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

1. Robert Gordon University
Our top university for graduate employment is again north of the border in Aberdeen. Robert Gordon University maintains strong links with industry in sectors such as engineering, computing and healthcare, and can trump all competition with its 97.1% employment rate.
2. University of Northampton
Northampton University is, according to its website, renowned globally for its specialism in subjects such as Wastes Management, Leather Technology and Fashion. The approach seems to be paying off, because Northampton can boast a 95.6% graduate employment rate, and the runner up spot on this list.
3. King's College London
The only institution from our nation's capital to find its way into the top 10 is King's College London. Founded by King George IV and the Duke of Wellington in 1829, John Keats's old stamping grounds have a 95.2% employment rate – though how many of these are Romantic poets is currently unknown.
4. University of Glasgow
The oldest university on our list, Glasgow's Russell Group institution has been equipping its graduates for the job market since 1451, and seems to be doing a fine job – 94.9% of them find their way into work.
5. University of Lancaster
Located in quiet rural surrounds just south of its namesake city, Lancaster university sends 94.4% of its graduates into jobs or full-time education. Read more...

By Alex Aldridge. Higher educational standards and instilling an entrepreneurial instinct in students can lead to benefits for all. The regeneration of a community can take many forms but, in my experience, the most effective way is for it to be people-led, rather than expecting infrastructure alone to lead the way.Over the past six years my foundation has worked closely with communities across the country through our sponsorship of academy schools. We now have five academies – Darwen near Blackburn, Portland in Dorset, north Kensington in London, and two in Brighton – along with two university technical colleges at Salford and Newhaven and a studio school in Darwen. We see our academies and colleges as community assets, leading regeneration in areas where there has been underinvestment and often a climate of low aspiration which has existed for many generations. Read more...