1.Queen's University
Founded by Queen Victoria in 1845, Queen's University Belfast has over 300 buildings in the green and leafy suburbs of south Belfast. This is the Lanyon building, an imposing Tudor Gothic-style building at the heart of the campus.

2.Cardiff's university

Located in the busy city centre, many of Cardiff's university buildings are undeniably striking – not least the Main Building, shown here.

3.University College Bristol
Not all of Bristol's buildings, some of which date back to the institution's previous incarnation as University College Bristol, are much to look at, but the Faculty of Medicine's stunning Victoria Rooms merit a place on this list alone. Charles Dickens reportedly once gave a selection of readings in this early Victorian classical building.

4.Stirling University
The Wallace Monument and the Cottrell building are just two features of Stirling University to benefit from the stunning surroundings. The locale boasts a castle, lakes, meadow and woods – and indeed its own nine-hole golf course.

5.Glasgow University
One of Scotland's vaunted "Ancient" universities, Glasgow University 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.

6.Keele University
Located in a picturesque 620-acre rural campus in Staffordshire, 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.

7.University of Sussex
Sir Basil Spence's modernist Falmer Building in the University of Sussex may not be to everyone's taste, but even traditionalists would surely be placated by the surrounding views of the South Downs National Park.

8.Birmingham University
Despite its location in the centre of UK's sprawling and industrial second city, Birmingham University's red brick constructions – such as the Aston Webb building shown here – are among the country's most elegant.

9.Exeter University
Exeter University has many buildings it would rather hide – not least its ghastly physics department – but within the green Streatham Campus lies the hidden gem of Reed Hall, shown here. Originally Streatham Hall, it was renamed upon donation to the university in honour of benefactor Alderman W H Reed, and boasted an 11-acre estate with a stunning arboretum or rare and beautiful trees.

10. Edinburgh University
Edinburgh University's gothic New College – home to the Faculty of Divinity – appears to belie its name, dating back to 1843. That said, the university itself was founded back in 1583. New College's adjacent Assembly Hall also serves as an Edinburgh Festival venue.

11.Warwick University
Again the modernist design may not suit everyone, but Warwick University 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.

12.St Andrews University
With its stunning ancient buildings and dramatic mist-shrouded coastline, St Andrews University was a perhaps unsurprising setting for everyone's favourite Royal romance.

13.University of London-Royal Holloway in Surrey
Part of the University of London – indeed, probably the only capital-based university that can merit a spot on this list – Royal Holloway in Surrey is dominated by an elaborate red-brick building modelled on the Château de Chambord in France. The building was originally home to a women-only college, and sits within 136 acres of woodland.

14.Durham University
Durham University's colleges vary from the ultra-modern to the medieval, such as University College's Durham Castle location shown here.

15.Nottingham city
Nottingham city may have spent recent years attempting to shake off its unwanted "Gun Capital" moniker, but there's never been any doubting the beauty of its university buildings, including the Trent Building – a grade II-listed limestone structure opened by King George V in 1928.

16.Oxford University
Oxford's dreaming spires and golden stone have inspired students for generations. Architectural highlights include the 18th-century Radcliffe Camera (pictured left), the Bodleian library and Magdalen College.

source:www.telegraph.co.uk, 2012