100 Best universities for Physics 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 Physics. A graph of 60.9M citations received by 2.01M academic papers made by 118 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

For Physics

#1 in the United Kingdom

#1 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 21%
Founded: 1209

2. University of Oxford

For Physics

#2 in the United Kingdom

#2 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1096

3. Imperial College London

For Physics

#3 in the United Kingdom

#3 in Europe

Enrollment: 17,565
Founded: 1907

4. University College London

For Physics

#4 in the United Kingdom

#6 in Europe

Enrollment: 42,000
Founded: 1826

5. University of Manchester

For Physics

#5 in the United Kingdom

#7 in Europe

Founded: 1824

6. University of Southampton

For Physics

#6 in the United Kingdom

#16 in Europe

Enrollment: 21,335
Founded: 1952

7. University of Bristol

For Physics

#7 in the United Kingdom

#19 in Europe

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

8. University of Sheffield

For Physics

#8 in the United Kingdom

#22 in Europe

Founded: 1905

9. University of Leeds

For Physics

#10 in the United Kingdom

#29 in Europe

Founded: 1904

10. University of Nottingham

For Physics

#11 in the United Kingdom

#33 in Europe

Founded: 1948

11. University of Birmingham

For Physics

#12 in the United Kingdom

#43 in Europe

Founded: 1900

12. Durham University

For Physics

#13 in the United Kingdom

#48 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,520
Founded: 1832

13. University of Liverpool

For Physics

#14 in the United Kingdom

#49 in Europe

Enrollment: 28,693
Founded: 1881

14. King's College London

For Physics

#16 in the United Kingdom

#65 in Europe

Founded: 1829

15. University of Warwick

For Physics

#17 in the United Kingdom

#66 in Europe

Enrollment: 27,278
Founded: 1965

16. Queen Mary University of London

For Physics

#18 in the United Kingdom

#91 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 18%
Founded: 1989

17. Newcastle University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Physics

#20 in the United Kingdom

#96 in Europe

Founded: 1963

18. University of Bath

For Physics

#22 in the United Kingdom

#108 in Europe

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

19. University of Sussex

For Physics

#23 in the United Kingdom

#109 in Europe

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

20. Loughborough University

For Physics

#25 in the United Kingdom

#116 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,449
Founded: 1966

21. University of Surrey

For Physics

#27 in the United Kingdom

#122 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1966

22. University of York

For Physics

#28 in the United Kingdom

#126 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 20%
Founded: 1963

23. University of Exeter

For Physics

#29 in the United Kingdom

#132 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1955

24. University of Leicester

For Physics

#30 in the United Kingdom

#136 in Europe

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

25. University of Reading

For Physics

#31 in the United Kingdom

#137 in Europe

Founded: 1892

26. Lancaster University

For Physics

#32 in the United Kingdom

#142 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1964

27. University of London

For Physics

#34 in the United Kingdom

#180 in Europe

Enrollment: 50,000
Founded: 1836

28. University of East Anglia

For Physics

#36 in the United Kingdom

#183 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1963

29. Cranfield University

For Physics

#39 in the United Kingdom

#201 in Europe

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

30. Brunel University London

For Physics

#40 in the United Kingdom

#216 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 54%
Founded: 1966

31. University of Kent

For Physics

#42 in the United Kingdom

#233 in Europe

Founded: 1965

32. University of Hull

Kingston upon Hull

For Physics

#43 in the United Kingdom

#234 in Europe

Founded: 1954

33. London School of Economics and Political Science

For Physics

#44 in the United Kingdom

#242 in Europe

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

34. University of Essex

For Physics

#46 in the United Kingdom

#260 in Europe

Founded: 1964

35. Aston University

For Physics

#47 in the United Kingdom

#269 in Europe

Founded: 1895

36. Keele University

For Physics

#49 in the United Kingdom

#279 in Europe

Founded: 1962

37. University of Portsmouth

For Physics

#50 in the United Kingdom

#280 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

38. University of Salford

For Physics

#51 in the United Kingdom

#285 in Europe

Founded: 1967

39. University of Bradford

For Physics

#52 in the United Kingdom

#289 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 63%
Founded: 1966

40. Birkbeck, University of London

For Physics

#53 in the United Kingdom

#297 in Europe

Founded: 1823

41. City, University of London

For Physics

#54 in the United Kingdom

#303 in Europe

Founded: 1966

42. Royal Holloway, University of London

For Physics

#55 in the United Kingdom

#313 in Europe

Founded: 1849

43. Liverpool John Moores University

For Physics

#56 in the United Kingdom

#326 in Europe

Founded: 1992

44. University of Plymouth

For Physics

#57 in the United Kingdom

#332 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 77%
Founded: 1992

45. Manchester Metropolitan University

For Physics

#58 in the United Kingdom

#361 in Europe

Founded: 1992

46. University of Hertfordshire

For Physics

#59 in the United Kingdom

#362 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 70%
Founded: 1992

47. Northumbria University

Newcastle upon Tyne

For Physics

#60 in the United Kingdom

#368 in Europe

Founded: 1992

48. St George's, University of London

For Physics

#62 in the United Kingdom

#397 in Europe

Founded: 1733

49. Nottingham Trent University

For Physics

#63 in the United Kingdom

#398 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 22%
Founded: 1992

50. Coventry University

For Physics

#65 in the United Kingdom

#413 in Europe

Enrollment: 22,980
Founded: 1992

51. University of the West of England

For Physics

#66 in the United Kingdom

#417 in Europe

Enrollment: 30,732
Founded: 1992

52. Sheffield Hallam University

For Physics

#67 in the United Kingdom

