100 Best universities for Optical 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 Optical Engineering. A graph of 28.9M citations received by 765K academic papers made by 132 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 Optical Engineering

#1 in Europe

#8 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Optical Engineering

#2 in Europe

#16 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. University College London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#3 in Europe

#19 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

4. Imperial College London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#4 in Europe

#20 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Optical Engineering

#8 in Europe

#52 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Optical Engineering

#10 in Europe

#55 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

7. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Optical Engineering

#27 in Europe

#129 in the World

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

8. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Optical Engineering

#28 in Europe

#131 in the World

Founded: 1451

9. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Optical Engineering

#32 in Europe

#141 in the World

Founded: 1905

10. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Optical Engineering

#34 in Europe

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

11. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Optical Engineering

#41 in Europe

#155 in the World

Founded: 1948

12. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Optical Engineering

#46 in Europe

#169 in the World

Founded: 1904

13. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#47 in Europe

#170 in the World

Founded: 1900

14. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#60 in Europe

#209 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

15. Durham University

England | Durham

For Optical Engineering

#61 in Europe

#210 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

16. King's College London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#68 in Europe

#223 in the World

Founded: 1829

17. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Optical Engineering

#84 in Europe

#253 in the World

Founded: 1964

18. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Optical Engineering

#88 in Europe

#262 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

19. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Optical Engineering

#89 in Europe

#267 in the World

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

20. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Optical Engineering

#94 in Europe

#277 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

21. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Optical Engineering

#95 in Europe

#278 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

22. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#97 in Europe

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

23. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Optical Engineering

#98 in Europe

#288 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

24. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Optical Engineering

#114 in Europe

#316 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

25. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Optical Engineering

#116 in Europe

#324 in the World

Founded: 1997

26. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Optical Engineering

#128 in Europe

#354 in the World

Founded: 1966

27. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Optical Engineering

#130 in Europe

#356 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

28. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Optical Engineering

#131 in Europe

#357 in the World

Founded: 1963

29. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Optical Engineering

#142 in Europe

#378 in the World

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

30. University of York

England | York

For Optical Engineering

#149 in Europe

#395 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

31. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Optical Engineering

#159 in Europe

#413 in the World

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

32. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Optical Engineering

#164 in Europe

#424 in the World

Founded: 1892

33. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Optical Engineering

#174 in Europe

#442 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

34. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#177 in Europe

#446 in the World

Founded: 1895

35. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Optical Engineering

#189 in Europe

#488 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

36. University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#195 in Europe

#511 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

37. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Optical Engineering

#209 in Europe

#561 in the World

Founded: 1495

38. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Optical Engineering

#215 in Europe

#576 in the World

Founded: 1964

39. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Optical Engineering

#216 in Europe

#579 in the World

Founded: 1965

40. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Optical Engineering

#217 in Europe

#580 in the World

Founded: 1893

41. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Optical Engineering

#223 in Europe

#596 in the World

Founded: 1920

42. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Optical Engineering

#229 in Europe

#618 in the World

Founded: 1967

43. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Optical Engineering

#230 in Europe

#619 in the World

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

44. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Optical Engineering

#244 in Europe

#657 in the World

Founded: 1968

45. City, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#248 in Europe

#686 in the World

Founded: 1966

46. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Optical Engineering

#263 in Europe

#712 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

47. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Optical Engineering

#267 in Europe

#725 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

48. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Optical Engineering

#269 in Europe

#732 in the World

Founded: 1954

49. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Optical Engineering

#298 in Europe

#799 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

50. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Optical Engineering

#301 in Europe

#803 in the World

Founded: 1967

51. Keele University

England | Keele

For Optical Engineering

#313 in Europe

#845 in the World

Founded: 1962

52. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Optical Engineering

#323 in Europe

#881 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

53. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#357 in Europe

#982 in the World

Founded: 1823

54. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Optical Engineering

#360 in Europe

#988 in the World

Founded: 1992

55. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Optical Engineering

#370 in Europe

#1035 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

56. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Optical Engineering

#371 in Europe

#1050 in the World

Founded: 1872

57. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Optical Engineering

#374 in Europe

#1063 in the World

Founded: 1849

58. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Optical Engineering

#381 in Europe

#1082 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

59. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#385 in Europe

#1106 in the World

Founded: 1992

60. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#388 in Europe

#1125 in the World

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

61. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#390 in Europe

#1129 in the World

Founded: 1733

62. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Optical Engineering

#406 in Europe

#1203 in the World

Founded: 1992

63. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Optical Engineering

#412 in Europe

#1227 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

64. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Optical Engineering

#426 in Europe

#1289 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

65. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Optical Engineering

#432 in Europe

#1306 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

66. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Optical Engineering

#441 in Europe

#1331 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

67. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Optical Engineering

#450 in Europe

#1361 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

68. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#453 in Europe

#1388 in the World

Founded: 1890

69. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Optical Engineering

#483 in Europe

#1521 in the World

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

70. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Optical Engineering

#490 in Europe

#1551 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

71. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Optical Engineering

#497 in Europe

#1586 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

72. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Optical Engineering

#500 in Europe

#1603 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

73. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Optical Engineering

#512 in Europe

#1677 in the World

Founded: 1841

74. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Optical Engineering

#531 in Europe

#1784 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Optical Engineering

#533 in Europe

#1791 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

76. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Optical Engineering

#548 in Europe

#1833 in the World

Founded: 1992

77. University of Westminster

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#552 in Europe

#1844 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

78. London South Bank University

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#562 in Europe

#1887 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

79. Middlesex University

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#563 in Europe

#1893 in the World

Founded: 1973

80. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Optical Engineering

#569 in Europe

#1908 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

81. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Optical Engineering

#573 in Europe

#1926 in the World

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

82. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Optical Engineering

#578 in Europe

#1945 in the World

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

83. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Optical Engineering

#581 in Europe

#1958 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

84. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#588 in Europe

#2002 in the World

Founded: 1858

85. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Optical Engineering

#607 in Europe

#2081 in the World

Founded: 1992

86. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#608 in Europe

#2085 in the World

Founded: 1791

87. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Optical Engineering

#624 in Europe

#2158 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

88. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Optical Engineering

#630 in Europe

#2187 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

89. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Optical Engineering

#635 in Europe

#2198 in the World

Founded: 1992

90. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Optical Engineering

#638 in Europe

#2209 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

91. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#654 in Europe

#2296 in the World

Founded: 1848

92. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Optical Engineering

#690 in Europe

#2467 in the World

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

93. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#693 in Europe

#2488 in the World

Founded: 1904

94. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Optical Engineering

#694 in Europe

#2489 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

95. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Optical Engineering

#699 in Europe

#2519 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

96. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Optical Engineering

#723 in Europe

#2665 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

97. Abertay University

Scotland | Dundee

For Optical Engineering

#737 in Europe

#2726 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

98. University of Bolton

England | Bolton

For Optical Engineering

#740 in Europe

#2743 in the World

Founded: 2004

99. London Business School

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#743 in Europe

#2768 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

100. Wrexham Glyndwr University

Wales | Wrexham

For Optical Engineering

#765 in Europe

#2836 in the World

Founded: 2008

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