Ranking Indicators

INSPIRELI World Architecture University Ranking

METHODOLOGY UPDATE – 11th EDITION / 2026

The methodology update applies only to points earned from the 11th edition onward. All points earned during the previous ten editions remain unchanged and continue to form part of the cumulative Overall University Ranking.

The scoring system rewards demonstrated student success rather than the volume of submitted projects. Participation alone does not generate ranking points under the revised methodology.

A. INSPIRELI AWARDS – Global Competition

The INSPIRELI AWARDS is the principal global competition on which the ranking is based. From Edition 11 onward, universities receive points only when their students demonstrate measurable success in the jury evaluation process.

INSPIRELI AWARDS – POINTS FROM EDITION 11 ONWARD

Points within the INSPIRELI AWARDS are cumulative: a project keeps the points earned from valid semifinal jury votes; a finalist receives an additional +100 points; an Honorable Mention or Winner receives the respective additional award points.

Principle of the revised scoring:

A university does not receive points merely because it submits a large number of projects. A large number of weak projects can therefore produce no ranking points, while a smaller number of highly successful projects can produce a strong result.

The scoring system intentionally gives substantial weight to exceptional international achievement. A student project that succeeds against hundreds or more than one thousand international competitors represents an exceptional result for the university and therefore carries a correspondingly significant ranking value.

B. INSPIRELI Thematic / Real-Topic Competitions

Selected projects may simultaneously participate in an INSPIRELI thematic competition based on a specific real-world assignment. Because these competitions generally involve a substantially smaller field of participants than the global INSPIRELI AWARDS, their ranking weight is proportionally lower.

THEMATIC COMPETITIONS – POINTS FROM EDITION 11 ONWARD

If the same project achieves a result in both the INSPIRELI AWARDS and an INSPIRELI thematic competition, the points from the two independently evaluated competition results are added together.

C. Historical Scoring – Editions 1–10

During the first ten editions, ranking points were awarded according to the methodology valid at that time. These points remain unchanged in the cumulative Overall University Ranking.

HISTORICAL INSPIRELI AWARDS SCORING – EDITIONS 1–10

HISTORICAL THEMATIC COMPETITION SCORING – EDITIONS 1–10

D. How historical and new points are combined

HOW THE OVERALL RANKING IS BUILT

No historical score is removed because of the methodology update. The revised method changes only the way new points are earned from the 11th edition onward.

E. Interpretation of the ranking

The ranking reflects student activity and success in international architectural competition. It is not intended as a universal assessment of every dimension of university quality.