Best Architecture Schools

Architectural Schools & a List of Best Top Architecture Schools. Complete Report about Architecture and Designs Schools in USA, UK, Canada, and the rest of the World

Although there are not tons of architectural schools in the world and in America, there are still enough that picking one, or a handful, is a hefty choice for potential students.

Those looking into an architectural school are best served by reading this and talking with other architects and teachers to get their opinion on a school that is right for your aspirations and goals as a practicing architect. They will be glad to steer you in a good direction. However, even they will want to know some things from you in order to help you best and so you will have to know some things about yourself and the school you are interested in before asking around.

One of the first things you should sort out for yourself is location. Where do you want to go to school: do you want to live in a large city or a small town? Do you want to have access to distance education or go strictly to a school for your classes?

The location of a school have an impact on what kind of activities the students can be involved in; for example, urban schools have more of an impact on urban living while rural schools will put more emphasis on rural architecture. The reputation of the school is also important-some are simply better than others; perhaps because of faculty, the age of the school, or the cutting edge programs that the school in question offers. This requires deep research, best received by talking with students and faculty yourself, as second hand information can be highly misleading. You also have to work out what kind of program you want to take-whether you just want a degree in Architecture, a professional degree, a master’s degree, or even a PhD. This is based entirely on your personal preferences and goals.

The resources that the school has to offer are also important. Schools with up to date computer design programs, libraries, large design studios, and decent storage should be given preference over those without. Students also have to research the tuition and material costs of their program; given the astronomical amount of money that students can spend on their education, it’s a very good idea to shop around and compare costs so you don’t end up overspending on your education and then spending much of your life in debt. Also research the students going to the school and the faculty.

Since you will be spending so much of your time working with the students and the faculty, it’s important to know what kind of people you’re being grouped with. The faculty should be knowledgeable in their fields, energetic, willing to learn and work hard, and many are stars in their fields. Once you have picked out a school, or preferably a handful, you have to prepare yourself. You will go through an admissions process that will require a number of things of you before you are even admitted into the school.

A portfolio is always a good leg up over the competition; showcase your very best design work so that the admissions people can see what you already know and where your skills and talents lie. Bound up in the portfolio are reference letters-most schools require reference letters to show off the person’s characteristics that would make them suitable for that school. Many schools also offer chances for interviews. Although not usually required, it’s still a good idea to go as it gives students the chance to meet some of the faculty and gives those members a chance to meet you, which can improve your odds of getting in.

Grades and exams are also important; bring your best grades to the fore and do not panic on your SATs. Do not simply apply to one school, but don’t worry about applying to dozens either. Pick a few and then a back up one to concentrate your strengths on. Even if you don’t get into the one of your choice, you could go to a back up one and then transfer. This can be risky, and time consuming, but it is a viable route to take. Finally, enjoy the process as best you can. Picking and being picked by a school is one of the milestones in the life of an architect and it can prepare you for job hunting in the future. A List of Best Architecture Schools Around the World:

America’s Best Architecture Schools

1)United States: Best Architecture schools in the United States:

Andrews University Division of Architecture
Arizona State University, College of Architecture & Environmental Design
Auburn University College of Architecture, Design & Construction
Ball State University, College of Architecture and Planning

Boston Architectural Center
California College of Arts and Crafts
Cal Poly/San Luis Obispo, College of Architecture & Environmental Design
Carnegie Mellon
Clemson University

Columbia University, Graduate School of Architecture, Planning & Preservation
Cooper Union, Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture
Drexel University, College of Design Arts
Drury College, Hammons School of Architecture

Florida A & M School of Architecture
Florida International University School of Architecture
Frank Lloyd Wright School of Architecture
Georgia Tech

Harvard University Graduate School of Design
Illinois Institute of Technology
Iowa State University College of Design
Kansas State University College of Architecture Planning & Design

Kent State University School of Architecture & Environmental Design
Lawrence Technological University
Louisiana State University College of Design
Louisiana Tech University School of Architecture

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Mississippi State
Morgan State University
New Jersey Institute of Technology
New York Institute of Technology School of Architecture & Design

North Carolina State School of Design
North Dakota State University Dept. of Architecture/Landscape Architecture
Norwich University Division of Art & Architecture

Ohio State University Knowlton School of Architecture
Oklahoma State University College of Engineering Architecture & Technology
Parsons School of Design
Penn State

Portland State University
Prairie View A & M
Pratt Institute
Princeton University

