Robotics university rankings 2027
Cardiff Metropolitan University and University of Plymouth share first place for robotics in 2027, ahead of University of Hertfordshire. We ranked 32 universities on teaching, support, graduate pay and what it is like to live there.
- =1Cardiff Metropolitan University, 121 points. 97% academic support and 94% teaching.
- =1University of Plymouth, 121 points. 96% teaching and 93% academic support.
- 2University of Hertfordshire, 103 points. One of the safest cities and 95% teaching.
The full ranking
Showing the top 10 of 32.
-
Teaching quality94%3rd of 32Academic support97%1st of 32Student satisfaction75%9th of 32Graduate pay£26,00031st of 32Cost of living665th of 32City safety60.310th of 32Social life7911th of 32Sustainability71.93rd of 32
-
Teaching quality96%1st of 32Academic support93%4th of 32Student satisfaction75%9th of 32Graduate pay£32,0005th of 32Cost of living677th of 32City safety59.111th of 32Social life7718th of 32Sustainability63.37th of 32
-
Teaching quality95%2nd of 32Academic support95%2nd of 32Student satisfaction71%21st of 32Graduate pay£30,00014th of 32Cost of living7018th of 32City safety78.31st of 32Social life7424th of 32Sustainability47.923rd of 32
-
Teaching quality88%9th of 32Academic support91%7th of 32Student satisfaction71%21st of 32Graduate pay£30,50013th of 32Cost of living6810th of 32City safety51.522nd of 32Social life841st of 32Sustainability60.49th of 32
-
Teaching quality94%3rd of 32Academic support88%13th of 32Student satisfaction70%26th of 32Graduate pay£28,00026th of 32Cost of living6810th of 32City safety53.621st of 32Social life7718th of 32Sustainability73.12nd of 32
-
Teaching quality89%8th of 32Academic support93%4th of 32Student satisfaction74%15th of 32Graduate pay£27,00029th of 32Cost of living654th of 32City safety53.720th of 32Social life7718th of 32Sustainability59.710th of 32
-
Teaching quality81%19th of 32Academic support90%9th of 32Student satisfaction71%21st of 32Graduate pay£29,00022nd of 32Cost of living7018th of 32City safety53.919th of 32Social life809th of 32Sustainability75.61st of 32
-
Teaching quality82%17th of 32Academic support84%20th of 32Student satisfaction74%15th of 32Graduate pay£32,0005th of 32Cost of living6810th of 32City safety54.916th of 32Social life841st of 32Sustainability55.413th of 32
-
Teaching quality85%13th of 32Academic support90%9th of 32Student satisfaction73%18th of 32Graduate pay£29,50020th of 32Cost of living6810th of 32City safety57.112th of 32Social life7911th of 32Sustainability55.114th of 32
-
Teaching quality90%7th of 32Academic support90%9th of 32Student satisfaction81%3rd of 32Graduate pay£26,50030th of 32Cost of living9130th of 32City safety44.424th of 32Social life823rd of 32Sustainability65.46th of 32
-
Teaching quality80%20th of 32Academic support76%26th of 32Student satisfaction74%15th of 32Graduate pay£31,00011th of 32Cost of living7323rd of 32City safety57.014th of 32Social life823rd of 32Sustainability68.95th of 32
-
Teaching quality85%13th of 32Academic support90%9th of 32Student satisfaction72%19th of 32Graduate pay£30,00014th of 32Cost of living7927th of 32City safety60.58th of 32Social life823rd of 32Sustainability53.317th of 32
-
Teaching quality59%32nd of 32Academic support68%30th of 32Student satisfaction79%5th of 32Graduate pay£33,0002nd of 32Cost of living677th of 32City safety66.76th of 32Social life7816th of 32Sustainability61.28th of 32
-
Teaching quality91%6th of 32Academic support82%22nd of 32Student satisfaction70%26th of 32Graduate pay£29,50020th of 32Cost of living6810th of 32City safety54.916th of 32Social life809th of 32Sustainability57.112th of 32
-
Teaching quality86%10th of 32Academic support91%7th of 32Student satisfaction68%31st of 32Graduate pay£29,00022nd of 32Cost of living665th of 32City safety42.628th of 32Social life7230th of 32Sustainability71.44th of 32
-
Teaching quality80%20th of 32Academic support77%25th of 32Student satisfaction75%9th of 32Graduate pay£32,5004th of 32Cost of living6810th of 32City safety57.112th of 32Social life818th of 32Sustainability48.620th of 32
-
Teaching quality82%17th of 32Academic support86%17th of 32Student satisfaction85%2nd of 32Graduate pay£24,00032nd of 32Cost of living677th of 32City safety73.93rd of 32Social life7816th of 32Sustainability27.130th of 32
-
Teaching quality86%10th of 32Academic support88%13th of 32Student satisfaction71%21st of 32Graduate pay£30,00014th of 32Cost of living7424th of 32City safety74.82nd of 32Social life7521st of 32Sustainability45.127th of 32
-
Teaching quality94%3rd of 32Academic support94%3rd of 32Student satisfaction69%29th of 32Graduate pay£36,5001st of 32Cost of living7222nd of 32City safety31.431st of 32Social life7424th of 32Sustainability51.318th of 32
-
Teaching quality84%15th of 32Academic support85%19th of 32Student satisfaction77%6th of 32Graduate pay£32,0005th of 32Cost of living6810th of 32City safety47.323rd of 32Social life7911th of 32Sustainability46.325th of 32
-
Teaching quality77%24th of 32Academic support93%4th of 32Student satisfaction75%9th of 32Graduate pay£32,0005th of 32Cost of living7525th of 32City safety69.55th of 32Social life7328th of 32Sustainability35.329th of 32
-
Teaching quality75%25th of 32Academic support88%13th of 32Student satisfaction88%1st of 32Graduate pay£28,00026th of 32Cost of living611st of 32City safety56.315th of 32Social life6532nd of 32Sustainability21.432nd of 32
