If university is your next step, there are some pretty incredible institutions around the world to choose from. Revered and celebrated across the globe, universities are not just places of education, but also sources of incredible history and one-of-a-kind architecture. From the hallowed halls of Harvard to the centuries-old structures of Oxford, here we trawl through the most beautiful universities on Earth.
Click through this gallery to see the world's best-looking campuses, most of which you can visit whether you're a student or not...
Founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, Trinity College is Ireland’s highest-ranked university. Yet academic merit is not the only thing to admire about this historic institution, as the buildings that make up the campus are some of the finest in all Dublin. Oscar Wilde and Samuel Beckett attended Trinity and no visitor should miss a trip to the library. The 16th-century building has floor-to-ceiling wooden shelves packed with hundreds of thousands of books.
Despite being one of America's lesser-known universities, Berry College is housed on one seriously stunning estate. In fact, it occupies the largest campus in the US. Sprawling some 27,000 acres, this institution is home to foothills, rivers, wetlands, forests and award-winning gardens. There's also the Martha Berry Museum, which tells the story of this important educational facility, founded in 1902. Visits for prospective students are hosted often, and you can register online.
The beauty of architecture is entirely subjective, but there's no denying that the National Autonomous University of Mexico catches the eye. This one-of-a-kind campus is the largest in Latin America. Founded in 1910, the UNESCO-protected site was designed by some of Mexico’s best architects, and the likes of Diego Rivera and David Alfaro Siqueiros helped to create its murals.
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One of the greatest educational institutions in the world, Harvard University is also the oldest in America. Situated in the charming city of Cambridge, a few subway stops from central Boston, the university’s spectacular red-brick buildings date back to 1636 and surround an idyllic, leafy courtyard. The Widener Library is the centrepiece of the campus, with its columned facade and imposing barrel-vaulted reading room. The campus offers hour-long tours bookable through its website.
As iconic as it is spectacular, Royal Holloway, part of the University of London, can be found in the English county of Surrey and was founded in 1879. The institution was among the first in Britain to allow women to access higher education. The Founder's Building was unveiled by Queen Victoria in 1886 and it remains the hub of the campus to this day. Highlights include the Royal Holloway Chapel and the Picture Gallery, which contains a fine collection of Victorian paintings. Details of guided and self-led tours can be found online.
Situated in the city of Baltimore, Maryland, John Hopkins University is more than 145 years old. Dubbed America’s first research university, the campus is overflowing with impressive feats of engineering. The highlight, however, has to be the Peabody Library, which opened its doors in 1878. Designed by local architect Edmund G Lind, the library's imposing stack room contains five tiers of cast-iron balconies, which soar up some 61 feet (19m). Visits are allowed – see the university website for more information.
Despite its beauty and age, there's a chance you've never heard of Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. The ancient institution dates back to AD 970 and is one of the largest universities in the world – not to mention one of the oldest. Renowned as the most prestigious site for Islamic learning, the college is housed inside the breathtaking Al-Azhar Mosque, which dates back to the Fatimid era. Tours are available and the mosque's white-marble courtyard should not be missed.
Another lesser-known site with a lovely campus is the University of Coimbra, which can be found in the heart of its namesake Portuguese city. Surrounded by Coimbra's beautifully preserved medieval old town, the historic university was established in Lisbon in 1290, before being moved to its current location in 1537. Built on the grounds of a former palace, the campus is celebrated for its romantic exterior, Baroque library and 18th-century bell tower.
One of the oldest universities in the English-speaking world, the University of Edinburgh lies at the heart of one of the most beautiful historic cities in Europe, and boasts some incredible campus architecture – a mix of centuries-old structures and ultra-modern additions. The Old College, which dates back to the 18th century and surrounds a dreamy quad, is the university's most notable building. It's usually open for self-guided tours during the summer months.
Akin to a noble palace, the University of Hohenheim is located to the south of Stuttgart and dates back to 1818. Awe-inspiring thanks to its size and grandeur, the property also has a poignant history. In the 1940s, during the Second World War, around 250 people were deported to Hohenheim for forced labour. Today, a memorial sculpture can be found on university grounds, commemorating those that suffered and lost their lives during the Nazi regime.
The University of Cambridge was founded in 1209, making it one of the oldest surviving universities in the world. The institution is made up of 31 colleges and six schools and its architecture is otherworldly. Highlights include the chapel at King's College and the Bridge of Sighs at St John's College. It's open to visitors, so you can walk in the footsteps of former students like Sir David Attenborough.
Not all beautiful universities need to be historic, as Mode Gakuen Cocoon Tower proves. This Japanese icon was completed in 2008 and decorates the skyline of Tokyo with its cutting-edge facade. Soaring up 50 floors (that's some 669ft/204m), the award-winning skyscraper is home to three educational institutions: HAL Tokyo, Shuto Iko and Tokyo Mode Gakuen, a college of fashion, design and beauty. Only students and staff members are allowed inside, but you can take in its splendour from afar.
On the opposite end of the architectural spectrum, you'll find the University of Salamanca. Founded in the 12th century, this institution is one of the oldest universities in existence. The college was given a Royal Charter by King Alfonso IX in 1218 and blends Romanesque, Gothic, Moorish, Renaissance and Baroque architecture. In fact, the entire city of Salamanca was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988.
Founded in 1827, the University of Toronto has established itself as Canada’s leading institution of learning. Made up of three campuses, this university effortlessly blends old with new. The Mississauga campus has a striking facade of corten steel and azure glass, while the St George campus is all historical buildings and inviting green spaces. Campus tours are available for both prospective students and keen tourists.
One of America's eight prestigious Ivy League colleges, Princeton University has long held a reputation as one of the country's most notable educational institutions. Founded in 1746, the university is located in a quaint town in New Jersey and is home to a Gothic-style University Chapel, the Princeton University Art Museum and Nassau Hall, the oldest building on the campus. Michelle Obama and F Scott Fitzgerald were once students here and visitors can typically take tours of the campus.
Founded in the 15th century, the University of St Andrews is home to some truly spectacular buildings, including St Salvator's Chapel and Sallies Quad (pictured). It also happens to be mere moments from Scotland's enviable coastline. Famous alumni include Benjamin Franklin, Rudyard Kipling, Prince William and his wife, the Princess of Wales.
Another of the United States' Ivy League universities, Yale opened its doors to students in 1701 and has since welcomed the likes of George W Bush and Meryl Streep into its lecture theatres. Yale's famed Old Campus is home to the 216-foot-tall (66m) Harkness Tower, whose 54-bell Yale Memorial Carillon has been serenading passers-by since 1917. The campus is generally open for guided tours, but check online for details.
This is the most beautiful college town in every US state and DC
L'Ecole Nationale Superieure des Beaux-Arts de Paris, or the National School of Fine Arts, can be found in the centre of Paris and was founded in the 1600s. Now housed inside a series of grand buildings dating back to the 1800s, the prestigious school holds a vast collection of works and once taught the likes of Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Eugene Delacroix. If you’re keen to step inside, be sure to check out the school’s calendar of exhibitions and events.
Nestled in the heart of Belfast, Queen's University blends history and culture with a lively social scene. The college opened its doors in 1849 and is home to 250 buildings, around 100 of which are listed. The Lanyon Building, named after its architect Sir Charles Lanyon, is the centrepiece of the estate and has a striking red-brick facade, plus an interior kitted out with stained-glass windows and barrel-vaulted ceilings. There are campus tours for prospective students or you can take a virtual tour of the university from the comfort of your home.
Over in Leuven, Belgium, you'll find a university that could be plucked from the pages of a storybook. Katholieke Universiteit Leuven was founded in 1425 and, as such, is one of Europe’s oldest. The university owns an array of buildings, including three absolute jewels: the University Library of Leuven, Arenberg Castle (pictured) and University Hall. Formerly a cloth makers’ hall, the latter was constructed in 1317 and is now the heart of this important institution.
Oral Roberts University has one of the most unique campuses in the world. Founded in 1963 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the modern evangelical university is home to a vast array of futuristic, Art Deco-inspired buildings, each of which symbolises an element of the Christian faith. As well as the ultra-modern student centre, the campus is also home to a striking statue known as the Prayer Hands (exactly what it sounds like) and the 200-foot-tall (61m) Prayer Tower (pictured). Choose from a guided, self-guided or virtual campus tour.
Far from just being a place of education, the University of Virginia has a rich and fascinating history that has led it to be named a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was founded in 1819 by Thomas Jefferson, the third president of the United States, and at its centre lies the Rotunda, a stunning 19th-century property modelled after the Pantheon in Rome. The university is just down the road from Monticello, Jefferson’s former home, so you can combine the two during your trip to Charlottesville.
Positioned in the scenic town of Heidelberg, Germany, this institution was founded in 1386 by Pope Urban VI. Heidelberg is Germany's oldest university and, as such, has plenty of eye-catching architecture. The Old Assembly Hall (pictured), constructed in 1886, is the university's most prized building. Other sights worth seeing include the Student Prison. Established in the 1780s, students were incarcerated there for offences such as disturbance of the peace. The prison was in use until 1914.
Despite being one of the world's newest cities, Sydney is home to its fair share of landmarks, and the University of Sydney is definitely one of them. Established in 1850, Australia's first university has earned itself an international reputation. It's housed inside a purpose-built, 19th-century sandstone building and has a famous quadrangle courtyard that comes to life during spring, plus working farms and numerous museums. Tours are available for prospective students and visitors, and pay a visit to the Chau Chak Wing Museum, which showcases the university’s amazing collection of art, ancient history and science.
