3 universities shaping the future of European architecture

With 70% of the world’s population set to live in cities by 2050, sustainability has emerged as one of the top priorities for architecture and engineering firms today. From Singapore’s Gardens by the Bay to Australia’s One Central Park and Pixel Building, there is a growing list of examples that show that the pursuit of greener built environments is possible. And with the industry set to grow 14.3% through 2027, there’s never been a more compelling time to start making a difference through this field. 

But first, you’ll need advanced knowledge, skills, and experience. The best architecture  degrees today can provide you with just that. Using the latest breakthroughs in academia and their close links to industry, these degrees focus on innovative, sustainable, and human-centred design principles. The three universities below stand out for their architecture degrees that do just that.

Aalborg University integrates architecture engineering and urban design programmes into one. Source: International Students – Aalborg University/Facebook

Aalborg University

It’s fitting that Aalborg University’s Department of Architecture, Design, and Media Technology is based in what used to be a grey industrial town that’s now transformed into a knowledge city full of life, innovation, and sustainability. Sustainable development is a multidisciplinary task, one that the department is well-equipped for. After all, this is a department that believes in the power of integrating design and engineering with human-centred architecture and urban design, steadfast in its vision of a liveable and sustainable society for all.

The department’s programmes reflect this commitment, inspired by and building on the tradition of sustainable Scandinavian architecture.

The Architecture, Master of Science (MSc) in Engineering is where you learn to build buildings and homes of tomorrow. By combining architecture with the art of engineering, the MSc will give you a deep understanding of tectonic design and sustainable architecture. By the time you graduate, you’ll be able to draw and model energy-neutral buildings and sustainable architecture, have experience working with environmentally sound materials and constructions and with user-oriented design, and have immersed yourself in building design, tectonic design, indoor climate, and integrated architecture.

Want to create the cities of the future? Then the Urban Design, Master of Science (MSc) in Technology is the ideal programme for you. It will train you on how to apply professional design methods to solve complex issues concerning urbanism from the , the spaces between the buildings to the large-scale urban landscape, , designing and developing cities, public spaces, and mobility nodes. The goal is to prepare you to design cities that are safe, fair, inclusive, and diverse for and with people.

Whichever programme you choose, you’ll work closely in groups with other students, where you approximately half of the time will work together with other students in studios exploring timely architectural or urban design problems. Together, in state-of-the-art facilities and laboratories, you’ll share knowledge and explore large and complex academic problems. It’s a great way to make new friends as you prepare to become future engineers who can build a better tomorrow. Apply to Aalborg University now.

Architecture and civil engineering students work together at the Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering. Source: Architecture & Civil Engineering at Bath/Facebook

University of Bath

The University of Bath is ranked seventh in the UK by the Guardian University Guide 2025 and eighth best university in the UK in the Complete University Guide 2025. As many as 92% of its research is classed as world-leading or internationally excellent by the Research Excellence Framework 2021. With so many accolades, this English university is well known for how well placed it is to help students succeed. 

At its Department of Architecture & Civil Engineering, expert faculty achieve that by getting students from different disciplines working together. The department’s philosophy is that “if architects and civil engineers are to work together, they will strongly benefit from being educated together.” Here, cross-discipline project work not only mirrors professional team relationships but gives aspiring architects a better comprehension of how sophisticated engineering transforms the construction and operation of buildings. For example, last year’s winner of the prestigious Ted Happold Award addressed a persistent societal issue in Oxford – the division between “town and gown” (a socioeconomic gap in the city) – by fully exploring the relationship between structure, environment, architecture, and building construction.

The Architecture MArch (Hons) benefits from this multidisciplinary focus. The programme gives you the enhanced architectural knowledge and practical experience you need to create complex design proposals. From as early as your first year, you will be in real-world placements, giving you actual examples that bring coursework to life. 

Lectures during that year cover a range of topics from architectural history, theory, and science to sustainability and urban design. In your second year, you will get more in-depth through research and studio projects, allowing you to focus on areas of architecture that interest you. 

“It’s great to be given the freedom to design something you’re passionate about and the creative control to let your ideas run wild,” says Warren D’Souza, MArch Architecture graduate. 

The MArch is fully validated by the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) for the purposes of RIBA membership and is currently prescribed by the Architects Registration Board (ARB), subject to period review, for the purposes of entry on to the United Kingdom Register of Architects.

Politecnico di Milano is the largest science-technology university in Italy where students are trained to become successful engineers, architects, and industrial designers. Source: Politecnico di Milano/Facebook

Politecnico di Milano

At the Politecnico di Milano, the largest science-technology university in Italy, students train to become successful engineers, architects, and industrial designers. This is done through its innovative teaching and experimental research that not only focus on architecture, design, and engineering but also includes sustainable development in its curriculum. Combining scientific rigour and creativity, programmes here provide the tools for you to gain the proper knowledge and experience that will prepare you for leadership roles in society and the job market.

This is translated into its Architecture and Urban Design master’s degree where you will work on projects according to their theoretical, critical, operational and experimental aspects. This programme provides a vast understanding of the foundation of design and how to tackle its current challenges. Topics cover the likes of provision of fundamental services, new housing needs, urban regeneration, the recovery of historical heritage, new settlements, and development dynamics.

At the end of this two-year experience, you will be able to interpret complex problems by applying the correct theories, methodologies, and operational tools. Not only are you ready to start solving today’s problems, but you are also addressing issues that might come in the future as you formulate hypotheses about the transformation of the physical environment as the city evolves.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International