Header: “A School of Agritecture” by Yijia Tracy Tang, Harvard University
Choosing to study architecture isn’t just about a job; it’s a commitment to shaping the spaces that define our world. Picking the right school becomes crucial as you embark on this transformative journey. D5, your guide in the world of architectural education, presents an exciting look into the top 10 architecture schools worldwide.
These schools not only provide a solid academic foundation but also immerse students in the exciting world of design, construction, and urban planning. With modern lessons, excellent facilities, and partnerships with industry leaders, these institutions offer a well-rounded education beyond the ordinary.
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) – School of Architecture and Planning
With an average of 600 to 700 students enrolling every year, the School of Architecture and Planning is one of the top choices for architecture students all over the world, not just in the United States. Its 6 divisions are sure to cover every aspect of the field, enriching any student’s curriculum with technology optimism and modern approaches. You’ll be able to comb through the Department of Urban Studies and Planning, the Media Lab, the MIT Center for Real Estate, the Art, Culture, and Technology Program, and the Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism.
The program is meant to foster social, cultural and environmental responsibility in the students, empowering them with the skills necessary to design future spaces and technologies where humans can go through life together. Combined with an incredible array of professors and courses, this school is definitely one to add to your “to-do applications” list.
Harvard University – Graduate School of Design
And who wouldn’t want to go to Harvard? Their Graduate School of Design boasts three departments in the realm of architecture where collaboration is key and students can study today’s most creative design approaches. Get lost in the rich curriculum of the Department of Architecture, the Department of Landscape Architecture, and the Department of Urban Planning and Design, some of the oldest and most distinguished academic programs in architecture in the world.
Mixing sustainability, modern approaches, prestigious professors, and top courses, Harvard’s Graduate School of Design is sure to give you all of the tools you need to not only make it in the competitive field of Architecture but also thrive. In Harvard’s words, “The Graduate School of Design educates leaders in design, research, and scholarship to make a resilient, just, and beautiful world.”
University of California Berkeley – College of Environmental Design
Let’s explore East Coast’s College of Environmental Design, where social and environmental values blend with innovative and critical teaching, academic research, and technology-driven practices. Urban development, ecological equity, materials and design research, and constant improvements are some of the things you can expect from this architecture program, so what’s not to like? Plus, the inviting weather will make every study session comfortable and provide every project with creative ideas.
From science to sustainability, architecture to urbanism, visual studies and building processes in developing countries, the faculty members cover a wide range of subjects, making this one of the most multidisciplinary courses on this list. Do you have a curious mind and love the Californian weather? This might just be your future college.
Architectural Association School of Architecture (AA)
Moving across the pond, the AA School of Architecture is the oldest independent school of architecture in the United Kingdom. Since 1847, this school has been committed to challenging and improving contemporary culture, cities, and the environment, making it one of the schools with the richest curriculum in the architecture world.
Their academic programs are based on critical thinking and discourse, and in radical practice, so, if this is for you, check out their foundation, intermediate, diploma, and taught post-graduate programs in architecture. Here, you’re promised to be heard and respected, as well as given all of the tools to be an independent mind who can formulate their thoughts and, therefore, help further develop the field.
University of Cambridge – Department of Architecture
Let’s stay in England for a while longer and talk about Cambridge’s Department of Architecture. More than a century old, renowned as one of the best architecture schools worldwide, and with special care for the number of students, this school creates the perfect environment for their students to benefit from the experts who teach there.
Their portfolio focuses on the theory and history behind the practical side of architecture to make sure that every student understands the responsibility of developing projects that resemble the community they are in. By mixing design with academic rigor, this program not only offers the fun creative part of architecture but also the dark academic vibes we all love and want.
ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology
Moving to Zurich, Switzerland, ETH (or Poly, as it’s known in the city) is one of the most prestigious universities worldwide in the field of engineering, that’s why their programme in Architecture and Civil Engineering had to be added to our little list. Their comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to teaching makes the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology the perfect choice for our ever-changing world.
Their architecture program focuses on providing the tools necessary to answer the problems of modernity, such as increasing demands on the quality of living and scarcity of natural resources. To achieve this, experts from the fields of architecture and engineering come together to provide technical, economical, and ecologically balanced answers to the questions of the future professionals of the field. Will you be one of them?
Columbia University – Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation
Columbia University’s Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation offers a comprehensive program that covers architecture, urbanism, computational design practices, real estate, and preservation studies. Here, technical knowledge and entrepreneurial roles come together, joined by design and spatial studies.
This technical program takes the very best from theory and practice, mixing it with the most developed technological tools to give students all the skills necessary to a future where architecture will become much more comprehensive and multidisciplinary.
Delft University of Technology – Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment
Delft University’s Department of Architecture, located in The Netherlands, is a prestigious architecture program renowned worldwide for its ability to address sudden social and cultural problems, both regionally and internationally, making it one of the most competitive in the field.
The department strives to offer its students and staff a stimulating working and studying environment, fostering the development of theories and innovation in the field of architecture. Here, theory and practice go hand in hand, so your curriculum will be fed only the very best and you’ll be given all the tools you need to enter the bustling architecture world.
National University of Singapore – College of Design and Engineering
When entering the website of the Department of Architecture at NUS’ College of Design and Engineering, we are met with an array of articles with titles like “Shaping Urban Visionaries (…)” and “(…) Embracing Multiculturalism and Sharing Innovative Design Ideas”, a great welcome if we do say so ourselves. The architecture department offers courses in urban planning and design, sustainable design, landscape architecture, architecture, and architecture conservation, all led by a multidisciplinary and international faculty.
This program is focused on providing answers to the architectural challenges of Asia and the Equador, giving its students all of the knowledge they need to succeed in these environments. From cutting-edge architectural practices to design exploration and critical inquiries, this school not only offers you the best in education, but also a world where architecture has still a lot of ground to cover.
Tokyo University of Science – Department of Architecture
Technical and serious, Tokyo University’s Department of Architecture strives to welcome students and send off researchers, engineers, architects, and designers who are able to solve problems on their own and excell in their practical field.
The program offers majors in Architectural Planning, Building Environment, Architectural Structures, and Architectural Mathematics, taking a lot of pride in teaching students the rigorous values of architecture and ensuring that the world will never miss out on professionals with a keen eye for safety and innovation.
