100 Best universities for Optical 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 Optical Engineering. A graph of 20.8M citations received by 681K academic papers made by 131 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

#15 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

#49 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Optical Engineering

#9 in Europe

#54 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

7. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Optical Engineering

#22 in Europe

#116 in the World

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

8. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Optical Engineering

#24 in Europe

#123 in the World

Founded: 1905

9. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Optical Engineering

#30 in Europe

#132 in the World

Founded: 1451

10. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Optical Engineering

#36 in Europe

#143 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

11. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Optical Engineering

#40 in Europe

#152 in the World

Founded: 1948

12. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Optical Engineering

#44 in Europe

#161 in the World

Founded: 1904

13. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#51 in Europe

#171 in the World

Founded: 1900

14. Durham University

England | Durham

For Optical Engineering

#61 in Europe

#207 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

15. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#63 in Europe

#210 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

16. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Optical Engineering

#69 in Europe

#221 in the World

Founded: 1964

17. King's College London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#71 in Europe

#224 in the World

Founded: 1829

18. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Optical Engineering

#87 in Europe

#257 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

19. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Optical Engineering

#88 in Europe

#258 in the World

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

20. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Optical Engineering

#95 in Europe

#270 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

21. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#99 in Europe

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

22. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Optical Engineering

#100 in Europe

#288 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

23. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Optical Engineering

#104 in Europe

#296 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

24. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Optical Engineering

#111 in Europe

#311 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

25. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Optical Engineering

#122 in Europe

#336 in the World

Founded: 1997

26. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Optical Engineering

#124 in Europe

#342 in the World

Founded: 1963

27. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Optical Engineering

#130 in Europe

#350 in the World

Founded: 1966

28. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Optical Engineering

#135 in Europe

#360 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

29. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Optical Engineering

#137 in Europe

#363 in the World

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

30. University of York

England | York

For Optical Engineering

#147 in Europe

#385 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

31. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Optical Engineering

#154 in Europe

#399 in the World

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

32. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Optical Engineering

#159 in Europe

#406 in the World

Founded: 1892

33. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#171 in Europe

#435 in the World

Founded: 1895

34. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Optical Engineering

#172 in Europe

#437 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

35. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Optical Engineering

#194 in Europe

#485 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

36. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Optical Engineering

#196 in Europe

#491 in the World

Founded: 1893

37. University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#206 in Europe

#526 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

38. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Optical Engineering

#210 in Europe

#540 in the World

Founded: 1495

39. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Optical Engineering

#212 in Europe

#543 in the World

Founded: 1964

40. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Optical Engineering

#213 in Europe

#548 in the World

Founded: 1965

41. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Optical Engineering

#224 in Europe

#598 in the World

Founded: 1920

42. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Optical Engineering

#228 in Europe

#614 in the World

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

43. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Optical Engineering

#234 in Europe

#622 in the World

Founded: 1967

44. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Optical Engineering

#240 in Europe

#632 in the World

Founded: 1968

45. City, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#249 in Europe

#655 in the World

Founded: 1966

46. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Optical Engineering

#254 in Europe

#667 in the World

Founded: 1954

47. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Optical Engineering

#258 in Europe

#678 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

48. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Optical Engineering

#286 in Europe

#750 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

49. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Optical Engineering

#294 in Europe

#768 in the World

Founded: 1967

50. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Optical Engineering

#299 in Europe

#786 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

51. Keele University

England | Keele

For Optical Engineering

#320 in Europe

#835 in the World

Founded: 1962

52. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Optical Engineering

#330 in Europe

#877 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

53. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Optical Engineering

#363 in Europe

#995 in the World

Founded: 1872

54. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#364 in Europe

#997 in the World

Founded: 1823

55. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Optical Engineering

#365 in Europe

#1005 in the World

Founded: 1849

56. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Optical Engineering

#369 in Europe

#1027 in the World

Founded: 1992

57. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Optical Engineering

#372 in Europe

#1039 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

58. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#382 in Europe

#1086 in the World

Founded: 1992

59. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#384 in Europe

#1092 in the World

Founded: 1733

60. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Optical Engineering

#385 in Europe

#1094 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

61. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#397 in Europe

#1144 in the World

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

62. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Optical Engineering

#415 in Europe

#1215 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

63. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Optical Engineering

#417 in Europe

#1227 in the World

Founded: 1992

64. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Optical Engineering

#424 in Europe

#1256 in the World

Founded: 1992

65. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Optical Engineering

#425 in Europe

#1257 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

66. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Optical Engineering

#426 in Europe

#1259 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

67. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Optical Engineering

#451 in Europe

#1352 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

68. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#452 in Europe

#1366 in the World

Founded: 1890

69. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Optical Engineering

#471 in Europe

#1445 in the World

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

70. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Optical Engineering

#482 in Europe

#1511 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

71. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Optical Engineering

#490 in Europe

#1540 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

72. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Optical Engineering

#496 in Europe

#1579 in the World

Founded: 1841

73. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Optical Engineering

#505 in Europe

#1626 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

74. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Optical Engineering

#534 in Europe

#1776 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Optical Engineering

#538 in Europe

#1788 in the World

Founded: 1992

76. London South Bank University

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#541 in Europe

#1791 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

77. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Optical Engineering

#545 in Europe

#1807 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

78. University of Westminster

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#546 in Europe

#1808 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

79. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Optical Engineering

#554 in Europe

#1836 in the World

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

80. Middlesex University

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#560 in Europe

#1849 in the World

Founded: 1973

81. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Optical Engineering

#565 in Europe

#1874 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

82. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Optical Engineering

#570 in Europe

#1885 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

83. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Optical Engineering

#574 in Europe

#1898 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

84. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#586 in Europe

#1960 in the World

Founded: 1791

85. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#590 in Europe

#1978 in the World

Founded: 1858

86. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Optical Engineering

#613 in Europe

#2069 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

87. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Optical Engineering

#619 in Europe

#2090 in the World

Founded: 1992

88. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Optical Engineering

#624 in Europe

#2118 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

89. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Optical Engineering

#627 in Europe

#2121 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

90. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Optical Engineering

#638 in Europe

#2153 in the World

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

91. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#650 in Europe

#2216 in the World

Founded: 1848

92. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#672 in Europe

#2325 in the World

Founded: 1904

93. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Optical Engineering

#679 in Europe

#2367 in the World

Founded: 1992

94. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Optical Engineering

#690 in Europe

#2441 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

95. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Optical Engineering

#693 in Europe

#2470 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

96. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Optical Engineering

#719 in Europe

#2587 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

97. University of Bolton

England | Bolton

For Optical Engineering

#720 in Europe

#2592 in the World

Founded: 2004

98. Abertay University

Scotland | Dundee

For Optical Engineering

#722 in Europe

#2599 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

99. Wrexham Glyndwr University

Wales | Wrexham

For Optical Engineering

#726 in Europe

#2618 in the World

Founded: 2008

100. London Business School

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#729 in Europe

#2626 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

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.