Europe is known for its beautiful architecture, but it also has some of the best architecture schools in Europe and the world at large.
If you’re interested in studying architecture and want to find out more about this subject, we’ve compiled a list of 15 of the best colleges and universities across Europe
These schools offer courses in architecture and related fields, including interior design and landscape architecture. Some even offer degrees in urban planning or historic preservation.
These schools will give you a solid foundation in architecture and help you to develop your creative skills. They also have excellent facilities, which will allow you to practice your craft in the best possible environment.
Studying Architecture in Europe
The importance of studying architecture in Europe cannot be over-emphasized. The level of creativity and innovation that exists across the continent is unparalleled, with designers constantly pushing the boundaries of spatiality and materiality to create new forms of expression.
In fact, if you’re looking for an opportunity to learn how to think like a designer at an early stage in your career and also get some hands-on experience a stint at one of Europe’s best schools could be just what you need.
Europe is a continent of diversity, it has many different cultures, economies, and traditions. This can be seen in its architecture as well, which demonstrates a wide range of influences from around the world.
An Overview of Architecture
Architecture is the process of designing and constructing buildings, bridges, and other structures. It also includes the design of cities to make them attractive, comfortable, and safe for their inhabitants.
Architects have the creative ability to:
- Solve complex problems through structural analysis
- Formulate ideas
- Create models
- Draw up plans
- Determine costs
- Negotiate with clients and contractors
- Supervise construction work on site
- Check that all aspects of a building meet its functional requirements (e.g., fire safety measures)
- Overseeing maintenance schedules for roofs, exterior walls, etc.
- maintaining records of all completed projects over time so that they can be used again in future projects if necessary.
Architects are concerned with environmental sustainability as well as cost-effectiveness these two factors should always be kept in mind when designing any project because they affect everyone involved, clients who will want certain features included within their home/business premises (e.g., indoor pool) and developers who are trying obtain approval from municipal authorities before building new homes/offices near existing ones, etc.
List of the Best Architecture Schools in Europe
Below is a list of the 15 best architecture schools in Europe:
- University College London
- Delft University of Technology
- ETH Zurich
- University of Cambridge
- Politecnico di Milano
- Manchester School of Architecture
- Lancaster University
- Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya
- Technische Universitat Berlin
- Technical University Munich
- The University of Sheffield
- Politecnico di Torino
- Katholieke Universiteit Leuven.
15 Best Architecture Schools in Europe
1. University College London
- Tuition: $10,669
- Country: United Kingdom
University College London (UCL) is one of the world’s leading universities and a member of the Russell Group.
The school offers degrees in architecture and planning, design, science, and technology as well as other subjects.
The Bartlett School of Architecture at UCL has been ranked top in the UK for research power according to Research Excellence Framework results published by The Guardian newspaper in 2017.
The school has over 30 full-time academic staff, including 15 professors. UCL prides itself on being an international institution and attracts students from over 150 countries.
The university also offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses, as well as professional qualifications in architecture, planning, and design.
2. Delft University of Technology
- Tuition:Â $2,196-$6,261
- Country:Â The Netherlands
The Dutch Technical University of Delft was founded in 1842, making it the oldest technical university in the Netherlands.
It is also one of only four universities that offers all three engineering programs: civil, mechanical, and electrical engineering.
The architecture school at the Delft University of Technology has an excellent reputation for producing high-quality graduates with a deep knowledge of construction technology.
Students are trained onsite at their home campus rather than being sent out to sit exams as most other schools do. This helps them gain hands-on experience early on in their career and ensures that they have access to some very modern facilities when studying abroad.
3. ETH Zurich
- Tuition:Â $735
- Country: Switzerland
ETH Zurich is a science, technology, engineering, and mathematics university in Switzerland.
The university was founded in 1855 and has an international reputation for research and education.
In addition to its various fields of study, ETH Zurich has been recognized as one of the leading universities for technology and natural sciences in Europe.
This institution provides students with opportunities to study architecture at their own pace through its architecture school where you can learn about this subject through practical projects or through tutorials offered by professors who specialize in design issues such as structure planning or urbanism/spatial planning.
4. University of Cambridge
- Tuition: $37,029
- Country: United Kingdom
The University of Cambridge is one of the oldest universities in the world, and it’s located in East Anglia in the United Kingdom. Cambridge was founded by Henry II in 1209 as a Benedictine monastery for students of theology and law.
Today, it has over 20 colleges and halls including some famous ones like Gonville & Caius College, King’s College (Cambridge), Queens’ College (Cambridge), Trinity College (Cambridge), and Pembroke Hall, and more than 9,000 students studying architecture at undergraduate level or graduate level at its Faculty of Architecture & Landscape Design.
The university has an excellent reputation for producing good architects who are often employed by leading firms such as Jamieson Miller Architects or Denton Corker Marshall Architects Limited.
5. Politecnico di Milano
- Tuition: $1,026-$4,493
- Country: Italy
The Politecnico di Milano is one of the best architecture schools in Europe. With a top-ranked university and one of the most prestigious universities in Europe, this school has helped shape some of today’s leading architects.
The Politecnico di Milano was founded in 1802 as part of a larger state-run institution called “the Polytechnic Institute,” which was renamed after Italy’s unification under King Victor Emmanuel III.
Today, it operates independently from other institutions and provides undergraduate degrees with a focus on science and engineering a mix unique to Italy’s higher education system (as opposed to many other countries).
The university also offers postgraduate programs covering areas such as design and construction management, urban planning, media arts & culture, product design & development, sustainable development practice, art history & archaeology/heritage studies, etc.)
6. Manchester School of Architecture
- Tuition: $10,687
- Country: United Kingdom
The Manchester School of Architecture was founded in 2004 by a group of academics who wanted to create a new type of architecture school.
They were looking for ways to get away from the traditional, more rigid teaching methods that were prevalent at other institutions.
The university has since expanded its portfolio with three new campuses and an additional building on campus dedicated solely to its Design Research Lab (DRL).
In addition to its DRL, MSA offers undergraduate courses in architecture as well as graduate programs for architects and designers.
In terms of curriculum, MSA is known for its commitment toward experimentation within design research projects while also being highly selective about who they accept into their program only five percent of applicants are accepted each year.
7. Lancaster University
- Tuition: $23,034
- Country: United Kingdom
Lancaster University is a large, research-led university with a large campus. It was ranked top in the UK for architecture by QS World University Rankings in 2016 and 2017.
The university offers degree programs at the undergraduate level, postgraduate level, and research degrees. The department of Architecture and Design has been ranked in the top 10 most innovative departments worldwide by Times Higher Education (THE) since 2013.
Students can choose from over 30 subjects within architecture/building science or design as well as non-degree courses such as short courses on topics such as sustainability or urban design which are available throughout the year.
8. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne
- Tuition:Â $736
- Country: Switzerland
SFT Lausanne is a public research university located in Lausanne, Switzerland. The university was founded by the Swiss Confederation and offers undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering, biology, and computer sciences.
The school has over 15000 students from all over the world who come to study at SFT Lausanne because they want to learn more about Architecture or any other field related to architecture.
It is one of the largest engineering schools in Switzerland where they offer Bachelor’s degrees through 3 different tracks: civil engineering (Bachelor in Architecture), industrial design (Bachelor in Industrial Design), or environmental technology with specializations like energy management systems & sustainable development solutions for companies around it worldwide including USA & UK, etc.
9. KTH Royal Institute of Technology
- Tuition: $8,971
- Country: Sweden
KTH Royal Institute of Technology is one of the top Architecture schools in Europe and is ranked as one of the best universities in Sweden.
It’s located in Stockholm, Sweden, and offers Bachelor’s Degree programs in architecture; Master’s Degree programs in architecture, Doctoral Degree programs in architectural design management.
The school offers an undergraduate program that can be completed within three years at most (four years if you have a full scholarship).
The degree requires a minimum number of courses leading up to your final project or thesis involving specific assignments that are assessed by faculty members and peers on campus during your last year at KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
10. Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya
- Tuition: $5,270
- Country: Spain
Universitat Politecnica de Catalunya (UPC) is located in Barcelona, Spain. It was founded in 1968 and has about 10,000 students.
UPC is ranked as one of the top universities in Spain and ranked as the best university for Architecture by Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2019.
UPC offers four bachelor’s degrees: Civil Engineering; Construction Management; Architectural Design and Urban Studies; Urban Planning & Design Management.
The school also offers master’s degrees in Architecture (with specializations), Urban Design & Development Management, or Construction Management at their School of Engineering & Architecture (SeA).
They have an online architecture program through SeA that allows students to learn from anywhere around the world.
11. Technische Universitat Berlin
- Tuition: $5,681
- Country: Germany
Technische Universitat Berlin is one of the oldest schools of architecture in the world. It was founded in 1879 and has been located in Berlin since then.
