Want to learn about the most prestigious architecture schools in France? Well, you’ve come to the right place. It’s no secret that France is a cultural hub for global architects and interior designers with Paris being one of the main cities used for inspiration by students.
If you’re considering studying architecture in France, you’re in for a treat. The country’s rich history, breathtaking natural beauty, and diverse architectural styles make it one of the best places to study architecture in the world.
Find out more about Schools In France, best architecture universities in europe, best architecture schools in the world on careerkeg.com.
This guide will help you find the best architecture schools in France for your needs. We’ll discuss what makes each school unique and how to apply for admission.
Best Architecture Schools In France: Overview
The top architecture schools in France are located throughout the country and offer a wide variety of degree programs that allow students to specialize in their field of interest. These include:
- Bachelor of Architecture (BArch)
- Master of Architecture (MArch)
Best Architecture Schools In France
École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles
École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles
Located in the west of Paris, the École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles trains students in architecture and urbanism. It is part of a French institute for higher education (IUT), which means that it offers only postgraduate degrees. The school has a long history going back to 1671 when it was founded as an academy for painters but later became known as the School of Fine Arts and then the National School of Fine Arts. In 2006 it became part of France’s network of public universities and changed its name to École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Versailles.
École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Nantes
The École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Nantes (ENSA-Nantes) was founded in 1921, and it offers programs in architecture, urban planning and landscape architecture.
The school is located in a neighborhood known as the center of Nantes. It has a student body of around 700, with around 100 faculty members.
There are currently nine different specialties that students can choose from when they enroll: architecture; urbanism; landscape design; heritage science and management; architectural production methods with an emphasis on sustainable development; wood construction with an emphasis on sustainability; sustainable development practices; restoration & conservation sciences/techniques
École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Paris-Malaquais
Located in Paris, France, this school was founded in 1741. The Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Paris-Malaquais offers programs in architecture and urban planning. It is a public institution that uses the French grading system:
École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Normandie
École nationale supérieure d’architecture de Normandie was founded in 1986. It is located in the city of Caen and is one of the best architecture schools in France.
The school has an excellent reputation in the field of architecture, having been ranked third among all French higher education institutions for its research work on construction industry projects.
ENSA Paris-Malaquais
- ENSA Paris-Malaquais
Located in the heart of Paris, the École Nationale Supérieure d’Arts et Métiers (ENSA) is a public school that has been continuously training engineers for over 350 years. It was founded in 1671 by Anne-Robert-Jacques Turgot, who also served as Louis XVI’s Controller General of Finance. The school is part of the University of Paris and focuses on producing practical skills that students can use immediately after graduation. In addition to its wide range of engineering programs, ENSA has strong ties to industry through its partnerships with companies like Renault and Total; this ensures that students receive the best education possible while still being exposed to real world experience during their studies.
- École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Versailles
École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Toulouse
The École Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Toulouse is the only university-level architecture school in France. It was founded in 1969, and provides a 5 year program that includes a Mastère Spécialisé research project. The school also offers an international exchange program for students from overseas.
about 100 students are admitted to the program each year, but the graduate program is called “Mastère Spécialisé” instead of “Master’s Degree” because it is still considered part of the undergraduate curriculum at ENSA.
Ecole nationale supérieure d’architecture de Bretagne
Located in Rennes, the Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Bretagne is a public school that specializes in architecture. The program offers three main tracks of study: urbanism and landscape design, architecture, and urban habitat as well as an international program. Tuition for the various programs ranges from €2,250 to €6,600 per year depending on whether you have completed your bachelor’s degree or not.
The school has a reputation for being one of the best schools for young designers to study at due to its high level of teaching standards. Students are encouraged to pursue their own projects while also learning from mentors who teach them how to conduct research independently as well as collaboratively with others within their field (and beyond). Classes are small which allows students plenty opportunity for personalization–whether that means taking specialized classes during summer break or participating in workshops outside regular semester hours!
If you’re accepted into Ecole Nationale Supérieure d’Architecture de Bretagne then rest assured knowing there are multiple financial aid options available including grants awarded based on merit rather than need alone!
best architecture universities in europe
Europe or “the Old Continent” is famous for its eye-catching buildings and architecture, which attract millions of tourists every year.
Knowing this, it’s not surprising that European universities have kept alive the passion for this art and offer some of the best Bachelors and Masters in Architecture.
But which are the top architecture schools in Europe? We’ve used the latest data from international university rankings to find out.
Best Architecture Schools in Europe: QS Rankings 2021
- University College London (UCL), the UK
- Delft University of Technology (TU Delft), the Netherlands
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Cambridge, the UK
- Politecnico di Milano, Italy
- Manchester School of Architecture, the UK
- EPFL, Switzerland
- KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
- Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC), Spain
- TU Berlin, Germany
Best Architecture Schools in Europe: World University Rankings 2022
- University of Cambridge, the UK
- University College London (UCL), the UK
- University of Edinburgh, the UK
- Leiden University, the Netherlands
- KU Leuven, Belgium
- Delft University of Technology, the Netherlands
- Lancaster University, the UK
- ETH Zurich, Switzerland
- University of Manchester, the UK
- University of Glasgow, the UK
best architecture schools in the world
With the increase in demand for Architecture professionals, universities across the world are offering an array of degrees or short-term programs in this field. Here are the QS Rankings for Top 10 Architecture Colleges in the World and their Rankings in 2022.
