Landscape Architecture MLA

Four design courses, taking the form of design studios, underpin the programme. This type of course promotes a teaching and learning environment in which students are encouraged to take risks and experiment.

Studios provide the opportunity for collective research, discussion and development of ideas. Design exploration is supported and informed by technical and theoretical courses which run in parallel to the studio-based learning and teaching.

In the second year of study you will develop a major design project and reflect upon your approach to landscape architecture in the form of an academic portfolio.

The programme culminates in the opportunity to stage a public exhibition of your final year design proposals – the ECA Degree Show.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

• Programme structure 2023/24

The programme aims to provide an environment of study at postgraduate level where students:

• Develop knowledge, understanding and skills in the technical, theoretical and practical concerns of the discipline of Landscape Architecture to the master level.

• Extend ability in reading and understanding a range of environments and landscapes at different scales and develop a critical understanding of landscape architectural practice.

• Develop original and creative design skills and the ability to engage with different stages of landscape architecture design practice autonomously.

As a discipline, and as a profession, Landscape Architecture has the potential to inform our environment at every scale. The MLA programme seeks to foster creative and critical designers; ethical, intelligent, highly skilled and imaginative practitioners, able to navigate the full professional and disciplinary extent.

The programme aims to enable graduates to enter the profession with a sophisticated portfolio of flexible skills, knowledge and understanding.

Graduates from the MLA programme progress to work in design practice and landscape stewardship both nationally and internationally, as well as contributing to academia and aspects of governance of a wide spectrum of landscapes across a broad range of scales.

These entry requirements are for the 2023/24 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2024/25 academic year will be published on 2 October 2023.

Normally a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in landscape architecture or a related subject such as architecture, design, geography, planning, ecology or fine art. You should have a strong interest in landscape architecture and show creative potential.

You must submit a portfolio of recent work as part of your application. Your portfolio should:

• collectively demonstrate your potential ability to visualise your design ideas

• demonstrate creative skills

• be sourced from work you produced at school or from a relevant first degree such as landscape architecture, architecture, art or other design programme or extra-curricular activities or self-led projects

As part of the application process, within your portfolio you must submit a personal statement and CV. On the first page of the portfolio incorporate your name and on the pages immediately following include a brief CV and your personal statement.

Your personal statement must include (but is not limited to) a 300 word summary addressing the following points:

1. What is your specialist field of interest?

2. How would you hope your time on this programme will form your landscape architectural practice?

3. What are your ambitions following your successful graduation from this programme?

If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of your portfolio and/or relevant professional experience.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

You must demonstrate a level of English language competency at a level that will enable you to succeed in your studies, regardless of your nationality or country of residence.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 6.5 with at least 6.0 in each component.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 92 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 176 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE II with distinctions in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 62 with at least 59 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than three and a half years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Tuition fees

• Landscape Architecture (MLA) Tuition fees

Additional costs

In the course of your studies, you will have the opportunity to engage with nationally or internationally based fieldtrips for which you need to cover the costs. Likewise, there are printing costs and material costs that need to be covered by each student, even if some financial support is given whenever possible at the programme level.

• Edinburgh College of Art scholarships

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding