Top 10 Universities Worldwide to Study Architecture Bachelor's in 2025

Architect is the professional title given to those responsible for designing new buildings, restoring old buildings, and developing new ways to use existing buildings. The discipline of architecture requires both artistic and technical skills, making it a creative and multidisciplinary field. Architects who plan, design, and oversee the construction process of buildings or spaces, must undergo education in building design to earn this title. Architecture education, which is a challenging but satisfying process, is provided in many universities around the world. Architectural education, which is provided in different processes and conditions in different countries, aims to graduate architects with multi-thinking skills by bringing together art, technology, and engineering.

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Here are the best 10 universities in the world for bachelor architecture education in 2025, according to the latest edition of the QS World University Rankings

University College London (UCL)

The Bartlett School of Architecture, which was chosen as the best architecture school in the world according to 2025 data, is located in London, England. This university provides education that encourages students to develop independent, creative, and rigorous design skills. The duration of the undergraduate architecture program is three years. In addition to the Bachelor of Architecture, UCL offers a Master of Architecture, a Master of Architecture in Architectural Design, and a PhD in Architectural Design, and the employer's reputation is statistically 92.6%. With a student ratio of 43% domestic and 57% international, the annual tuition fee for the architecture program is set at £31,100.

In order to be accepted to the university, students are expected to successfully complete a challenging application process and an assessment task and to be successful in an interview where they present a strong portfolio. In addition, a minimum score of 6.5 must be obtained in the IELTS exam for English language proficiency. Providing students with the opportunity to explore their own architectural vision, the first year of UCL’s undergraduate architecture education focuses on projects that aim to develop fundamental skills such as observation, the design process, and critical thinking.

In addition, students must succeed in courses covering architectural history and theory, the formation of cities and the built environment, climate, and technology. However, students can skip the first part by passing the Architects Registration Board (ARB) and Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) exams. In the second and third years, students join the Bartlett Design Unit, where they become part of a group of 15 and receive training from experienced design tutors.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)

MIT, one of the best universities in architecture education, has held the title of the best university in the world for three consecutive years but has fallen to 2nd place after losing its place to UCL in 2024. MIT is an independent, coeducational, privately endowed university organized into five schools (Architecture and Planning; Engineering; Humanities, Arts, and Social Sciences; Management; Science) and one college (Computing).

Located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, the university offers a Bachelor's in Architecture, as well as Master's programs in Architecture, Master's in Architectural Studies, and a PhD in Architecture. With an employer reputation score of 96.8%, the undergraduate architecture program at MIT has a duration of four years. However, since MIT's architecture program is accredited by the NAAB, students who wish to become licensed architects in the U.S. must continue their education with an M.Arch program.

The university, which has very demanding application requirements, receives approximately 5,000 applications from more than 100 countries each year. The university, which has a 67% domestic and 33% international student ratio, expects a minimum score of 7 on the English proficiency exam IELTS. Admission decisions are based on SAT or ACT scores, and architecture applicants are also required to submit a portfolio showcasing their creative work. The annual tuition fee for the architecture program is $53,790.

Delft University of Technology

With a strong academic program, the Delft University of Technology, located in Delft, Netherlands, is one of the best universities for bachelor architecture education. With a student ratio of 65% domestic and 35% international, the university offers a program in Dutch, and international students must be proficient in Dutch. In addition to a Bachelor's in Architecture, Urbanism, and Building Sciences, TU Delft offers a Master's in Architecture, Urbanism, and Building Sciences, as well as PhD opportunities in Architecture and the Built Environment. The undergraduate architecture program has a total duration of three years.

Promising to analyze complex and problematic issues clearly and structured with a technical and scientific education, the university also has an employer reputation rate of 88.4%. Providing architecture students with a new perspective on living space design and organization, TU Delft's undergraduate architecture program has various themes in 24 modules and is divided into five separate learning paths: Design, Science and Skills, Technology, Foundations, and Society. With an annual fee of €16,705, the university's architecture program is one of the best options for aspiring architects who want a research-oriented, project-based education.

ETH Zurich (Swiss Federal Institute of Technology)

ETH Zurich, located in Zurich, Switzerland, is one of the best universities in Europe and the world for undergraduate architecture education. With an employer reputation score of 92.1%, the university offers a Bachelor's in Architecture, a Master's in Architecture, and a PhD in Architecture and Civil Engineering. The primary language of instruction is German, and the student population consists of 57% domestic and 43% international students. The undergraduate architecture program lasts three years, with an annual tuition fee of 1,460 Swiss francs.

Architect candidates who want to apply to the university's bachelor architecture program must have a high school diploma and a high GPA, as well as a sufficient score on the undergraduate entrance exam administered by ETH Zurich. The International Baccalaureate Diploma or the European Baccalaureate Diploma can be used instead of this exam. Accepted architecture students spend their first year studying fundamental courses such as design principles, construction knowledge, architectural drawing, and engineering. In the second and third years, students participate in project-based work in design studios. After completing the undergraduate architecture program at ETH Zurich, students can qualify for one of the world's top master's programs at the same university by passing an additional examination.

