Best universities for Architecture (2026)

58 UK universities teaching Architecture 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	Loughborough University Charnwood, East Midlands · TEF Gold	74	£52k	95%	92%	168
2	University of Cambridge Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	66	£59k	90%	68%	184
3	University of Bath Bath and North East Somerset, South West · TEF Gold	64	£34.5k	—	81%	184
4	Architectural Association School of Architecture Barking and Dagenham, London	62	£35.5k	90%	91%	136
5	Queen's University Belfast Northern Ireland	62	—	90%	87%	152
6	University of Reading Wokingham, South East · TEF Silver	59	£48.5k	85%	84%	120
7	Cardiff University Cardiff, Wales	59	£35.5k	85%	80%	168
8	University of Edinburgh Scotland	58	£33k	95%	90%	168
9	University of Gloucestershire Cheltenham, South West · TEF Silver	58	—	95%	94%	104
10	University of Nottingham Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Silver	57	£31.5k	92%	83%	152
11	University of Dundee Scotland	57	£28.5k	90%	94%	200
12	University of Liverpool Liverpool, North West · TEF Gold	56	£29k	84%	93%	136
13	Manchester Metropolitan University Manchester, North West · TEF Gold	56	£28.5k	89%	85%	152
14	Nottingham Trent University Nottingham, East Midlands · TEF Gold	55	£32k	83%	87%	120
15	University of Wales: Trinity Saint David Swansea, Wales	55	£31k	—	92%	136
16	UCL Camden, London · TEF Silver	55	£30.5k	—	80%	168
17	University of Portsmouth Portsmouth, South East · TEF Gold	55	£29.5k	95%	86%	104
18	University of Sheffield Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Silver	55	£29.5k	83%	90%	160
19	Kingston University Kingston upon Thames, London · TEF Gold	54	£33k	78%	83%	136
20	University of the West of England, Bristol South Gloucestershire, South West · TEF Silver	53	£29.5k	90%	94%	104
21	Sheffield Hallam University Sheffield, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Gold	53	£29k	95%	79%	120
22	University of Lancaster Lancaster, North West · TEF Gold	53	—	90%	70%	136
23	Falmouth University Cornwall, South West · TEF Silver	53	—	90%	87%	120
24	University of Brighton Brighton and Hove, South East · TEF Silver	52	£37.5k	85%	79%	104
25	University of Newcastle Upon Tyne Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	52	£33k	86%	76%	144
26	University of Northumbria at Newcastle Newcastle upon Tyne, North East · TEF Silver	52	£26.5k	95%	88%	136
27	Oxford Brookes University Oxford, South East · TEF Silver	51	£30k	85%	88%	120
28	Coventry University Coventry, West Midlands · TEF Gold	51	£28.5k	95%	84%	104
29	University of Ulster Northern Ireland	51	—	88%	81%	120
30	University of Salford Salford, North West · TEF Silver	50	£34.5k	86%	77%	104
31	University of Derby Derby, East Midlands · TEF Gold	50	£33.5k	80%	81%	104
32	Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge, East of England · TEF Gold	50	£32k	80%	89%	104
33	University of Westminster Westminster, London · TEF Silver	49	£31k	82%	84%	120
34	University of Lincoln Lincoln, East Midlands · TEF Gold	49	£28.5k	95%	72%	104
35	Leeds Beckett University Leeds, Yorkshire and The Humber · TEF Bronze	48	£29k	85%	95%	104
36	University of Plymouth Plymouth, South West · TEF Gold	48	£28k	95%	69%	104
37	Arts University Bournemouth, the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, South West · TEF Silver	48	£27.5k	—	86%	136
38	Robert Gordon University Scotland	48	£27.5k	92%	91%	144
39	University for the Creative Arts Waverley, South East · TEF Silver	47	£29k	90%	89%	96
40	Birmingham City University Birmingham, West Midlands · TEF Silver	47	£27.5k	82%	88%	112
41	University of West London Ealing, London · TEF Silver	46	£31.5k	90%	78%	88
42	Glasgow School of Art Scotland	46	£31k	75%	71%	184
43	De Montfort University Leicester, East Midlands · TEF Silver	46	£27.5k	90%	77%	96
44	University of the Arts, London Southwark, London · TEF Bronze	45	£30.5k	—	74%	136
45	Southampton Solent University Southampton, South East · TEF Gold	45	£28k	80%	89%	72
46	Liverpool John Moores University Liverpool, North West · TEF Silver	45	£25.5k	83%	89%	104
47	University of Wolverhampton Wolverhampton, West Midlands · TEF Bronze	43	£31.5k	80%	93%	104
48	University of Kent (Part of London and South East University Group) Canterbury, South East · TEF Silver	43	£31k	85%	64%	104
49	Edinburgh Napier University Scotland	43	£30k	85%	67%	152
50	Norwich University of the Arts Norwich, East of England · TEF Gold	43	£26.5k	80%	81%	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.

Questions

What is the best university for Architecture?

On our measures Loughborough University ranks first for Architecture, followed by University of Cambridge, University of Bath, Architectural Association School of Architecture. Rankings depend on what matters to you, so compare pay, jobs and satisfaction.

Which university's Architecture graduates earn the most?

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