Top 10 Architecture Colleges in World
| Ranking | University | Location | Overall Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Massachusetts Institute of Technology | Cambridge, United States | 96.1 |
| #2 | University College London | London, United Kingdom | 95.9 |
| #3 | Delft University of Technology | Delft, Netherlands | 93.2 |
| #4 | ETH Zurich – Swiss Federal Institute of Technology | Zürich, Switzerland | 92.9 |
| #5 | Harvard University | Cambridge, United States | 89.2 |
| #6 | National University of Singapore (NUS) | Singapore, Singapore | 87.4 |
| #7 | The University of California, Berkeley (UCB) | Berkeley, United States | 87.1 |
| #8 | Tsinghua University | Beijing, China (Mainland) | 85.3 |
| #9 | University of Cambridge | Cambridge, United Kingdom | 84.8 |
| #10 | Politecnico di Milano | Milan, Italy | 84.5 |
Best Architecture Colleges: In Detail
If you want to know why these universities are ranked at a high position, glance over the overview of some of them so as to understand why they are considered as the best architecture colleges:
Massachusetts Institute of Technology [MIT]
Established as part of the original four departments of MIT, the Department of Architecture marked the institute’s commitment to expanding into diverse spaces and sciences. It offers a host of coursework as well as research degrees touching fields of Building Technology, Computation, History, Architecture & Urbanism, History, Theory & Criticism of Architecture & Art and Art, Culture & Technology. Dual degrees in association with other departments are also offered.
University College London
When it comes to determining the largest education institution by the total number of students in the UK, the University College London turned out as the 3rd largest. UCL has formed 193 years ago. At that time, it was named London University. This university was first among those educational institutions, where students can peacefully study without facing any discrimination. The university has several campuses in East London and Bloomsbury. However, Bloomsbury is a more recognized campus because it’s the main one.
ETH Zurich
Founded in the year 1854, the Department of Architecture at ETH Zurich, Switzerland is one of the oldest and best architecture colleges across the globe. Its bachelor’s to continuing education course offerings are broadly divided into architecture, integrated building systems, and landscape architecture. It also has a dedicated Institute of Technology in Architecture, amongst others.
Cornell University
Revered throughout the United States as one of the best architecture colleges, the Cornell AAP Architecture and Art & Planning have etched their name in the list of the top institutes offering courses in this field. The programs offered by the university emphasize development through small class sizes, community building, study abroad programs, etc. Further, its Professional Master of Architecture program is specially designed for attaining a fast-track route into the industry.
National University of Singapore[NUS]
Offering a variety of programs spanning architecture, sustainable design, urban planning, etc, NUS’s Architecture Department offers individuals a conducive environment to learn and experiment. It is well-known for its double-edged focus on technical expertise and intelligent thinking or creativity. Counted amongst the best architecture colleges in Asia, NUS also gives various awards & scholarships to encourage student participation from all corners of the world.
Tsinghua University
Tsinghua University’s Department of Architecture was founded in October 1946 by famous architectural scholar Liang Sicheng and transferred to the School of Architecture in 1988, which presently includes the Department of Architecture and the Department of Urban Planning. The Departments of Building Science and Technology and Landscape Architecture were established independently in 2001 and 2003, and all of the departments above are made up of the four departments of the present School.
University of Cambridge
The Faculty of Architecture and History of Art at the University of Cambridge houses the Department of Architecture. Scroope Terrace on Trumpington Street houses both departments. Despite its small size in comparison to other institutions, the Department continues to develop, and the graduate admission has now surpassed the undergraduate intake for several years. The Department has roughly 300 students and around 30 faculty members, including full-time academic staff and part-time Design Fellows from highly successful London-based practises.
University of California Berkeley
The University of California’s College of Environmental Design (CED) is regarded as one of the best environmental design institutions in the country. It is regarded as one of the most prestigious labs for experimentation, research, and intellectual synergy in the world. CED pioneered an integrated approach to evaluating, comprehending, and creating our built environment as the first school to merge the disciplines of architecture, planning, and landscape architecture into a single college.
Harvard University
The GSD boasts the oldest landscape architecture programme in the world (established in 1893), as well as the oldest urban planning programme in North America (founded in 1900). Harvard University was the first to offer architecture classes in 1874. In 1936, the Graduate School of Design was founded, bringing together the three areas of architecture, urban planning, and landscape architecture under one roof. For the fiscal year 2016, the school’s endowment had a market value of around $428 million.
Delft University of Technology
TU Delft’s Faculty of Architectural and the Built Environment, which was founded in 1904, plays a prominent role in architecture instruction and research in the broadest sense. Approximately 3,000 students, as well as hundreds of researchers, lecturers, and professors follow or give education, conduct research, and support work in a dynamic, unique, and internationally oriented atmosphere. The Faculty’s goal is to prepare students to be exceptional architectural engineers, ranging from building technologists and urbanists to architects, landscape architects, real estate experts, and geodata specialists who operate on a national and worldwide scale. With over 30% of foreign Master’s students and faculty from 42 countries, it boasts a vibrant international community.
