Our reputation

4th in the UK for Mechanical Engineering, Guardian University Guide 2021

Globally renowned for our teaching and research, the School of Mechanical Engineering is one of the leading mechanical engineering schools in the UK. We have over 1,500 students from over 60 countries studying with us.

The quality of our research, and the funding it attracts, means we’re able to invest in world-class facilities and academic staff who are actively engaged in cutting-edge research, which means you will be taught by internationally renowned, inspirational academics working at the top of their fields.

The School is led by Professor Harvey Thompson, Head of School, supported by Professor Sophie Williams, Director of Research and Innovation, and Dr Andrew Shires, Director of Student Education.

Our achievements

• Top 150 in the world for Mechanical, Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering, QS World University Rankings by Subject 2020

Mechanical Engineering

• 4th in the UK for Mechanical Engineering, Guardian University Guide 2021
• 6th in the UK for Mechanical Engineering, Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2021 
• Top 10 in the UK for Mechanical Engineering, Complete University Guide 2021 
• 90% overall student satisfaction for mechanical engineering, National Student Survey 2020 and ranked top 5 in the Russell Group

Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering

• 6th in the UK for Aeronautical and Manufacturing Engineering, Complete University Guide 2021 

University awards

• The University of Leeds is among the top 100 universities, QS World University Rankings 2021
• We achieved a Gold rating in the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), the highest award possible
• The University of Leeds was named University of the Year in 2017 by The Times and The Sunday Times’ Good University Guide
• University of Leeds students are among the top 5 most targeted by top employers according to The Graduate Market 2021, High Fliers Research
• We are a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive universities

Research Excellence Framework (REF) 2014

Every six years, the UK’s four higher education funding bodies undertake an exercise to measure the quality of research undertaken by UK higher education institutions (HEIs). The funding bodies use the outcomes to inform the allocation of their research funding to HEIs. The Research Excellence Framework was the framework used in 2014.

Unit of assessment: Aeronautical, Mechanical, Chemical and Manufacturing Engineering

• Ranked 2nd in the UK for Mechanical Engineering
• Joint fourth for the quality of our research in our unit of assessment
• 3.14 overall quality profile
• 100% of our research has either ‘outstanding’ or ‘very considerable’ impact
• 84% of our research is ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’
• 100% of our research environment is conducive to producing research of ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ quality
• 75% of our research outputs are ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’.

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