WHEN talking about universities in the UK, everybody considers information such as international rankings, job prospects and student satisfaction. However, British universities are also famous for their beautiful and ancient buildings. The most famous and better known worldwide are certainly Cambridge and Oxford, where each building and college has its own story and charm. What about other universities around the UK?
Queen’s University Belfast
This university, situated in Northern Ireland, was founded by Queen Victoria in 1845. However, its roots go back to 1810, when it housed the Royal Belfast Academical Institution. It consists of over 300 buildings in the green and leafy suburbs of the south of Belfast. Queen’s University forms the focal point of the Queen’s Quarter area of the city, one of Belfast’s cultural areas, which is centred on the Lanyon building – an imposing Tudor Gothic-style building at the heart of the campus. The Lanyon building was designed by and named after the architect Sir Charles Lanyon.
Cardiff University
Although the University is located in the busy city centre, its buildings are undeniably striking (for example the Main Building shown here). It is a public university in Wales, founded in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire, and became the University of Wales in 1893. It wasn’t until 1997 that it received its own degree-awarding powers. This makes Cardiff University the third oldest university in Wales. Furthermore, it consists of three colleges (Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Physical Sciences and Engineering) and it is constantly recognised for providing high-quality research-based education.
University of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a red brick university that received its royal charter in 1909. Its predecessor institution, University College Bristol, was founded 1876. Not all of UoB’s buildings are much to look at, however the Faculty of Music comprises of the stunning Victoria Rooms, which merit a place on the list on their own. Charles Dickens reportedly once gave a selection of readings in this building. The Victoria Rooms (which were designed by Charles Dyer and are a good example of a ‘Greek revival’ style of British architecture) were bought in 1920 by George Wills, who endowed them to the University as a Students’ Union.
University of Glasgow
One of Scotland's vaunted "Ancient" universities, the University of Glasgow boasts many fine buildings such as the Gilbert Scott building – the second-largest example of Gothic revival architecture in Britain after the Palace of Westminster. The University was founded in 1451, which makes it the fourth oldest university in the English-speaking world. Currently, it is a member of Universitas 21 (the international network of research universities) and the Russell Group.
Keele University
It was founded in 1949 and is located in a picturesque 620-acre rural campus in Staffordshire, in the West Midlands of England. For this reason, Keele University benefits not just from the scenery but also from Keele Hall, a 19th-century stately home on the outskirts of Newcastle-under-Lyme, which once housed the Sneyd family. It now serves as the University conference centre, which together with a science park complements the academic buildings, making it the largest university in the UK.
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is located near Brighton and received its Royal Charter in August 1961. Some of the modern buildings, such as Sir Basil Spence's modernist Falmer Building, may not be to everyone's taste. But even traditionalists would surely be placated by the surrounding views of the South Downs National Park.
University of Birmingham
The University was originally two schools: the Birmingham School of Medicine and Surgery, founded in 1828, and Mason Science College, established in 1875 by Sir Josiah Mason. Despite its location in the centre of UK's sprawling and industrial second city, the University of Birmingham’s red brick constructions – such as the Aston Webb building shown here – are among the country's most elegant.
University of Warwick
This university was founded in 1965 as part of a government initiative to expand access to higher education. For this reason, it is a recent university and its modernist design may not suit everyone. But Warwick campus's newest constructions, such as the Zeeman Building here – named in honour of a Japanese-born mathematician who helped to pioneer "knot theory" – thrive in their expansive green campus setting.
Queen Mary University of London
QMU dates back to the foundation of London Hospital Medical College in 1785. Queen Mary College (named after Mary of Teck, the wife of King George V) was admitted to the University of London in 1915. In 1989, it was merged with Westfield College and in 1995, it merged with St. Bartholomew’s Hospital Medical College and the London Hospital Medical College, to form the School of Medicine and Dentistry. The University is a mixture of ancient and modern, mixing historical buildings such as Queen’s Building and very modern ones, such as the Graduate Centre.
King’s College London
Established in 1829 by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington, nowadays King’s College is regarded as one of the top multidisciplinary research universities in the world. In particular, the Round Reading Room in the Maugnan Library, is an incredible space to prepare for exams.
If you like the look of these universities, head to our Universities section to find more British universities you could attend.