Purdue University Landscape Architecture Program
Rensselaer Polytechnic
Rice University

Savannah College of Art and Design

Southern California Institute of Architecture
Southern Polytechnic State University School of Architecture
Southern University and A & M School of Architecture
SUNY Buffalo School of Architecture & Planning

Syracuse University
Temple University Architecture Program
Texas A & M University College of Architecture
Texas Tech

Tulane University School of Architecture
Tuskegee University College of Engineering, Architecture, & Physical Science
University of Arizona College of Architecture, Planning & Landscape Architecture

University of Arkansas School of Architecture
University of California at Berkeley College of Environmental Design
University of California at Davis Environmental Design Department
University of Cincinnati School of Architecture and Interior Design

University of Colorado College of Architecture & Planning
University of Georgia School of Environmental Design
University of Hawaii
University of Houston Hines School of Architecture

University of Idaho
University of Illinois/Champaign/Urbana
University of Illinois/Chicago
University of Kansas School of Architecture & Urban Design

University of Kentucky
University of Maryland School of Architecture
University of Miami School of Architecture
University of Michigan Taubman College of Architecture & Urban Planning

University of Minnesota The College of Design (CDes)
University of New Mexico School of Architecture & Planning
University of North Carolina/Charlotte
University of Notre Dame

University of Oklahoma College of Architecture
University of Oregon
University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Fine Arts
University of South Florida School of Architecture & Community Design

University of Southern California
University of Tennessee College of Architecture & Design
University of Texas/Arlington
University of Utah

University of Virginia
University of Washington College of Architecture & Urban Planning
Virginia Polytechnic College of Architecture & Urban Studies

Washington University School of Architecture
Woodbury University

Best Architecture Colleges and Universities in Canada that offer Accredited Master of Architecture Degree:

University of British Columbia
University of Calgary
Carleton University
Universite Laval
McGill University
University of Manitoba
Universite de Montreal
University of Toronto
Dalhousie University
University of Waterloo
BCIT : Polytechnic Institution offers an architecture degree.

Best Architectural Schools in United Kingdom

England

Architectural Association School of Architecture, London

Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London, London

Birmingham City University, School of Architecture, Birmingham

Canterbury School of Architecture, University College for the Creative Arts, Canterbury, Kent

Kent School of Architecture, University of Kent, Canterbury, Kent, UK

* Kingston University, School of Architecture and Landscape, London, UK, http://www.kingston.ac.uk/design/architecture.html

* London Metropolitan University, Department of Architecture and Spatial Design, London, UK

* London South Bank University, Architecture and Design, South Bank, London, UK

* Newcastle University, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape, Newcastle upon Tyne http://www.apl.ncl.ac.uk

* Nottingham Trent University (NTU), School of Architecture, Design and the Built Environment, Nottingham, http://www.ntu.ac.uk/sbe

* Oxford Brookes Department of Architecture, Oxford, http://www.brookes.ac.uk/schools/be/architecture

* The Manchester School of Architecture, Manchester, UK

* The University of Nottingham, School of the Built Environment, Institute of Architecture, Nottingham, http://www.nottingham.ac.uk/sbe

* University of Bath Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, Bath, UK

* University of Cambridge, Department of Architecture, Cambridge UK

* University of Portsmouth, UK
* University of Sheffield, School of Architecture, Sheffield, UK, http://www.sheffield.ac.uk/architecture

* University of Westminster, School of Architecture and the Built Environment, Marylebone, London

* University of the West of England, Faculty of the Built Environment, Frenchay Campus, Bristol

Northern Ireland

* The Queens University of Belfast, School of Architecture

* The University of Ulster Architecture, School of Architecture Belfast, UK

Scotland

* Edinburgh College of Art School of Architecture, Edinburgh, Scotland

* Mackintosh School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art (University of Glasgow), Glasgow, Scotland

* The Scott Sutherland School of Architecture and The Built Environment, Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland

* The University of Edinburgh Architecture, School of Arts Culture & Environment Edinburgh, Scotland
o (The Edinburgh College of Art and the University of Edinburgh are in the process of merging their two schools of architecture to form a single Edinburgh School of Architecture

* University of Dundee School of Architecture, Dundee, Scotland

* The University of Strathclyde Department of Architecture, Glasgow, Scotland

* University of Strathclyde, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Architecture, Strathclyde, http://www.strath.ac.uk/architecture

Wales

* Welsh School of Architecture, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK