100 Best universities for Systems 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 Systems Engineering. A graph of 4.51M citations received by 126K academic papers made by 114 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 College London

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#1 in Europe

#9 in the World

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

2. University of Cambridge

England | Cambridge

For Systems Engineering

#4 in Europe

#15 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

3. Imperial College London

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#5 in Europe

#25 in the World

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. University of Oxford

England | Oxford

For Systems Engineering

#8 in Europe

#28 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

5. University of Manchester

England | Manchester

For Systems Engineering

#12 in Europe

#44 in the World

Founded: 1824

6. University of Edinburgh

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Systems Engineering

#13 in Europe

#45 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 51%
Founded: 1583

7. University of Sheffield

England | Sheffield

For Systems Engineering

#14 in Europe

#56 in the World

Founded: 1905

8. University of Nottingham

England | Nottingham

For Systems Engineering

#18 in Europe

#69 in the World

Founded: 1948

9. University of Southampton

England | Southampton

For Systems Engineering

#28 in Europe

#94 in the World

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

10. University of Birmingham

England | Birmingham

For Systems Engineering

#29 in Europe

#96 in the World

Founded: 1900

11. Loughborough University

England | Loughborough

For Systems Engineering

#30 in Europe

#99 in the World

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

12. University of Leeds

England | Leeds

For Systems Engineering

#38 in Europe

#126 in the World

Founded: 1904

13. Cranfield University

England | Cranfield

For Systems Engineering

#39 in Europe

#130 in the World

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

14. University of Warwick

England | Coventry

For Systems Engineering

#44 in Europe

#142 in the World

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

15. University of York

England | York

For Systems Engineering

#49 in Europe

#155 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

16. University of Bristol

England | Bristol

For Systems Engineering

#50 in Europe

#158 in the World

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

17. University of Glasgow

Scotland | Glasgow

For Systems Engineering

#54 in Europe

#169 in the World

Founded: 1451

18. University of Strathclyde

Scotland | Glasgow

For Systems Engineering

#58 in Europe

#180 in the World

Founded: 1964

19. Newcastle University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Systems Engineering

#60 in Europe

#185 in the World

Founded: 1963

20. Brunel University London

England | Uxbridge

For Systems Engineering

#64 in Europe

#193 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

21. Lancaster University

England | Lancaster

For Systems Engineering

#73 in Europe

#207 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

22. Cardiff University

Wales | Cardiff

For Systems Engineering

#77 in Europe

#213 in the World

Founded: 1997

23. King's College London

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#88 in Europe

#236 in the World

Founded: 1829

24. University of Sussex

England | Brighton

For Systems Engineering

#101 in Europe

#277 in the World

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

25. University of Liverpool

England | Liverpool

For Systems Engineering

#102 in Europe

#278 in the World

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

26. University of Aberdeen

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Systems Engineering

#103 in Europe

#279 in the World

Founded: 1495

27. University of Surrey

England | Guildford

For Systems Engineering

#107 in Europe

#288 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

28. University of Exeter

England | Exeter

For Systems Engineering

#108 in Europe

#289 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

29. University of Bath

England | Bath

For Systems Engineering

#109 in Europe

#291 in the World

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

30. University of Essex

England | Colchester

For Systems Engineering

#126 in Europe

#329 in the World

Founded: 1964

31. Durham University

England | Durham

For Systems Engineering

#128 in Europe

#331 in the World

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

32. University of Reading

England | Reading

For Systems Engineering

#132 in Europe

#341 in the World

Founded: 1892

33. Aston University

England | Birmingham

For Systems Engineering

#145 in Europe

#376 in the World

Founded: 1895

34. University of Wales

Wales | Cardiff

For Systems Engineering

#146 in Europe

#377 in the World

Founded: 1893

35. Queen Mary University of London

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#149 in Europe

#385 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

36. University of Salford

England | Salford

For Systems Engineering

#150 in Europe

#391 in the World

Founded: 1967

37. City, University of London

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#155 in Europe

#402 in the World

Founded: 1966

38. Queen's University Belfast

Northern Ireland | Belfast

For Systems Engineering

#157 in Europe

#404 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 31%
Founded: 1849

39. University of St Andrews

Scotland | St Andrews

For Systems Engineering

#161 in Europe

#411 in the World

Enrollment: 10,425
Founded: 1413

40. London School of Economics and Political Science

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#162 in Europe

#415 in the World

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

41. Swansea University

Wales | Swansea

For Systems Engineering

#172 in Europe

#432 in the World

Founded: 1920

42. Heriot-Watt University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Systems Engineering

#175 in Europe

#439 in the World

Founded: 1966

43. University of Kent

England | Canterbury

For Systems Engineering

#183 in Europe

#465 in the World

Founded: 1965

44. University of Hull

England | Kingston upon Hull

For Systems Engineering

#184 in Europe

#469 in the World

Founded: 1954

45. University of London

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#188 in Europe

#476 in the World

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

46. Ulster University

Northern Ireland | Coleraine

For Systems Engineering

#201 in Europe

#511 in the World

Founded: 1968

47. Birkbeck, University of London

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#204 in Europe

#517 in the World

Founded: 1823

48. University of Bradford

England | Bradford

For Systems Engineering

#223 in Europe

#552 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

49. University of Leicester

England | Leicester

For Systems Engineering

#233 in Europe

#567 in the World

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

50. University of the West of England

England | Bristol

For Systems Engineering

