The best universities for studying architecture in the world

If you are an aspiring architect interested in the design and aesthetics of the built environment, you’ll want to find an institution that matches your ambition. Studying for a degree in architecture takes time and dedication, where you have to develop the essential skills and knowledge to practice as a professional. You’ll be asking yourself what the best universities for architecture in the world are. We can help you discover the premier institutions for an architecture qualification and what they offer. 

To compile our list of the best architecture schools in the world, we have used the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023, looking specifically at the subject category of architecture and the built environment. Let’s look at the institutions that rank within the top 10 for architecture. 

University College London

A premier UK institution, University College London (UCL) is rated as the number one institution in the world for architecture by QS. Further, UCL is ranked in the top 25 universities globally by the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024. UCL hosts just over 31,000 students, of which almost 22,000 are international students, leading to a multicultural and dynamic campus.

UCL enjoys a QS rating of 99.5 for academic reputation and 97.9 for employer reputation. If you study architecture at UCL, you’ll be at The Bartlett School of Architecture. The school has approximately 1,700 students and about 400 faculty members. It is also highly rated for its research output, with 91 per cent seen as ‘world-leading’ or ‘internationally excellent’ by the Research Excellence Framework (2021). You have several study options available to you at the school, including:

• Architecture BSc
• Architectural and Interdisciplinary Studies BSc
• Architecture MSc
• Architectural Design MEn

If you’re looking for a postgraduate course in architecture, UCL offers 17 programmes at this level. Examples include:

• Landscape architecture 
• Architecture and Historic Urban Environments
• Architectural design
• Urban design

For some programmes at the postgraduate level, students are asked to supply a portfolio as part of their application. You could also be asked to complete an assessment task that has a different set of instructions each year. If you’re looking to develop your love of architecture further following a master's degree, the school also offers four highly acclaimed PhD architecture degrees. 

UCL has taught architecture for over 175 years with internationally acclaimed lecturers who are experts in the field. The department has won more RIBA (Royal Institute of British Architects) medals than any other school in the UK. 

Some other UK universities offering degrees and courses in architecture are:

• Anglia Ruskin University 
• University of Nottingham
• Cardiff University 
• University of Portsmouth  
• Birmingham City University

Discover more about what it's like studying in London. 

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

It probably won’t surprise you to see an Ivy League university on the list of the top institutions for architecture. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) is ranked second globally for the specialisation by QS. In addition, the university ranks third globally according to the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2024. With a history dating back to 1861, MIT is in Cambridge, Massachusetts, about 20 minutes outside of Boston.  

MIT has a notoriously selective admissions process, and of the applicants for the class of 2026, 33,767 applied, and only 1,337 students were accepted. MIT is home to just under 12,000 students and has a student-to-staff ratio of 3:1, which is considered excellent. The university has also received a perfect score by QS for academic reputation, employer reputation, employment outcomes, and international faculty ratio. 

The School of Architecture and Planning at MIT comprises seven departments and centres. These are:

• The Department of Architecture 
• The Department of Urban Studies and Planning (DUSP)
• The MIT Media Lab and the Program in Media Arts and Sciences (MAS)
• The MIT Center for Real Estate (CRE)
• The Program in Art, Culture, and Technology (ACT)
• Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism (LCAU)
• The MIT Morningside Academy for Design (MAD)

As of 2023, the school has 338 master’s and 182 doctoral degree students. It offers 62 majors, of which the BSc Architecture and MSc Architecture are the most popular in the subject area. At the postgraduate level, the school enrols approximately 230 students each year. Many of the graduate programmes are officially considered STEM subjects, meaning students can extend their Optional Practical Training by two years.

The architecture department has a 50/50 split of U.S. and international students. Overall 3,465 international students are enrolled at MIT. This accounts for 11 per cent of students at the undergraduate level and 42 per cent at the postgraduate level. This reflects the mission of the university to create a diverse and inclusive student community. Other universities offering architecture in the USA:

• New Jersey Institute of Technology
• University of Pittsburgh 
• Texas Tech University  
• New York University 
• Syracuse University 

Manchester School of Architecture (MSA)

The Manchester School of Architecture (MSA) is considered a top-five institution at which to study architecture, according to QS. MSA is a collaboration between the University of Manchester and Manchester Metropolitan University. The former is a world top 100 university as per THE, and together, both institutions bring more than a century of architectural knowledge and practice together. 

MSA has over 300 international students from over 50 countries enrolled in studies across two undergraduate and eight postgraduate course options. The institution is recognised by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) and the Architects Registration Board (ARB), which regulate the profession in the UK. Courses that you can choose from at MSA include:

• BA (Hons) Architecture 
• Master of Architecture 
• Postgraduate Certificate Architecture and Contemporary Practice 
• MA Architecture and Adaptive Reuse
• MA Architecture and Urbanism 
• Master of Landscape Architecture 
• Master of Philosophy Architecture 
• Doctor of Philosophy Architecture

The good news for graduates of MSA is that both partner universities have extensive and dynamic alumni communities, industry connections, and career services. The institution also enjoys a QS employer reputation score of 98.4. 

Discover more about studying in Manchester and the UK. 

What are the top universities for architecture in the world?

While we have focused on universities in the top five, it’s useful to look at the top 10 institutions for architecture, according to QS. These are:

1. University College London (UK)
2. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (USA)
3. Delft University of Technology (Netherlands)
4. ETH Zurich (Switzerland)
5. Manchester School of Architecture (UK)
6. Harvard University (USA)
7. National University of Singapore (NUS)
8. Tsinghua University (China)
9. University of California, Berkeley (USA)
10. Politecnico di Milano (Italy)

As you can see, you have options based all over the world. Where you study will depend on your personal preferences, abilities and interests. Make sure to do thorough research before applying, and remember you can always sign up to chat with an expert IDP education counsellor. 

Now that you know where the top architecture universities globally are, you may want to continue your research. We can help with guides to understanding the extra costs of studying abroad, student travel insurance, and how to choose student accommodation.