#422 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

53. De Montfort University

For Physics

#68 in the United Kingdom

#424 in Europe

Founded: 1992

54. University of Huddersfield

For Physics

#69 in the United Kingdom

#442 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 1992

55. University of Greenwich

For Physics

#70 in the United Kingdom

#453 in Europe

Founded: 1890

56. University of Central Lancashire

For Physics

#71 in the United Kingdom

#465 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 1992

57. Oxford Brookes University

For Physics

#72 in the United Kingdom

#473 in Europe

Enrollment: 16,900
Founded: 1865

58. University of Brighton

For Physics

#73 in the United Kingdom

#474 in Europe

Founded: 1992

59. London South Bank University

For Physics

#76 in the United Kingdom

#493 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 83%
Founded: 1892

60. Middlesex University

For Physics

#78 in the United Kingdom

#514 in Europe

Founded: 1973

61. Bournemouth University

For Physics

#79 in the United Kingdom

#526 in Europe

Enrollment: 14,293
Founded: 1992

62. Goldsmiths, University of London

For Physics

#80 in the United Kingdom

#537 in Europe

Founded: 1904

63. University of Westminster

For Physics

#81 in the United Kingdom

#539 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,000
Founded: 1838

64. Kingston University

Kingston upon Thames

For Physics

#82 in the United Kingdom

#545 in Europe

Founded: 1992

65. London Business School

For Physics

#83 in the United Kingdom

#550 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 25%
Founded: 1964

66. University of Wolverhampton

For Physics

#84 in the United Kingdom

#565 in Europe

Founded: 1992

67. Teesside University

For Physics

#86 in the United Kingdom

#577 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,290
Founded: 1992

68. London Metropolitan University

For Physics

#87 in the United Kingdom

#585 in Europe

Founded: 1848

69. Leeds Beckett University

For Physics

#88 in the United Kingdom

#591 in Europe

Founded: 1992

70. University of Lincoln

For Physics

#90 in the United Kingdom

#596 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 78%
Founded: 1992

71. Royal Veterinary College University of London

For Physics

#91 in the United Kingdom

#598 in Europe

Founded: 1791

72. Staffordshire University

For Physics

#92 in the United Kingdom

#626 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 1992

73. University of Derby

For Physics

#93 in the United Kingdom

#650 in Europe

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

74. University of Bolton

For Physics

#94 in the United Kingdom

#652 in Europe

Founded: 2004

75. University of Sunderland

For Physics

#95 in the United Kingdom

#668 in Europe

Enrollment: 19,090
Founded: 1992

76. Anglia Ruskin University

For Physics

#96 in the United Kingdom

#669 in Europe

Founded: 1858

77. University of East London

For Physics

#97 in the United Kingdom

#679 in Europe

Founded: 1992

78. University of Bedfordshire

For Physics

#98 in the United Kingdom

#682 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 82%
Founded: 2006

79. Royal Agricultural University

For Physics

#99 in the United Kingdom

#685 in Europe

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

80. University of Roehampton

For Physics

#100 in the United Kingdom

#696 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 72%
Founded: 2004

81. SOAS, University of London

For Physics

#101 in the United Kingdom

#699 in Europe

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

82. Canterbury Christ Church University

For Physics

#102 in the United Kingdom

#720 in Europe

Founded: 2005

83. University of Chester

For Physics

#104 in the United Kingdom

#739 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 95%
Founded: 2005

84. University of Northampton

For Physics

#105 in the United Kingdom

#747 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

85. Birmingham City University

For Physics

#108 in the United Kingdom

#790 in Europe

Founded: 1992

86. University of West London

For Physics

#109 in the United Kingdom

#815 in Europe

Founded: 1990

87. Edge Hill University

For Physics

#110 in the United Kingdom

#823 in Europe

Founded: 2006

88. University of Worcester

For Physics

#112 in the United Kingdom

#840 in Europe

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

89. University of Gloucestershire

For Physics

#113 in the United Kingdom

#862 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 74%
Founded: 2001

90. University of Winchester

For Physics

#114 in the United Kingdom

#903 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 69%
Founded: 2005

91. University of Buckingham

For Physics

#115 in the United Kingdom

#904 in Europe

Founded: 1973

92. University of Cumbria

For Physics

#116 in the United Kingdom

#909 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 67%
Founded: 2007

93. Courtauld Institute of Art, University of London

For Physics

#118 in the United Kingdom

#924 in Europe

Founded: 1932

94. Liverpool Hope University

For Physics

#120 in the United Kingdom

#949 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2005

95. Buckinghamshire New University

For Physics

#122 in the United Kingdom

#990 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 96%
Founded: 2007

96. York St John University

For Physics

#123 in the United Kingdom

#1005 in Europe

Founded: 1841

97. University of Chichester

For Physics

#124 in the United Kingdom

#1009 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 73%
Founded: 2005

98. Bath Spa University

For Physics

#125 in the United Kingdom

#1022 in Europe

Enrollment: 6,863
Founded: 1975

99. University of the Arts London

For Physics

#126 in the United Kingdom

#1043 in Europe

Founded: 1986

100. Solent University

For Physics

#127 in the United Kingdom

#1074 in Europe

Acceptance Rate: 92%
Enrollment: 11,340
Founded: 2004

Closest to England states to learn Physics

State	Universities Unis	Best university country rank Best uni rank
Wales	10	26
Scotland	18	9

Physics subfields in England

Acoustical Engineering110

Applied/Engineering Physics51

Astrophysics and Astronomy101

Atomic and Molecular physics57

Condensed Matter Physics65

Materials Science106

Medical Physics50

Nanotechnology81

Nuclear Physics79

Optical Engineering103

Quantum and Particle physics111

Theoretical Physics56