How to apply to study landscape architecture

Supporting materials

When applying, you need to submit the following documents using our online application form. You don't need to send any hard copies to the school.

Supporting materials

• A CV
• A supporting statement of at least 300 words, giving your reasons for applying and any other information you want to include in support of your application.
  • Among the issues you may wish to cover are how your previous education and experience relates to the course, and how the course fits into your long-term academic or career plans
• Two references by academic staff at the institution where you studies previously or former employers (excluding MA Landscape Studies)
• A certified copy of your degree certificate or any other qualification relied upon in support of your application
• A certified copy transcript of the marks awarded to you in connection with your degree (if applicable)
• A short portfolio containing examples of your visual work. (Portfolio requirement only applies to the MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture (LSCT123) and MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Studies (LSCT124)
  • This could be any visual/creative output including drawings or images that you produced in connection with your first degree
  • If your first degree was in a non-visual discipline then it would be helpful if you could send us examples of other artwork, such as landscape drawings or sketches, or other responses to landscape
• (European and Overseas applicants only) A certified copy of your English Language qualification.
• Certified translations for the degree certificate and the final transcript

Your portfolio

For applicants to MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture and MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Studies only

We're interested in reviewing your highest quality of work. Your portfolio should be a well-edited representation of your interests and skills in fields related to landscape architecture.

Your portfolio should demonstrate the depth and breadth of your experience and potential in studying landscape architecture.

Anything included must be your own work. We are particularly interested in evidence of individual creativity and originality rather than a formulaic or derivative submission.

All portfolios

All portfolios must be:

• submitted digitally as a single PDF file
• A3 equivalent single spread
• no more than 12 pages in length and 25 MB in size

Your experience

The following outlines what we expect from your portfolio based on your previous design experience.

Applicants with a degree and/or work experience in a design-related discipline

Three projects that demonstrate critical engagement with topics related to the field of landscape architecture, for example schemes exploring urban ecological sustainability or social aspects of contemporary environments.

Each project needs to be clearly introduced with information such as:

• the name of the project
• year of completion
• aims and objectives
• name of tutor, if relevant

The portfolio should demonstrate your representational skills including drawing and models as well as your ability to engage with advanced studies in landscape architecture.

Other applicants

Roughly six examples of any previous visual/creative/landscape work, such as:

• art/design work done at school
• craft/hobby outputs
• photographs of garden/planting design

Applicants should also send some landscape drawings/images (not photographs).

We recommend that you draw a landscape that evokes a strong response in you or that you are interested in. The emphasis should be on conveying the characteristics and qualities of this landscape as vividly and clearly as possible. You may use any media (pencil, charcoal, watercolour etc).

We are not looking for technical competence at this stage, but rather a commitment to expressing your ideas about landscape in a visual format. You may use a combination of words and text (restricted to 150 words).

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Course-specific portfolio requirements

Specific things we require from you if you're applying to either MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture or MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Studies. 

Applicants to MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture

Demonstrate your interest in the field of landscape architecture and design, using your own original work, primarily visual in nature with limited text. In addition to the general portfolio requirements, the first two pages of your submitted portfolio need to include your response to the following tasks:

• Page 1: A series of five vignettes visually describing a typical walk through the place where you currently live.
  • Each vignette should have a one-sentence description of this 'day-in-the-life' journey.
  • The five vignettes should be keyed to a map outlining the route in question. (Map may be hand-drawn or produced by others, eg Google Maps).
  • All six components should be laid out using an invisible 3x2 grid.
• Page 2: A series of plant studies of vegetation typical to the place you currently live, including original hand drawings of plants in their context.
  • Include botanical and/or common names if known.
  • The page may be laid out however you choose. 

Applicants to MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Studies

Demonstrate your knowledge of the field of landscape architecture and your ability to engage with the design of open spaces. In addition to the general portfolio requirements, the first two pages of your submitted portfolio need to include your response to the following task: 

Use the street where you live or equivalent close by (courtyard/urban square/outdoor communal space) to design a new place for people (yourself, neighbours, local community) to meet which offers seasonal changes, taking into account the impact of climate change.

Drawings required:

• Location and Context:  Location plan and analytical plans (Form - Uses - Users - existing vegetation)
• Proposed changes (3D drawing/sections/sketches/before and after images)
• Proposed new vegetation with annotations and sketches illustrating the seasonal changes.

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Next steps 

Your application is reviewed by a panel of academic selectors within the School of Architecture and Landscape.

For applicants to MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture and MA/Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Studies only: As we receive a large volume of applications (we receive the most between November and March) we will review and make decisions in stages at the following times:

Stage one

For complete applications we receive by 17 November 2024, we aim to return decisions by 9 December 2024.

Stage two

For complete applications we receive by 12 January 2025, we aim to return decisions by 3 February 2025.

Stage three

For complete applications we receive by 16 February 2025, we aim to return decisions by 17 March 2025.

All complete applications received from 17 February 2025 will be reviewed on an ongoing basis.