The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment, is ranked the UK’s #1 university for built environment studies according to The Guardian University Guide 2026, with #1 rankings in both the Architecture subject ranking, and in the Construction, Surveying and Planning subject ranking.
"It is wonderful to see four of our schools recognised in The Guardian University Guide 2026. I would like to share my sincere thanks to all our staff, students and partners for their outstanding commitment and support for our taught programmes. The Bartlett is a collaborative, innovative and inclusive community working hard on our shared mission to build a better future for all – and students are at the heart of what we do. We are all looking forward to another exciting year ahead."
The Bartlett School of Architecture is a renowned design school that inspires creativity and innovation in architecture. The school is home to some of the most inventive, hybrid and collaborative spatial practices in the world, yielding graduates who are agile, cooperative and ethical practitioners.
"We are honored by this recognition, and I am proud that The Bartlett School of Architecture is being celebrated for the many ways that our staff champions and supports student activism and agency. They are ensuring that our students are attuned to contemporary challenges and possess the skills to make a difference, so as practitioners they can contribute to a more just built environment."
The Bartlett School of Planning is a global centre of excellence in education and research. The school creates valuable and innovative research that aims to find sustainable, responsible, inclusive solutions to the most pressing challenges in our field.
"We are absolutely delighted that The Bartlett School of Planning has been ranked number one in The Guardian University Guide 2026. This recognition reflects the dedication of our staff, the excellence of our students, and our commitment to shaping inclusive, sustainable, and forward-thinking urban futures".
The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction is an innovative, forward thinking, collaborative and inclusive community of researchers, educators and students. The school is positioned as thought leaders at the forefront of sustainable construction, environment and real estate.
"Yet again The Bartlett School of Sustainable Construction is the top ranked School for construction with our new undergraduate MSci featuring in the list. I am thrilled and proud that we have been recognised to be at the forefront of construction. Credit goes to our brilliant community of staff, students and alumni for their hard work, creativity and leadership in this space."
The Bartlett School of Environment, Energy and Resources is a vibrant hub for interdisciplinary research, bringing together world-leading expertise across the built environment, energy, resources and heritage. The school is formed of four leading research institutes (UCL Institute for Sustainable Resources, UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering, UCL Institute for Sustainable Heritage and UCL Energy Institute) that together create innovative, interlinked research, teaching and impact.
“I am delighted to see UCL’s #1 rankings which reflect the critical importance of interdisciplinary undergraduate programmes – with students learning different methods and perspectives.”
In 2025, The Bartlett, UCL’s Faculty of the Built Environment, retained its global #1 ranking for the third year in a row in the QS Architecture and Built Environment World University Rankings by Subject 2025.
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