Today, it’s one of Germany’s largest and most prestigious institutions for higher education, with over 5,000 students attending classes each year.
The school has a long history of excellence in architecture its graduates include some of Germany’s most famous architects (such as Michael Graves), who helped shape how modern buildings are designed today.
It’s also home to many talented architects who have won awards at both national and international levels over their careers and this list includes names like Frank Gehry, Rem Koolhaas, and Norman Foster.
12. Technical University Munich
- Tuition: $1,936
- Country: Germany
Technical University Munich is a public research university in München, Germany.
It was founded in 1868 and has been ranked among the best universities worldwide by QS World University Rankings since 2010.
The university currently has over 40,000 students and 3,300 faculty members.
The architecture school at Technical University Munich offers five-year bachelor’s degrees in architecture, interior architecture, industrial design and product development (DIP), urban planning and landscape architecture (ZfA), and urbanism & environmental management (URW).
13. The University of Sheffield
- Tuition:Â $10,681
- Country: United Kingdom
The University of Sheffield is located in the city of Sheffield, which was once known as “the Steel City”.
It has been around since 1841 and offers a wide variety of academic programs for undergraduates.
The architecture school at this university has been around for over 100 years and offers a range of courses that cover all aspects of architecture from design to construction management.
It also boasts one of Europe’s largest student bodies with over 5,000 students enrolled each year!
The University of Sheffield is a research-intensive university with over 2,200 staff members and 7,000 postgraduate students.
The school has a large range of research facilities including the Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre (AMRC), which works in conjunction with industry to produce products that are useful for manufacturers.
14. Politecnico di Torino
- Tuition: $3,489
- Country: Italy
The Politecnico di Torino is a public university located in Turin, Italy. The university offers education in engineering, architecture, design, and science.
The Politecnico di Torino has more than 5,000 students enrolled at its four schools: Politecnico School of Architecture, Politecnico School of Industrial Design, Faculty of Engineering, and University Center for Advanced Studies.
The Politecnico di Torino also offers post-graduate courses, including Master of Science degrees in Engineering and Architecture.
The university’s research centers include the Automotive Design Center, Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre, and Turin Urban Observatory.
15. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
- Tuition: $919-$3,480
- Country: Belgium
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (KU Leuven), also known as the University of Leuven, is the largest university in Belgium.
As a Catholic institution, it has been ranked among the best universities for architecture by QS World University Rankings and Times Higher Education World University Rankings.
The school’s history goes back to 1425 when its precursor was founded by Louise of Savoy: she wanted to open a college for women dedicated to pursuing learning in theology and law.
The original institution was destroyed during World War II but rebuilt after 1945 with support from King Leopold III of Belgium, today it has seven faculties offering education at the postgraduate level across all disciplines including architecture.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many years is an architecture degree?
An undergraduate degree takes four years to complete and includes a foundation year (first two years), followed by three further years of study. It's possible to study for an undergraduate degree at any point during your university career, but it's usually advised that you do so as early as possible so that you can gain valuable experience before embarking on postgraduate studies or starting your professional career.
What are the entry requirements for an architecture course?
Entry requirements vary depending on what type, of course, you're applying for and where in Europe you want to study, however, most European universities will require high academic achievement from their applicants including GCSEs grade A-C or equivalent papers from an internationally recognized examination board such as OCR/Edexcel as well as extracurricular activities such as volunteering work experience placements within local communities (to help build up references).
What are the career prospects for an architecture graduate?
Architecture graduates will often go on to become architects, but there are many other jobs available within the industry as well—from project managers (who oversee construction projects) to interior designers (who design homes). Once you’re qualified as an architect, there are plenty of career opportunities available to you—including jobs in construction and development. You could also work in consultancy or planning; the latter involves advising local councils on how best to develop a city or area according to its needs.
How much does a career in architecture pay?
The average salary for an architect is £29,000 per year. However, many factors will affect how much you earn including where you work and what level of qualification you have.
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Conclusion:
The world of architecture is one of the most fascinating fields out there. It’s not just about designing buildings or spaces but also about thinking about how we live in relation to each other, and what our homes should look like.
In addition, architects have a lot of fun developing new materials that can be used in construction projects from metal composite panels to glass fiber-reinforced concrete (GFRC).
The only thing better than studying architecture abroad is studying at an international university with programs taught by experts from all over the globe!