-
Teaching quality66%31st of 32Academic support61%32nd of 32Student satisfaction80%4th of 32Graduate pay£33,0002nd of 32Cost of living8229th of 32City safety73.54th of 32Social life7424th of 32Sustainability50.919th of 32
-
Teaching quality84%15th of 32Academic support87%16th of 32Student satisfaction75%9th of 32Graduate pay£30,00014th of 32Cost of living7018th of 32City safety36.129th of 32Social life7521st of 32Sustainability48.222nd of 32
-
Teaching quality72%28th of 32Academic support78%24th of 32Student satisfaction70%26th of 32Graduate pay£28,00026th of 32Cost of living7525th of 32City safety60.87th of 32Social life7328th of 32Sustainability58.311th of 32
-
Teaching quality86%10th of 32Academic support86%17th of 32Student satisfaction76%8th of 32Graduate pay£29,00022nd of 32Cost of living632nd of 32City safety43.827th of 32Social life7424th of 32Sustainability25.931st of 32
-
Teaching quality75%25th of 32Academic support73%28th of 32Student satisfaction75%9th of 32Graduate pay£32,0005th of 32Cost of living6917th of 32City safety54.818th of 32Social life823rd of 32Sustainability45.726th of 32
-
Teaching quality73%27th of 32Academic support73%28th of 32Student satisfaction77%6th of 32Graduate pay£30,00014th of 32Cost of living7927th of 32City safety60.58th of 32Social life7911th of 32Sustainability47.124th of 32
-
Teaching quality79%23rd of 32Academic support79%23rd of 32Student satisfaction71%21st of 32Graduate pay£31,00011th of 32Cost of living643rd of 32City safety30.732nd of 32Social life7230th of 32Sustainability54.316th of 32
-
Teaching quality70%29th of 32Academic support62%31st of 32Student satisfaction72%19th of 32Graduate pay£32,0005th of 32Cost of living7018th of 32City safety36.129th of 32Social life823rd of 32Sustainability48.521st of 32
-
Teaching quality69%30th of 32Academic support75%27th of 32Student satisfaction69%29th of 32Graduate pay£30,00014th of 32Cost of living9130th of 32City safety44.424th of 32Social life7911th of 32Sustainability54.515th of 32
-
Teaching quality80%20th of 32Academic support83%21st of 32Student satisfaction66%32nd of 32Graduate pay£29,00022nd of 32Cost of living9130th of 32City safety44.424th of 32Social life7521st of 32Sustainability40.528th of 32
What the ranking shows
- Cardiff Metropolitan University and University of Plymouth share first place on 121 points each.
- The best-paid graduates are not at the top. Middlesex University has the highest graduate pay at £36,500, but ranks 14th.
- University of Plymouth has the highest teaching score at 96%.
- Newport is the cheapest place to live, with a cost-of-living index of 61. London scores 91.
How the ranking works
We rank each university on eight measures: teaching quality, academic support, student satisfaction, graduate pay, cost of living, city safety, social life and sustainability. The ranks are added together and the highest total ranks first. Lower living costs count as better, and universities with the same total share a place. Read the full methodology.
Four things to check before you apply
- Engineering accreditation. Check whether the degree is accredited by a body such as the IET on behalf of the Engineering Council. Accredited BEng degrees usually only partly meet the academic requirement for Chartered Engineer status, while MEng degrees fully meet it.
- Maths and physics requirements. Most robotics degrees ask for A-level Maths, and many also want Physics. If you lack them, look for a foundation year.
- The balance of the course. Robotics courses mix mechanical engineering, electronics, programming, control and AI in different proportions. Read the module lists to see which area each course leans towards.
- Labs and industry links. Check what lab access you get, how much hands-on project work there is, and whether you can take a placement year in industry.
Questions students ask
Which is the best university for robotics in the UK?
Cardiff Metropolitan University and University of Plymouth share first place in our 2027 robotics ranking with 121 points each, ahead of University of Hertfordshire (103).
What A-levels do you need for robotics?
Most universities ask for A-level Maths, and many also ask for Physics. Some accept one of the two. Computing can help but is rarely required. Foundation years exist for students without the right subjects.
Should I choose a BEng or MEng in robotics?
A BEng usually takes three years and an MEng four. On accredited courses the MEng fully meets the academic requirement for Chartered Engineer status, while a BEng needs further learning later.
What is the difference between robotics and mechatronics?
Both combine mechanical, electronic and software engineering. Robotics courses usually put more weight on autonomy, sensing, AI and control. Mechatronics tends to cover integrated mechanical and electronic systems more broadly. Module lists show the real difference.
Can you become a robotics engineer through an apprenticeship?
Yes. Level 6 degree apprenticeships, including Robotics Engineer and Control Systems Engineer, take three to five years. You can also start as a robotics technician and study for higher qualifications.
Related rankings
Sources: university course pages, the Engineering Council, the National Careers Service and the Graduate Outcomes survey. Graduate pay is measured about 15 months after finishing.