Internationally renowned, King's College London has been welcoming students since 1829, and over the years has produced 14 Nobel Prize winners. Spread out across the city of London, the campus is home to some truly stunning buildings, including King's College Chapel and the Bush House Building. King’s also owns the East Wing of Somerset House, among the most spectacular pieces of architecture in the English capital. Guided tours as well as virtual tours are available for four of the university's five campuses.
The idyllic riverside city of Durham, northeast England, has a hilltop cathedral and an 11th-century castle, which is now home to one of the UK's most prestigious educational institutions. Durham University was founded by an act of parliament in 1832, making it one of the oldest universities in England. Visitors can follow a self-guided tour to take in its Romanesque architecture, before enjoying a stroll along the River Wear.
Also known as Alma Mater Studiorum, the University of Bologna is considered to be the oldest university in the Western world. Established in 1088, it has five campuses across Italy, in Bologna, Cesena, Forli, Ravenna and Rimini, and has a community of more than 85,000 students. The institution is housed inside some spectacular buildings dating back to the Middle Ages and the Renaissance era, and highlights include the Bologna University Library, with its arched ceiling, dark wood and ornate columns. You can take a virtual tour on the university website.
There’s a reason why this building looks like a private country estate. Hatley Castle, located at Hatley Park National Historic Site on Vancouver Island, Canada, was built in 1907 by the Dunsmuir family. Between 1940 and 1995 it was used as a military training facility, but since then it has been the base for Royal Roads University. Home to Italian Gardens and a working farm, the estate has been a setting for several films, including X-Men and Deadpool. The campus is open to the public for guided walking tours and garden visits.
One of the world's most iconic universities, Oxford has a storied history and a truly spectacular campus. Positioned in the heart of Oxford, it's thought to have been in operation since 1096: that makes it the oldest university in the English-speaking world. Often topping the world university rankings, this incredible institution is famous for its historic buildings (like Radcliffe Camera, pictured), which attract millions of tourists every year. The university owns 67 listed buildings across the city.
The University of Otago proudly boasts that it's in the top 1% of the world's universities – and it's probably in a similar percentile for looks. Set on the banks of the River Leith, the university was New Zealand's first when it opened in 1874, and this neo-Gothic hall, aptly named the Clock Tower Building, is one of several charismatic structures on its campus in Dunedin. A competition was held to design the tower in 1876, but winning architect Maxwell Bury proceeded to go so over-budget that it ruined his career. Campus tours are available for prospective students.
The University of Cape Town boasts enviable architecture – particularly its crown jewel the Sarah Baartman Hall, whose Neoclassical facade is fronted with a row of towering ionic columns. But the main event lies behind the hall, as the university backs straight onto the steep slopes of the iconic Devil's Peak mountain, which soars 3,280 feet (1,000m) above both campus and city. The university first opened as a high school for boys in 1829, before developing into a fully-fledged university in the late-19th century. Guided tours are available online.
In 1888, millionaire American industrialist Henry M Flagler built the Hotel Ponce de Leon, a masterpiece of Spanish-Renaissance architecture named after the conquistador that first explored Florida. In its day it was a pioneer – the first major building in the US constructed with poured concrete and one of the first hotels to boast electric wiring. In 1968 the hotel was transformed into the centrepiece for the newly-established Flagler College, and it remains a place of learning – and a National Historic Landmark – to this day.
Sicily's oldest university, the University of Catania was founded in 1444 with just 10 students and four faculties: canonic and civil law, medicine, theology and arts, and philosophy. This magnificent Baroque building is the seat of the university, and was constructed in 1696 after a devastating earthquake levelled much of the city and killed up to three quarters of its population. The building contains an open-air central courtyard and a main hall decorated with frescoes.
Our second entry from the well-educated Massachusetts city of Cambridge, MIT is renowned for its world-leading scientific courses, but it's less well-known for its equally extraordinary buildings. A number of famous architects have contributed to the campus. Eero Saarinen built the cylindrical red-brick MIT Chapel and the leaf-like curve of the Kresge Auditorium; IM Pei designed the 21-storey Green Building; and Frank Gehry's trademark crinkles are easy to see in the Ray and Maria Stata Center (pictured). A self-guided campus walking tour is available online.
The University of Seville is headquartered in a former factory. That probably doesn't sound very exciting, but the factory in question is the 18th-century Royal Tobacco Factory, an enormous Neoclassical complex surrounded by a huge moat that was commissioned by the king of Spain, and remains a major tourist attraction in its own right. The inspiration for the opera Carmen, the factory once supplied 75% of all the cigars in Europe, and is a regular stop on sightseeing tours of the city.