Best universities for Architecture, building and planning (2026)

67 UK universities teaching Architecture, building and planning as a full-time degree, ranked on graduate pay, jobs, student satisfaction, students staying on and entry points.

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#	University	Score	Salary 5 yrs on	Working or studying	Satisfied	Typical UCAS
1	University of Cambridge Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	68	£59k	92%	75%	184
2	UCL Camden, London · TEF Silver	65	£48k	95%	85%	152
3	Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Gold	64	£49.5k	89%	89%	120
4	Loughborough University Charnwood, East Midlands · TEF Gold	62	£41k	90%	89%	120
5	Oxford Brookes University Oxford, South East · TEF Silver	61	£56.5k	88%	85%	120
6	University of Portsmouth Portsmouth, South East · TEF Gold	61	£45.5k	95%	88%	104
7	University of Leeds Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	60	£38.5k	90%	92%	136
8	University of Bath Bath and North East Somerset, South West · TEF Gold	60	£34.5k	—	81%	184
9	University of the West of England, Bristol South Gloucestershire, South West · TEF Silver	59	£45k	89%	92%	104
10	University of Birmingham Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	59	£39.5k	85%	95%	136
11	Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	59	£39k	95%	82%	120
12	Architectural Association School of Architecture Barking and Dagenham, London	59	£35.5k	90%	91%	136
13	University of Edinburgh Scotland	58	£33k	95%	90%	168
14	University of Reading Wokingham, South East · TEF Silver	57	£50.5k	85%	84%	120
15	Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales	57	£40k	92%	81%	120
16	Queen's University Belfast Northern Ireland	57	—	90%	86%	120
17	University of Northumbria at Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	56	£40k	95%	79%	120
18	Coventry University Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	56	£39k	95%	84%	96
19	University of Manchester Manchester, North West · TEF Silver	55	£38k	85%	85%	136
20	Kingston University Kingston upon Thames, London · TEF Gold	55	£36.5k	85%	89%	120
21	University of Liverpool Liverpool, North West · TEF Gold	55	£29.5k	90%	90%	128
22	University of Dundee Scotland	55	£29k	95%	87%	184
23	Aston University Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Gold	54	£40.5k	90%	86%	120
24	Heriot-Watt University Scotland	54	£40.5k	95%	76%	152
25	University of Aberdeen Scotland	54	£40k	90%	86%	152
26	University of Sheffield Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	54	£30.5k	86%	90%	152
27	Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	54	£28k	89%	85%	152
28	Falmouth University Cornwall, South West · TEF Silver	54	—	90%	87%	120
29	University of Brighton Brighton and Hove, South East · TEF Silver	53	£41.5k	85%	89%	96
30	University of Greenwich (Part of London and South East University Group) Greenwich, London · TEF Gold	52	£39k	90%	78%	104
31	University of Lancaster Lancaster, North West · TEF Gold	52	—	90%	70%	136
32	London South Bank University Southwark, London · TEF Silver	51	£40.5k	85%	85%	96
33	University of Salford Salford, North West · TEF Silver	51	£38.5k	90%	81%	104
34	University of Plymouth Plymouth, South West · TEF Gold	51	£37k	98%	68%	104
35	University of Nottingham Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Silver	51	£32k	90%	83%	128
36	Edinburgh Napier University Scotland	50	£37k	92%	78%	136
37	Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	50	£36k	90%	80%	104
38	University of Derby Derby, East Midlands · TEF Gold	50	£33.5k	85%	86%	96
39	University of Ulster Northern Ireland	50	—	88%	81%	120
40	Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool, North West · TEF Silver	49	£33k	83%	89%	112
41	University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	48	£37k	85%	74%	120
42	Leeds Beckett University Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Bronze	48	£33k	88%	88%	104
43	Robert Gordon University Scotland	48	£27.5k	92%	92%	136
44	University of Lincoln Lincoln, East Midlands · TEF Gold	47	£28.5k	95%	72%	104
45	Arts University Bournemouth, the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, South West · TEF Silver	47	£27.5k	—	86%	136
46	University of Huddersfield Kirklees, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	47	£25k	90%	88%	104
47	Glasgow Caledonian University Scotland	46	£38.5k	85%	77%	136
48	University of Essex Colchester, East of England · TEF Silver	46	£32.5k	80%	87%	104
49	University of Wolverhampton Wolverhampton, West Midlands · TEF Bronze	46	£31.5k	95%	89%	88
50	University for the Creative Arts Waverley, South East · TEF Silver	46	£29k	90%	89%	96

How the score works: universities are compared within each subject on salary five years after graduating (27%), the share in work or further study (18%), student satisfaction (18%), students staying on (13.5%), typical UCAS points (13.5%, compared within each nation) and the TEF rating (10%, England). 50 is typical. Figures: Discover Uni (Office for Students, HESA), National Student Survey, Graduate Outcomes, HMRC LEO earnings; full-time first degrees.

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Questions

What is the best university for Architecture, building and planning?

On our measures University of Cambridge ranks first for Architecture, building and planning, followed by UCL, Nottingham Trent University, Loughborough University. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Architecture, building and planning graduates earn the most?

University of Cambridge: typical earnings of £59k five years after graduating (HMRC tax records).