3 universities shaping the future of international design and architecture students

Every year, the American Institute of Architects — the largest, most influential network of architects and design professionals in the country — awards the Gold Medal to “an individual or pair of architects whose significant body of work has had a lasting influence on the theory and practice of architecture. It is its highest annual honour — one that has in recent years been bestowed to David Lake and Ted Flato (2024), Carol Ross Barney (2023) and Angela Brooks and Lawrence Scarpa (2022).

What these winners share in common is a vision that uses designing and building to create a better, more sustainable world. Their work has been praised for “enriching the human experience” and for “pushing the limits of design while easing the burden on our planet.” Barney’s McDonald’s global flagship at Walt Disney World Resort, for example, aims to become the first net zero energy quick service restaurant and one that represents the fast food behemoth’s commitment to building a better future through “scale for good,” architecture and technology.

Want to join their ranks and become fearless advocates of architecture and the built environment’s power to do good? The following universities can equip you with the skills, finesse and experience to do just that:

Source: Texas A&M University

Texas A&M University

Are you an aspiring architect, landscape architect, or built environment expert who is driven to create a better world? Look no further than Texas A&M University‘s College of Architecture. Here, internationally recognised, accredited graduate programmes equip you with the skills and knowledge to tackle the critical challenges in our natural, built, and virtual environments.

Choose from a diverse range of master’s degrees:

• Master of Architecture and Master of Science in Architecture (Department of Architecture) 
• Master of Science in Construction Management (STEM-designated, Department of Construction Science)
• Master of Landscape Architecture (STEM-designated), Master of Land and Property Development, and Master of Urban Planning (Department of Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning)

What sets these programmes apart is their interdisciplinary approach, mirroring real-world collaborations. This unique range of offerings covers the entire life cycle of site development, design, and construction. Whether you’re seeking licensure or a career change, these programmes ensure you gain expertise in your discipline while understanding the “big picture” of professional practice.

Enhance your employability through:

1. Experienced faculty: Over 60% of faculty are licensed or certified professionals in their fields.
2. Industry advisory councils: Active practitioners provide mentorship, internships, and career opportunities through extensive partnerships and professional network.

As an Aggie – a proud Texas A&M student – you’ll be part of a world-renowned university with over 75,000 students and a prolific research profile (R1 designation). Enjoy the benefits of a large public university while living in a state with a relatively low cost of living and high quality of life. The rewards continue even after graduation through the vast, supportive, and international “Aggie Network,” known for hiring fellow Aggies.

If you’re passionate about solving complex problems and building smarter, safer, and more resilient communities, explore the College of Architecture at Texas A&M University today. Applications open August 2024 – don’t miss your chance to build a brighter future!

Source: University of California, Berkeley

University of California, Berkeley

The College of Environmental Design at the University of California, Berkeley, is among the nation’s best. As the first school to combine architecture, planning, and landscape architecture under one roof, the college focuses on analysing, understanding, and designing structures. 

The college houses five departments: Architecture, Landscape Architecture + Environmental Planning, City & Regional Planning, Real Estate Development & Design (MRED+D), and Urban Design. Each and every share the college’s vision to launch “graduates to be agents of change for environmental good.”

Coming up with climate solutions is an end goal of most master’s programmes here, with issues of adaptability, resilience, and mitigation at the forefront of its curriculum. The college is committed to answering today’s environmental troubles by adapting to the latest technologies. Wetland restoration and carbon-neutral building methods are just some examples of research done here.

CED graduates are doing their part too. Apart from turning a 4,500-square-foot former factory into a venue for Michelin-worthy dining, designing Nvidia’s headquarters and being to elevated to the Council of Fellows of the American Society of Landscape Architects, they are winning awards for supporting the cause of social justice, particularly in urban planning or development, for communities of colour.

CED graduate and urban planning scholar Dr. Clara Irazábal-Zurita won the the 2023 Edward Blakely Award. Her research and teaching explore the interactions of culture, politics, and placemaking and their impact on community development and socio-spatial justice in Latin American cities and Latine, immigrant, and minoritised communities in the US. “Dr. Irazábal-Zurita’s renown extends to more than just her scholarship. She is also a valued leader, colleague and mentor in the planning community … She has been a willing and selfless mentor to so many young planning scholars of color, for which we are immensely grateful,” shared Award Selection Committee Chair Divya Chandrasekhar, University of Utah. 

Studying at the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture is all about collaboration. Source: University of British Columbia

School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture, University of British Columbia

The School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture at the University of British Columbia offers Canada’s groundbreaking first dual architecture-landscape architecture degree programme. Here, students and lecturers form a tight-knit community where they collaborate and share ideas to make a difference in the field of environmental design.

An accomplished, multi-disciplinary faculty teaches students to become creative leaders, effective collaborators, and progressive change agents. They do this through a whole range of master’s degrees for students to choose from. Master of Architecture, Master of Landscape Architecture, Master of Urban Design, Master of Advanced Studies in Architecture, Master of Advanced Studies in Landscape Architecture, and Master of Engineering Leadership in High-Performance Buildings are among the programmes available here.

The highlight, however, is the dual degree option where students can pursue a Master of Architecture and a Master of Landscape Architecture simultaneously in a condensed time span. Being the first of its kind, this programme is a rigorous course of study that is highly competitive to gain entry.

Studying at the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture is also about learning from the campus and the city it’s based in. Both serve as living laboratories to respond to the urgent human and environmental issues of our times. UBC is located on Canada’s west coast, connecting the university to number of communities, from Cascadia to the Pacific Rim, and with plenty of examples of how alumni have shaped Vancouver into an internationally recognised example of sustainable urban design. 

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