#239 in Europe

#582 in the World

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

51. Liverpool John Moores University

England | Liverpool

For Systems Engineering

#243 in Europe

#590 in the World

Founded: 1992

52. Bangor University

Wales | Bangor

For Systems Engineering

#244 in Europe

#596 in the World

Enrollment: 11,270
Founded: 1884

53. University of Plymouth

England | Plymouth

For Systems Engineering

#254 in Europe

#625 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

54. University of Dundee

Scotland | Dundee

For Systems Engineering

#258 in Europe

#635 in the World

Founded: 1967

55. Coventry University

England | Coventry

For Systems Engineering

#259 in Europe

#636 in the World

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

56. Northumbria University

England | Newcastle upon Tyne

For Systems Engineering

#262 in Europe

#643 in the World

Founded: 1992

57. Bournemouth University

England | Poole

For Systems Engineering

#265 in Europe

#653 in the World

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

58. University of Hertfordshire

England | Hatfield

For Systems Engineering

#271 in Europe

#666 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

59. University of East Anglia

England | Norwich

For Systems Engineering

#282 in Europe

#690 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

60. University of Wolverhampton

England | Wolverhampton

For Systems Engineering

#284 in Europe

#698 in the World

Founded: 1992

61. Keele University

England | Keele

For Systems Engineering

#291 in Europe

#710 in the World

Founded: 1962

62. De Montfort University

England | Leicester

For Systems Engineering

#298 in Europe

#734 in the World

Enrollment: 29,000
Founded: 1992

63. University of Stirling

Scotland | Stirling

For Systems Engineering

#301 in Europe

#738 in the World

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

64. University of Portsmouth

England | Portsmouth

For Systems Engineering

#308 in Europe

#748 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

65. Royal Holloway, University of London

England | Egham

For Systems Engineering

#323 in Europe

#779 in the World

Founded: 1849

66. University of Brighton

England | Brighton

For Systems Engineering

#334 in Europe

#800 in the World

Founded: 1992

67. University of Huddersfield

England | Huddersfield

For Systems Engineering

#340 in Europe

#808 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

68. Manchester Metropolitan University

England | Manchester

For Systems Engineering

#341 in Europe

#809 in the World

Founded: 1992

69. Nottingham Trent University

England | Nottingham

For Systems Engineering

#342 in Europe

#814 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

70. Glasgow Caledonian University

Scotland | Glasgow

For Systems Engineering

#351 in Europe

#838 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1993

71. London South Bank University

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#358 in Europe

#857 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

72. Teesside University

England | Middlesbrough

For Systems Engineering

#382 in Europe

#925 in the World

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

73. University of Greenwich

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#384 in Europe

#937 in the World

Founded: 1890

74. Oxford Brookes University

England | Oxford

For Systems Engineering

#419 in Europe

#1041 in the World

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

75. Goldsmiths, University of London

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#421 in Europe

#1043 in the World

Founded: 1904

76. London Business School

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#423 in Europe

#1046 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

77. Middlesex University

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#424 in Europe

#1048 in the World

Founded: 1973

78. Aberystwyth University

Wales | Aberystwyth

For Systems Engineering

#425 in Europe

#1057 in the World

Founded: 1872

79. Sheffield Hallam University

England | Sheffield

For Systems Engineering

#434 in Europe

#1087 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

80. Kingston University

England | Kingston upon Thames

For Systems Engineering

#458 in Europe

#1174 in the World

Founded: 1992

81. University of Central Lancashire

England | Preston

For Systems Engineering

#459 in Europe

#1175 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

82. University of East London

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#466 in Europe

#1193 in the World

Founded: 1992

83. Leeds Beckett University

England | Leeds

For Systems Engineering

#468 in Europe

#1195 in the World

Founded: 1992

84. University of South Wales

Wales | Pontypridd

For Systems Engineering

#476 in Europe

#1211 in the World

Founded: 1841

85. Edinburgh Napier University

Scotland | Edinburgh

For Systems Engineering

#479 in Europe

#1225 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 60%
Founded: 1992

86. Robert Gordon University

Scotland | Aberdeen

For Systems Engineering

#485 in Europe

#1237 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

87. University of Lincoln

England | Lincoln

For Systems Engineering

#496 in Europe

#1273 in the World

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

88. Staffordshire University

England | Stoke-on-Trent

For Systems Engineering

#502 in Europe

#1317 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

89. University of the West of Scotland

Scotland | Paisley

For Systems Engineering

#504 in Europe

#1329 in the World

Enrollment: 15,555
Founded: 1897

90. Birmingham City University

England | Birmingham

For Systems Engineering

#513 in Europe

#1360 in the World

Founded: 1992

91. University of Westminster

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#518 in Europe

#1375 in the World

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

92. University of Derby

England | Derby

For Systems Engineering

#519 in Europe

#1382 in the World

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

93. University of Sunderland

England | Sunderland

For Systems Engineering

#535 in Europe

#1426 in the World

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

94. University of West London

England | Ealing

For Systems Engineering

#540 in Europe

#1447 in the World

Founded: 1990

95. University of Bedfordshire

England | Luton

For Systems Engineering

#573 in Europe

#1569 in the World

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

96. London Metropolitan University

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#591 in Europe

#1663 in the World

Founded: 1848

97. Anglia Ruskin University

England | Cambridge

For Systems Engineering

#616 in Europe

#1761 in the World

Founded: 1858

98. Edge Hill University

England | Ormskirk

For Systems Engineering

#656 in Europe

#1931 in the World

Founded: 2006

99. St George's, University of London

England | London

For Systems Engineering

#685 in Europe

#2034 in the World

Founded: 1733

100. University of Bolton

England | Bolton

For Systems Engineering

#694 in Europe

#2105 in the World

Founded: 2004

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