Universities That Look Like Hogwarts

Howdy, Potterheads! Amazed by the beauty of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry? Well, you may not be able to attend Hogwarts School but wouldn’t it be wonderful to at least feel like you’re attending a grand university like Hogwarts for real? Here are some of the top castle-like universities that look like Hogwarts!

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List of Universities That Look Like Hogwarts

Here are some universities that look like Hogwarts that you can study in for the upcoming January 2022 intake! Sign up for a free session to secure admission with our Leverage Edu experts:

Oxford University

On our list of universities that look like Hogwarts, first, we have Oxford University. Oxford is the closest you can get to Hogwarts. Scenes from the films were shot on campus. The Dining Hall at Hogwarts was inspired by Oxford’s Great Hall (seen below). Let the feast begin! In addition, the moving and magical staircase in Harry Potter looks precisely like the one at Oxford University. The main difference is that these stairwells aren’t going to move by themselves.

Fun Fact: Durham Cathedral in England was used to shoot various exterior and interior shots of Hogwarts in multiple Harry Potter movies.

University of Coimbra, Portugal

J.K. Rowling got the inspiration for Hogwarts while studying in Porto, Portugal’s second-largest city. Take a look at the students in the ancient town of Coimbra, who are dressed in black robes! This undoubtedly makes the University of Coimbra one of the universities that look like Hogwarts.

Fun Fact: In The Sorcerer’s Stone, the students arriving at Hogwarts first ascend a stone staircase that, in real life, leads into the Great Hall of Christ Church College, Oxford University.

University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Next on our list of universities that resemble Hogwarts is the University of Pittsburgh. The interior of the cathedral at the University of Pittsburgh will immediately take you to Hogwarts. Not only does it resemble Hogwarts, but it also has a magical name, i.e. Pittsburgh.

Yale University, Connecticut 

A university’s library is the finest place to be and with a library like Hogwarts’, who wouldn’t want to study there? Yale University’s library is just that, and it’s every book lover’s dream. Yale University is unquestionably one of the Hogwarts-like universities.

Fun Fact: Alnwick Castle is the second largest inhabited castle in England and home to the dukes of Northumberland for over 700 years has been used for shooting exteriors of Hogwarts!

University of Washington, Washington

The University of Washington is next on our list of universities that look like Hogwarts. The library at the University of Washington looks eerily similar to Hogwarts. Also, it has a gothic and elegant name, ‘Suzzallo Library”.

Fun Fact: Scenes involving Hogsmeade station closest station to Hogwarts in the Harry Potter films were shot at Goathland railway station on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.

University of Notre Dame, Indiana

The Basilica of the Sacred Heart at Notre Dame is magnificent. You can almost see the shining images swaying back and forth. The University of Notre Dame is without a doubt one of the Hogwarts-like universities.

Fun Fact: Gloucester Cathedral’s cloisters are used as various settings for Hogwarts’ interiors.

University of Vienna, Austria

The University of Vienna is next on our list of universities that look like Hogwarts. Well, we think the only places that remind you of Hogwarts are the stairwells and libraries. The University of Vienna’s staircases have the same appearance as Hogwarts’ magical steps. The only distinction is that these stairwells are completely immobile.

Fun Fact: Glen Coe was used as the location of Hagrid’s Hut, the bridge leading to the entrance of Hogwarts, and some scenes were also filmed at the nearby lake.

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University of Chicago, Illinois

Next, we have the University of Chicago! Why? Well, the pictures below will undoubtedly evoke memories of Hogwarts. Even the dining hall resembles that of Hogwarts, with the exception that the food is cooked by ordinary people rather than elves.

Fun Fact: Glenfinnan Viaduct is the ‘bridge to Hogwarts’, where the Hogwarts Express makes its journey.

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University of Cambridge, United Kingdom

It’s rare to find a university in the United Kingdom that isn’t reminiscent of Hogwarts. The library of the University of Cambridge is similar to Hogwarts’ library. Don’t be surprised if you ever come across a restricted section in this magnificent library!

Fun Fact: Loch Eilt in Scotland was used for exterior shots of the Hogwarts grounds and as the island location of Dumbledore’s grave.

Bryn Mawr College, Pennsylvania

In our list of universities that look like Hogwarts, first, we have Bryn Mawr College. Take a look at the home flags. What do they remind you of? These house flags are reminiscent of the Hogwarts house banners. This is the College’s exterior, which resembles Hogwarts in appearance. The only thing missing is flying brooms!

Fun Fact: Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry is a British wizarding school, located in the Highlands of Scotland.

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More Hogwarts-like Universities [Special Mentions]

Here are some colleges that look like castles and will make you live your childhood dream of attending Hogwarts:

• University of Glasgow, Scotland
• University of Edinburgh
• Aberystwyth University, Wales
• Durham University
• National University of Ireland Galway
• Heidelberg University, Germany
• Queen’s University Belfast
• Trinity College Dublin
• University of Sydney
• University of St Andrews

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Hope you enjoyed our list of universities that look like Hogwarts. Want to experience what it’s like to study in a real-life Hogwarts in January 2022? Call our Leverage Edu experts on 1800 572 000 and kickstart your magical academic adventure!