20 most beautiful universities in the world

isha jyala

The “Most Beautiful Universities in the World” is a book that features more than 30 universities across the world that have magnificent architecture and graceful design. The book is full of stunning photographs of these universities, captured by Guillaume de Laubier who is a photographer specializing in interior design, architecture, and lifestyle.

We looked up a few of the featured universities and were blown away by the sheer beauty of their buildings and campuses! Here are 20 of them. Studying in a beautiful university is a very valid reason to study abroad! Just saying.

1. University of Heidelberg (Germany)

Established in 1386, the University of Heidelberg is the oldest university in Germany and is a public research university. It must be mentioned here that there are 56 Nobel laureates that share a connection with this university or the city of Heidelberg.

Also read: Top 10 Cities in the World for Students

2. University of Rostock (Germany)

The 3rd oldest university in Germany, this is a multidisciplinary university offering an excellent research climate in all fields, from humanities to natural sciences and engineering or life sciences.

3. McGill University Montreal (Canada)

Established in 1821, this university has 24% of its students coming from 150+ countries, making it one of the most diverse universities of Canada. McGill is Canada’s best medical-doctoral university and is ranked 24th in the world (QS World University Rankings 2015.)

Also read: Top universities in the world to study Biomedicine

4. College de Valleyfield (Canada)

This is a college of general and vocational education (CEGEP) in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield, Quebec and is considered one of the most beautiful technical education schools in Quebec.

Also read: Top 100 Universities in Asia

5. Tsinghua University, Beijing (China)

Set up in 1911, this public research university is among the best in China and is known in China and abroad for its beautiful campus. It was also selected as one of the most beautiful college campuses in the world by a panel of architects and campus designers in Forbes in 2010.

6. University of Aarhus (Denmark)

Denmark’s largest and second oldest (since 1928) university, the University of Aarhus’s main building is considered as one of the twelve most significant architectural works in the cultural history of Denmark.

7. University of Salamanca (Spain)

This is one of the top ranked universities of Spain and and is particularly noted for its language, laws and economics courses.

Also read: Top 50 Law Colleges in the World

8. University of California, Berkeley CA (USA)

The University of California (UC) in Berkeley, California always features among the top 5 in the USA as well as the world. Its faculty, alumni and researchers have won 72 Nobel prizes, 11 Pulitzer prizes and many other prestigious awards.

9. Harvard University, Cambridge MA (USA)

The oldest institute in the USA and one of the most prestigious in the world, Harvard University’s alumni include 8 US Presidents, 150 Nobel laureates and many other notable personalities.

10. Stanford University, Stanford CA (USA)

Another top-ranking university from the USA, the Stanford University has a huge (8180 acres) and beautiful campus.

11. Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA (USA)

This private, residential, research university, better known as MIT has a unique sense of architecture, as can be seen from many of its buildings.

12. Princeton University, Princeton NJ (USA)

The university’s campus has buildings that are renowned for their architecture and was voted by the Travel+Leisure magazine as one of the most beautiful in 2011. The photograph here is of a study pod located in Princeton University’s Carl Icahn lab that is nicknamed “the Whale.” Innovative architecture, indeed!

13. University of Virginia, Charlottesville VA (USA)

Founded in 1819 by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, the University of Virginia’s (UVA) main building, the “Rotunda” (in pic below) is the most recognizable symbol of the university and is inspired by the Pantheon in Rome. In fact it is the first collegiate “World Heritage Site” in the world.

14. The US Military Academy, West Point NY (USA)

Also known as “The Academy” or “The Point”, this American military academy is a national landmark with many historic buildings, making it a popular tourist destination. Alumni from the academy include two Presidents of the USA!

15. Yale University (USA)

Listed as one of the most beautiful college campus by the Travel+Leisure magazine in 2011, the Yale University is home to many iconic buildings like the Ingalls Rink by Eero Saarinen, the Art and Architecture Building by Paul Rudolph, and Louis Kahn’s Art Gallery and British Art Center.

16. University of Montpellier Sud de France (France)

This French public research university, established in 1289, is one of the oldest in the world, yet age does not diminish the beauty of its building and campus!

17. Polytechnic School Paristech (France)

Known is French as the Ecole Polytechnique, this engineering school is also popularly known as just “X”.

18. Sorbonne University, Paris (France)

This French public university has 12 campuses across the city of Paris.

19. Trinity College Dublin (Ireland)

Ireland’s leading university is as beautiful as its country!

20. University of Bologna (Italy)

Established in 1088, the university is considered to be the oldest in the world.

About Nishatha Abraham Bijeesh

Nishatha has been writing about education in India and abroad for the last 9 years. She has been in the digital marketing industry for 8+ years and specializes in content marketing. Nothing annoys her more than slow wi-fi, incorrect usage of the apostrophe and people mispronouncing her name. She prefers not to talk about herself in the third person, but reluctantly, had to do so here!