100 Best universities for Optical Engineering in the United Kingdom

Updated: March 02, 2025

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 27.7M citations received by 754K 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

#9 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

#21 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

#54 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

7. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Optical Engineering

#27 in Europe

#127 in the World

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

8. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Optical Engineering

#29 in Europe

#131 in the World

Founded: 1451

9. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Optical Engineering

#32 in Europe

#138 in the World

Founded: 1905

10. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Optical Engineering

#34 in Europe

#140 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

11. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Optical Engineering

#40 in Europe

#153 in the World

Founded: 1948

12. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Optical Engineering

#45 in Europe

#166 in the World

Founded: 1904

13. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#46 in Europe

#168 in the World

Founded: 1900

14. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#60 in Europe

#206 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

15. Durham University

England | Durham

For Optical Engineering

#61 in Europe

#207 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

16. King's College London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#68 in Europe

#222 in the World

Founded: 1829

17. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Optical Engineering

#84 in Europe

#252 in the World

Founded: 1964

18. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Optical Engineering

#88 in Europe

#260 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

19. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Optical Engineering

#90 in Europe

#269 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

#94 in Europe

#276 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

21. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Optical Engineering

#95 in Europe

#277 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

22. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#96 in Europe

#281 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

23. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Optical Engineering

#98 in Europe

#284 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

24. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Optical Engineering

#111 in Europe

#310 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

25. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Optical Engineering

#117 in Europe

#320 in the World

Founded: 1997

26. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Optical Engineering

#128 in Europe

#350 in the World

Founded: 1966

27. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Optical Engineering

#130 in Europe

#353 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

28. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Optical Engineering

#133 in Europe

#356 in the World

Founded: 1963

29. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Optical Engineering

#141 in Europe

#372 in the World

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

30. University of York

England | York

For Optical Engineering

#148 in Europe

#390 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

31. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Optical Engineering

#155 in Europe

#405 in the World

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

32. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Optical Engineering

#161 in Europe

#414 in the World

Founded: 1892

33. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Optical Engineering

#173 in Europe

#436 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

34. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Optical Engineering

#175 in Europe

#440 in the World

Founded: 1895

35. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Optical Engineering

#189 in Europe

#482 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

36. University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#193 in Europe

#490 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

37. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Optical Engineering

#209 in Europe

#554 in the World

Founded: 1495

38. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Optical Engineering

#213 in Europe

#561 in the World

Founded: 1893

39. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Optical Engineering

#215 in Europe

#564 in the World

Founded: 1964

40. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Optical Engineering

#216 in Europe

#568 in the World

Founded: 1965

41. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Optical Engineering

#222 in Europe

#591 in the World

Founded: 1920

42. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Optical Engineering

#226 in Europe

#609 in the World

Founded: 1967

43. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Optical Engineering

#229 in Europe

#613 in the World

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

44. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Optical Engineering

#243 in Europe

#650 in the World

Founded: 1968

45. City, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#248 in Europe

#674 in the World

Founded: 1966

46. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Optical Engineering

#255 in Europe

#699 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

47. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Optical Engineering

#265 in Europe

#715 in the World

Founded: 1954

48. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Optical Engineering

#266 in Europe

#716 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

49. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Optical Engineering

#294 in Europe

#780 in the World

Founded: 1967

50. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Optical Engineering

#296 in Europe

#784 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

51. Keele University

England | Keele

For Optical Engineering

#313 in Europe

#837 in the World

Founded: 1962

52. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Optical Engineering

#325 in Europe

#883 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

53. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#352 in Europe

#963 in the World

Founded: 1823

54. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Optical Engineering

#362 in Europe

#995 in the World

Founded: 1992

55. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Optical Engineering

#370 in Europe

#1028 in the World

Founded: 1872

56. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Optical Engineering

#372 in Europe

#1035 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

57. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Optical Engineering

#373 in Europe

#1044 in the World

Founded: 1849

58. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Optical Engineering

#378 in Europe

#1069 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

59. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Optical Engineering

#384 in Europe

#1097 in the World

Founded: 1992

60. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#387 in Europe

#1110 in the World

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

61. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#389 in Europe

#1121 in the World

Founded: 1733

62. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Optical Engineering

#408 in Europe

#1201 in the World

Founded: 1992

63. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Optical Engineering

#417 in Europe

#1233 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

64. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Optical Engineering

#422 in Europe

#1271 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

65. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Optical Engineering

#430 in Europe

#1287 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

66. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Optical Engineering

#439 in Europe

#1317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

67. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Optical Engineering

#451 in Europe

#1363 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

68. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#454 in Europe

#1380 in the World

Founded: 1890

69. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Optical Engineering

#481 in Europe

#1505 in the World

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

70. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Optical Engineering

#488 in Europe

#1537 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

71. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Optical Engineering

#493 in Europe

#1568 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

72. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Optical Engineering

#502 in Europe

#1605 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

73. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Optical Engineering

#510 in Europe

#1656 in the World

Founded: 1841

74. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Optical Engineering

#528 in Europe

#1768 in the World

Founded: 1992

75. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Optical Engineering

#534 in Europe

#1784 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

76. University of Westminster

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#543 in Europe

#1811 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

77. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Optical Engineering

#547 in Europe

#1819 in the World

Founded: 1992

78. Middlesex University

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#561 in Europe

#1867 in the World

Founded: 1973

79. London South Bank University

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#563 in Europe

#1869 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

80. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Optical Engineering

#571 in Europe

#1903 in the World

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

81. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Optical Engineering

#572 in Europe

#1912 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

82. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Optical Engineering

#576 in Europe

#1930 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

83. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Optical Engineering

#578 in Europe

#1939 in the World

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

84. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Optical Engineering

#596 in Europe

#2024 in the World

Founded: 1858

85. Royal Veterinary College University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#603 in Europe

#2062 in the World

Founded: 1791

86. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Optical Engineering

#605 in Europe

#2070 in the World

Founded: 1992

87. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Optical Engineering

#624 in Europe

#2137 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

88. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Optical Engineering

#626 in Europe

#2151 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

89. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Optical Engineering

#636 in Europe

#2201 in the World

Founded: 1992

90. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Optical Engineering

#637 in Europe

#2203 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

91. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#655 in Europe

#2284 in the World

Founded: 1848

92. Royal Agricultural University

England | Cirencester

For Optical Engineering

#679 in Europe

#2418 in the World

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

93. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Optical Engineering

#683 in Europe

#2428 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

94. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#692 in Europe

#2475 in the World

Founded: 1904

95. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Optical Engineering

#697 in Europe

#2505 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

96. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Optical Engineering

#716 in Europe

#2612 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

97. Abertay University

Scotland | Dundee

For Optical Engineering

#730 in Europe

#2690 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1994

98. University of Bolton

England | Bolton

For Optical Engineering

#738 in Europe

#2726 in the World

Founded: 2004

99. London Business School

England | London

For Optical Engineering

#741 in Europe

#2741 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

100. Wrexham Glyndwr University

Wales | Wrexham

For Optical Engineering

#762 in Europe

#2818 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.