Top Universities for Masters in Architecture (M Arch) in Europe

Top Universities to study Architecture in Europe: The Nordic Region, Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom have over the years emerged as strong destinations for pursuing Masters in Architecture studies. The countries not only provide state-of-the-art universities combined with modern amenities but also provide an accurate blend of theoretical knowledge with practical experience allowing students to have an enriching experience of architectural study.
With the demand for green buildings, modern spaces and a growing need to fit the ever-increasing population into smart spaces, the demand for architects could not have been any more real. Europe houses some of the top universities to study Masters in Architecture. Universities abroad also provide a large number of scholarships to international students with academic excellence.
Candidates who have a desire to pursue architecture studies abroad and have the required finances should pursue education abroad as the experience is par excellence. Provided below is a comprehensive list of top universities to study Architecture in Europe. More information can be found about the colleges as you read along.
Best Universities to Study Architecture in Europe
Here is a list of top universities to study architecture in Europe.
| University | QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021: Architecture & Built Environment | Times Higher Education Subject Ranking 2022: Best Universities for Architecture |
|---|---|---|
| University College London (UCL) United Kingdom |
#2 | #18 |
| Delft University Netherlands |
#3 | #75 |
| ETH Zurich Switzerland |
#4 | #15 |
| University of Cambridge United Kingdom |
#9 | #5 |
| Italy |
#10 | #351–400 |
| University of Manchester United Kingdom |
#11 | #50 |
| École polytechnique fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) Lausanne Switzerland |
#12 | #40 |
| KTH Royal Institute of Technology Sweden |
#19 | #201–250 |
| Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, BarcelonaTech (UPC) Barcelona, Spain |
#20 | #601–800 |
| Technical University of Berlin Berlin, Germany |
#22 | #139 |
* Souce: QS Top Universities | Times Higher Education (THE) Ranking
Know more about the universities in detail, here
Delft University
The Delft University of Technology often referred to as TU Delft, is the oldest and largest technical university in the Netherlands. It was established as a Royal Academy in 1842 to facilitate the education of civil engineers. It is the school that rapidly expanded its education curriculum and became a polytechnic school in 1864.
The education system of TU Delft is segregated into three levels; bachelor’s, master’s, and doctorate, since 2004. It offers 16 bachelor's and around 33 master's programs. With a large number of research institutes and 8 faculties, the university has over 19,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students, more than 3,300 scientists, and more than 2,200 support and management staff.
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University College London (UCL)
The University of College London is regarded as the third-largest university by the total number of students enrolled in the university. It was established in the year 1826. The main campus of the university is in Bloomsbury in central London and other campuses are in East London and Doha, Qatar.
The university is organized into 11 faculties including Arts & Humanities, Bartlett (Built Environment), Brain Sciences, Engineering Sciences, Institute of Education, Laws, Life Sciences, Mathematical & Physical Sciences, Medical Sciences, Population Health Sciences, Social & Historical Sciences which comprises of around 100 institutes, research centres and departments. It offers 440 UG programs and 675 PG programs.
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ETH Zurich
ETH Zurich was founded in 1855 as Polytechnikum. Also known as the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, the university was renamed ETH Zurich in 1911. The university was initially established as a centre of knowledge and innovation. It has 16 departments that offer high-quality education in various academic fields. Along with imparting theoretical knowledge, it also strives to develop practical know-how and professional skills.
ETH Zurich has two campuses. The main campus is located in the Zurich city centre and the second campus is situated on Hönggerberg, which rests on the city's outskirts. The Hönggerberg campus is home to the departments of civil engineering, chemistry, biology, architecture, physics, and materials science. Both campuses have a first-rate infrastructure that facilitates efficient research and learning.
University of Manchester
Located in Manchester on Oxford Road, England, the University of Manchester was established in the year 2004 when the Victoria University of Manchester and University Of Manchester Institute Of Science And Technology were merged. It is a public research red brick university, produced after the civic university movement that took place at the end of the 19th century.
The university offers undergraduate courses, master's courses, postgraduate research, diplomas and certification programs. As per the data of 2018-19, the university has 40,250 students and more than 12,800 staff members.
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge founded in 1209 is a public research university in Cambridge, United Kingdom. This university is formed from a variety of institutions which include 31 constituent Colleges and over 100 academic departments organized into six schools and they are Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Clinical Medicine, Humanities and Social Sciences, Physical Sciences, and Technology.
It has over 11,000 staff, 31 Colleges, and 150 Departments, Faculties, Schools and other institutions. The University boasts of a diverse international community and welcomes talented students from around the world. There are currently more than 20,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students at the university with close to 9,000 international students representing over 140 different countries.
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International students going to pursue higher education in Germany are required to apply for a German study visa. The cost of study visa for Germany is EUR 75 per applicant. Below we have provided a check list for German student visa:
- Valid passport
- Application form
- Declaration for additional contact and legal representation information
- Copy of passport
- Proof of admittance to the study course
- Curriculum Vitae
- Proof of Financial Means
The application process at the University of Manchester can change depending on course chosen and level of study. The steps to apply for undergraduate and postgraduate courses at the university are given as follows:
UG Application Process:
- Student must apply through the UCAS common application portal.
- They can go to the website and select the course that they are interested in.
- Students are required to meet the eligibility requirements (Academic qualifications, English proficiency, etc.
- Once they have decided on the course, the important documents are to be submitted such as SOP, Transcripts and personal statements.
- You can track the application's progress through your given credentials by UCAS.
- Once the applicant submits the application to UCAS, it forwards to the University, and the admission teams carefully analyse the application document.
- The university will send you an offer letter once selected. Hence keep checking your UCAS portal for your application status.
Check out: tips to improve your SOP.
PG application process:
- Select the postgraduate course you are interested in from the University of Manchester.\
- Ensure you meet the entry requirements for the chosen program, as they vary depending on the course.
- Complete the online application by providing your personal information.
- Upload the required documents, such as Academic transcripts and proof of English language proficiency ( TOEFL/ IELTS). experience in your fields and references (depending on the course). You also may require Two LORs depending on the course.
- If your application is successful, you will receive an offer from the University of Manchester.
To make your admission better, check out the following: How Admission Officers Evaluate your application.
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BSBI does not hold degree-awarding powers in Germany and its programmes are validated by private Italian distance learning institution UniNettuno International Telematic University. BSBI has also partnered with Concordia University Chicago to deliver programmes at its Berlin campus.