kingdom

#693 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

76. Staffordshire University

Stoke-on-Trent

For Optical Engineering

#96 in the United Kingdom

#719 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

77. University of Bolton

Bolton

For Optical Engineering

#97 in the United Kingdom

#720 in Europe

Founded: 2004

78. London Business School

London

For Optical Engineering

#100 in the United Kingdom

#729 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

79. University of West London

Ealing

For Optical Engineering

#101 in the United Kingdom

#766 in Europe

Founded: 1990

80. University of Northampton

Northampton

For Optical Engineering

#102 in the United Kingdom

#794 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

81. University of East London

London

For Optical Engineering

#103 in the United Kingdom

#800 in Europe

Founded: 1992

82. University of Roehampton

London

For Optical Engineering

#104 in the United Kingdom

#803 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

83. University of Chester

Chester

For Optical Engineering

#106 in the United Kingdom

#841 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

84. Canterbury Christ Church University

Canterbury

For Optical Engineering

#107 in the United Kingdom

#858 in Europe

Founded: 2005

85. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#108 in the United Kingdom

#870 in Europe

Founded: 1932

86. Birmingham City University

Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#110 in the United Kingdom

#888 in Europe

Founded: 1992

87. Edge Hill University

Ormskirk

For Optical Engineering

#111 in the United Kingdom

#905 in Europe

Founded: 2006

88. University of Gloucestershire

Cheltenham

For Optical Engineering

#112 in the United Kingdom

#908 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

89. Liverpool Hope University

Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#113 in the United Kingdom

#912 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

90. University of Worcester

Worcester

For Optical Engineering

#114 in the United Kingdom

#914 in Europe

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

91. SOAS, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#115 in the United Kingdom

#962 in Europe

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

92. University of Chichester

Chichester

For Optical Engineering

#117 in the United Kingdom

#987 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

93. Royal College of Art

London

For Optical Engineering

#119 in the United Kingdom

#1014 in Europe

Founded: 1896

94. University of Cumbria

Carlisle

For Optical Engineering

#120 in the United Kingdom

#1031 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Founded: 2007

95. University of Buckingham

Buckingham

For Optical Engineering

#121 in the United Kingdom

#1050 in Europe

Founded: 1973

96. University of Winchester

Winchester

For Optical Engineering

#122 in the United Kingdom

#1051 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

97. Buckinghamshire New University

High Wycombe

For Optical Engineering

#123 in the United Kingdom

#1067 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2007

98. University of the Arts London

London

For Optical Engineering

#124 in the United Kingdom

#1080 in Europe

Founded: 1986

99. Bath Spa University

Bath

For Optical Engineering

#125 in the United Kingdom

#1084 in Europe

Enrollment: 6,863
Founded: 1975

100. School of Advanced Study, University of London

London

For Optical Engineering

#127 in the United Kingdom

#1090 in Europe

Founded: 1994

Closest to England states to learn Optical Engineering

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wales	10	25
Scotland	16	9

Engineering subfields in England

Acoustical Engineering110

Aerospace Engineering97

Agricultural Engineering28

Applied/Engineering Physics51

Architectural Engineering73

Architecture69

Automation and Control engineering58

Automotive Engineering67

Aviation64

Biochemical Engineering45

Biomedical Engineering60

Biotechnology79

Chemical Engineering88

Civil Engineering92

Computer Engineering68

Computer Networking96

Construction Management62

Electrical Engineering97

Electronic Engineering81

Engineering Management67

Environmental Engineering66

Firefighting and Fire Science43

Geotechnical Engineering85

Human-Computer Interaction91

Industrial Engineering55

Landscape Architecture60

Marine Engineering48

Materials Science106

Mechanical Engineering105

Metallurgical Engineering93

Mining Engineering35

Nanotechnology81

Nuclear Engineering39

Operations Research73

Petroleum Engineering47

Polymer science and Plastics engineering46

Product and Industrial Design58

Reliability and Quality Engineering69

Remote Sensing63

Renewable Energy Engineering63

Robotics56

Structural Engineering92

Systems Engineering90

Technical Drawing45

Telecommunications97

Transportation Engineering67