UWTSD tops student-focused ranking for Architecture

12 June 2026

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David (UWTSD) has been placed 1st in the UK for Architecture the 2027 Unifresher University Awards.

Final Year UWTSD Architecture students at their Prize Giving evening

The ranking assessed 55 UK universities offering Architecture across eight student-focused measures, including teaching quality, student satisfaction, academic support, graduate earnings, cost of living and sustainability.

UWTSD’s Architecture course topped the ranking by performing strongly for student satisfaction, academic support and teaching quality while also benefiting from a low cost of living and campus sustainability.

Third year student, Carys Davies, from Llanelli said “I would recommend studying Architecture at UWTSD because of the supportive studio environment and the encouragement to develop your own design identity.

“Throughout the course, I have been challenged to think creatively while also developing the technical and professional skills needed for practice.

“The tutors are approachable and genuinely invested in helping students grow, providing valuable feedback and guidance throughout each project. I have particularly enjoyed exploring real-world issues through design and learning how architecture can positively impact communities and places.

“The course has given me the confidence to push my ideas further and prepare for a future career in architecture”.

Fellow student Wiktoria Dolecka added: “My time at university has been an incredible experience, with the most valuable part being the close-knit community. The smaller class sizes made the studio feel like a family, which brought joy and inspiration to everyone. This environment also allowed for invaluable support from the lecturers, who truly got to know us and our work individually. Overall, the course gave me so much confidence and helped me grow as a person, I would definitely recommend it.”

Ian Standen, programme director said: “We are thrilled to be recognized as the top Architecture programme in the UK, as this ranking validates our commitment to a supportive studio environment where students are encouraged to develop their own design identity. By maintaining smaller class sizes and a close-knit ‘family’ atmosphere, we ensure that our tutors are deeply invested in each student’s individual growth, helping them gain the technical skills and confidence needed to positively impact communities through architecture”.

UWTSD’s Art & Design courses also featured strongly, being placed 5th across the UK in the rankings which measures the areas most closely linked to student experience, employability and satisfaction.

Dr Mark Cocks, Dean of the Wales Institute of Science and Art, said: “We are delighted that our Architecture and Art and Design courses have been recognised in the Unifresher University Awards. While Unifresher offers an alternative perspective to traditional university league tables, this recognition the quality of our student experience, the strength of our student support, the excellence of our teaching, and the distinctiveness of our campus environment.”

The Unifresher rankings, which compared 124 institutions, combine student priorities with real-world data across teaching quality, employability, cost of living, nightlife, sustainability, and overall student satisfaction. By prioritising student outcomes and the overall student experience and the student voice, the rankings offer a fresh view of university performance, drawing attention to institutions that consistently excel in teaching quality, student support, and satisfaction.