
An architecture course and degree promises a successful future. For Indians, even more so.
As one of the most architecturally artistic countries, India is home to many architectural wonders such as the Taj Mahal, The Lake Palace, Mysore Palace, and many more. With the country growing, boosted by more injections of capital, there’s so much more development in store.
That’s where you, as a future architect, come in. The buildings and the built environment of India’s future lie in your hands.
But first, you’ll need an architecture degree.
While studying in the , is popular, it can be expensive. But don’t give up on your dream of building the next Eiffel Tower or the Empire State Building in India, just yet. Consider these countries for your architecture course instead:
The cheapest countries for Indian students to pursue architecture courses

Outside of hosting architectural masterpieces, Italy is home to some of the cheapest universities to study the subject. Source: AFP
Italy
Known for more than just its food, Italy is home to brilliant architectural masterpieces such as the Colosseum, Leaning Tower of Pisa, Milan Cathedral, Pantheon, Florence Cathedral and many more.ÌýWhen pursuing architecture in Italy, you won’t just study it but also live it. It is the land of “la dolce vita” after all.
The best universities in the country include , , , , and the .
While the tuition fees at Italian universities vary depending on the university, the majority of undergraduate courses in the country range between 1,000 to 3,500 euros per year (approximately US$1,103 to US$3,862). This would total about 10,500 euros (US$11,585) for the whole programme.
As an architect in Italy, graduates can expect to earn an  — reportedly of 2,625 euros (US$2,896) a month.Ìý

Located in Amsterdam, the Rijksmuseum is the national museum of the Netherlands dedicated to Dutch arts and history. Source: AFP
The Netherlands
From the Erasmus Bridge to the Rijksmuseum, and from the Muziekgebouw aan ‘t IJ to the Forum Groningen, the Netherlands boast a range of eye-catching architectural sights.Ìý
As a student destination, the country is well known for its high-quality education that is more affordable than in the US and UK. The average cost of pursuing an undergraduate programme in the Netherlands starts (US$6,621) per year.Ìý
, the , the , and offer excellent programmes. Delft ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø of Technology was ranked the third-best university in the world for architecture according to the.
In the last few years, architecture has become one of the most in-demand career fields in the Netherlands. Graduates in this field can expect an in the country.
Norway
The Tromsdalen Church (also known as the Arctic Cathedral). The Trollstigen Visitor Centre. The Astrup Fearnley Museum. The Oslo Opera House.
Norway isn’t a stranger to fantastic architectural creations; the country is known for its sleek, clean architectural designs, with this shifting according to economic conditions, technological advances, and environmental concerns.
For architecture students, the country’s world-class universities are more than ready to prepare you in your quest to build something just as iconic. There’s the , the , (OsloMet), and the (BAS) to choose from.
If you already have your bachelor’s degree, consider pursuing your postgraduate degree at OsloMet. They have a two-year master’s in transport and urban planning which costs .
But if you’re looking to gain both your bachelor’s and master’s in architecture, BAS has a . It costs 307,234 Norwegian kroner (US$28,997) per academic year, and totals 1,536,170 Norwegian kroner (US$144,989) for the entire course.
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Germany
From Berlin’s Reichstag Building, Bavaria’s Neuschwanstein Castle, Hamburg’s Elbphilharmonie, and Cologne’s Cologne Cathedral, Germany’s range of architectural sights is one to be swept away by.
The , , , and the all offer good architecture courses.
Most notable among them all is the , ranked the best university in Germany for architecture at #21 on the .Ìý
The best part? Germany is one of the cheapest countries you could possibly choose to pursue your architecture course. Tuition here can be as low as 1,500 euros (US142) per semester, or some universities might not charge at all.
Do note that you might have to pick up some German language skills though, but hey, that’s just another thing to add to your resume.
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Portugal
Whether it’s the Manueline style of the Jerónimos Monastery or the modernist Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology (MAAT), Portugal boasts pretty sights and even prettier architecture.
Even the country’s has been noted as one of the nicest universities in the world. Not only is it a UNESCO World Heritage site, but it’s also home to one of the most beautiful libraries in the world. Better yet, you can even pursue your architecture course at this university.
Other universities offering the programme include the ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø of Lisbon, the ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø of Porto, the ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø Institute of Lisbon, and LusÃada ÌÇÐÄvlog¹ÙÍø. Tuition fees would range from around 1,000 to 3,500 euros per year (approximately US$1,103 to US$3,862).
Disclaimer: This article was last updated on October 3, 2024.