Manchester School of Architecture (MSA)

Manchester School of Architecture, located in Manchester, England, is one of the world's best universities offering bachelor architecture education, managed in collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Manchester. With an employer reputation score of 98.9%, MSA offers not only a Bachelor's in Architecture but also Master's programs in Architecture and Landscape Architecture, as well as a PhD in Architecture. Hosting over 1,000 students from more than 80 countries, the undergraduate architecture program lasts three years, with an average annual tuition fee of £20,375.

Recognized by institutions such as the Architects Registration Board (ARB), the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), and the Landscape Institute, MSA provides students with the opportunity to develop their skills and understanding to become qualified architects or landscape architects in the UK. The university, which offers design-focused courses, expects a strong portfolio from architect candidates for admission. This portfolio should include a statement explaining why the applicant wishes to study at MSA, a personal reflection on a recent exhibition or building they have visited, a statement about their favorite architect or building, and thoughts on an architectural work they would like to personally experience. Additionally, candidates must showcase their own creative work within the portfolio.

Politecnico di Milano

One of the world's best universities offering undergraduate architecture education, Politecnico di Milano is the largest technical university in Italy, located in Milan, Italy. The university offers architecture programs in both Italian and English, with a bachelor's degree duration of three years. Additionally, it provides master's degree programs. In order to be accepted to Politecnico di Milano, which has a student ratio of 77% domestic and 23% international, a score of 5+ must be obtained from the IELTS exam. Furthermore, candidates wishing to enroll in the architecture program must successfully pass the Politecnico di Milano Architecture Exam, a 50-question online test. The annual tuition fee for the program is €4,000.

The university, which aims to train architects who master the theoretical foundations and operational tools required to design architecture at various scales, has a program designed to reflect the wide range of knowledge and skills required for an architect to adequately address the challenges of today. In the architecture program, where design plays a central role in studios and courses, students must also be successful in courses such as architecture and art history, representation and mathematics, sociology, urban planning, architectural composition, architectural technology, building physics, statics, and mechanics of materials and structures, and historic building conservation.

Tsinghua University

Located in Beijing, the capital of China, Tsinghua University is one of the universities with the best undergraduate architecture programs in the world. Offering the best architecture program in East Asia, the university provides undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in Architecture, Urban Planning, Building Science, and Landscape Architecture. The undergraduate architecture program lasts five years and includes core engineering and architecture courses, design studios, and field studies.

Tsinghua University follows the "Three-Pronged Approach" mission, focusing on shaping values, developing skills, and integrating knowledge. The architecture program is taught in both Chinese and English, and applicants are expected to demonstrate proficiency in both languages. The university, where department fees vary between 30,000-50,000 dollars, has a student ratio of 84% domestic and 16% international.

National University of Singapore (NUS)

The National University of Singapore (NUS), one of the best universities for architecture education, ranks as the 8th best university in the world. Founded in 1905, this university is the oldest autonomous university in the city. The Department of Architecture in the School of Design and Environment offers programs in a variety of fields including landscape architecture, urban design, urban planning, and integrated sustainable design, and NUS has a 90.7% employer reputation.

The architecture program, which has a curriculum enriched with design studios, technical courses, and historical analysis, is 4 years. Taught in English, the university requires an IELTS score of 6 or higher for admission. The annual tuition fee is SGD 2,065 for domestic students and SGD 17,650 for international students, and the university has 64% domestic and 36% international students. NUS also allows architecture students to concurrently enroll in a Master's program during their final year.

University of California, Berkeley (UCB)

One of the most prestigious public universities in the United States, the University of California, Berkeley (UCB) is ranked among the best 10 universities in the world for architecture education. Known for promoting research and independent design, UCB's architecture degrees focus on the aesthetic, cultural, and technical components of design. In addition to the undergraduate architecture program, UCB offers Master's and PhD degrees in Architecture. 

The university, which has a 76% domestic and 24% international student ratio, has an English language education and candidates are expected to score 6+ on the IELTS exam. An English proficiency exam, high school diploma, SAT or ACT exam score, and personal statement & essay are required for admission to the school. Undergraduate fees are 50,808 USD per year. In the university, which has a total of 4 years of architecture undergraduate program, students must continue their education with a master's degree in order to be accepted as a certified architect in the USA.

Tongji University

One of the world's best universities providing architecture education, Tongji University is located in Shanghai, China. Founded in 1907, it is one of the oldest, most selective, and prestigious universities in China. In addition to its undergraduate Architecture and Construction program, Tongji University offers Master's degrees in Architecture and Construction. The university, which has 84% ​​domestic and 16% international students, has Chinese and English as its language of instruction. The architecture undergraduate program is 4 years long and the annual fee is 33,800 CNY.

Candidates are required to have a high school diploma, a certain grade point average, and Chinese language proficiency in order to be accepted to the architecture undergraduate program, which includes design studios as well as courses such as building technologies, architectural history, and urban planning. Candidates are also expected to submit their design portfolios.