Program Overview

Architecture: Landscape and Urban Design MA

Overview

Curious about landscape, urbanism, and working with nature as a primary design tool? Our MA Architecture: Landscape and Urban Design Master's is the ideal step to furthering your postgraduate study and understanding how landscape and urbanism relate to architecture, nature, and the scientific and human dimensions of our built and unbuilt environments.

Key Information

• Study mode and duration: 1 year full-time (September start), 17 months full-time (January start), 2 years part-time (September start)
• Start date: September 2025, January 2026

Course Information

Overview

Our MA Architecture: Landscape and Urban Design Master's degree will help you gain a deep understanding of the tangible and intangible values of landscape, including its natural, historical, cultural, and social dimensions. You'll graduate with valuable insight into, and experience of, sustainable landscape architecture and urban design, enabling you to reshape societies for the better in your future career.

Exit Award

This degree is an exit award—or 'pathway'—of our MA Architecture degree course. You must apply for that course and select certain modules to graduate with this exit award.

Course Highlights

• Immerse yourself in an assorted learning experience that incorporates practice, theory, and research
• Shape your final thesis your way , producing it as either a theory- or practice-based piece of work
• Prototype and visualise your creative building and landscape plans using industry software such as AutoCAD and our production facilities boasting the latest, most advanced technologies
• Engage in independent and collaborative work in our architecture design studios that simulate a real-life studio environment
• Apply your academic learning to existing regional practices with our Work-Based Learning module
• Explore landscape and urban design in different geographies and cultures through virtual exchanges and visits abroad
• Create and curate your own exhibitions to showcase your work to local and international audiences
• Attend free online lectures delivered by active scholars and practitioners in landscape architecture and urban studies
• Build professional relationships and contacts at local and international networking events with potential future employers

Number 2 in the UK for teaching, and number 3 for student satisfaction

We're ranked second in the UK for teaching architecture, and third for architecture student satisfaction, in the 2024 Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES)

Entry Requirements

• UK qualifications: A good honours degree in a relevant subject, such as Architecture, Interior Architecture, Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Civil Engineering, Building Surveying, Geography, Spatial Practices, Fine Art, or Other design-related subject
• Non-UK qualifications: If you're applying as an international student with a non-UK degree, you’ll need to show you meet the UK entry requirements listed above
• English language requirements: English language proficiency at a minimum of IELTS band 6.5 (or equivalent) with no component score below 6.0

Course Costs and Funding

Tuition Fees

• UK, Channel Islands, and Isle of Man students: £9,400 (Full-time), £3,130 (Year 1) and £6,270 (Year 2) (Part-time)
• EU students: £9,400 (Full-time), £3,130 (Year 1) and £6,270 (Year 2) (Part-time)
• International students: £17,200 (Full-time), £5,730 (Year 1) and £11,470 (Year 2) (Part-time)

Funding Your Studies

Explore how to fund your studies, including available scholarships and bursaries.

Loans, Scholarships, and Bursaries

Browse funding such as the Government Postgraduate Loan, our scholarships for new and returning students, and subject specific loans.

Fees and Funding for Master's Courses

Explore Master's funding options, including loans, scholarships, bursaries, and more.

Modules

Full-time

• Core modules:
  • Research Methods - 30 credits
  • Thesis - 60 credits
• Optional modules:
  • Conservation and Practice - 30 credits
  • Conservation: Theories - 30 credits
  • Integration of Transdisciplinary Experiences - 30 credits
  • Landscape and Urbanism: Territories and Systems - 30 credits
  • Landscape and Urbanism: Sites and Systems - 30 credits
  • Spatial Practices: Situated Ecologies - 30 credits
  • Spatial Practices: Thinking and Making - 30 credits
  • Work-Based Learning: Opportunity - 30 credits

Part-time

• Year 1:
  • Optional modules:
    • Conservation and Practice - 30 credits
    • Conservation: Theories - 30 credits
    • Landscape and Urbanism: Sites and Systems - 30 credits
    • Landscape and Urbanism: Territories and Systems - 30 credits
    • Spatial Practices: Situated Ecologies - 30 credits
    • Spatial Practices: Thinking and Making - 30 credits
• Year 2:
  • Core modules:
    • Research Methods - 30 credits
    • Thesis - 60 credits
  • Optional modules:
    • Integration of Transdisciplinary Experiences - 30 credits
    • Work-Based Learning: Opportunity - 30 credits

Facilities

• Architecture Studios: Our open-plan learning spaces encourage a studio culture of collaboration, creativity, and dialogue, preparing you for the ways of working you'll experience in your career.
• 3D Workshops: Our Workshops are ideal for model making, with high-grade kit for crafting wood, metal, plastics, polyurethane, concrete, and plaster works.
• Centre for Creative and Immersive Extended Reality (CCIXR): Create stunning works for film, TV, music, gaming, and immersive reality in the UK's first integrated facility of its kind.

How You'll Spend Your Time

• Course structure: This MA Architecture course runs for 1 year (Full-time, September start), 17 months (Full-time, January start), or 2 years (Part-time, September start)
• Campus time: You'll spend the following days on campus:
  • Full-time: 1 studio day, 1 half-day (usually Wednesday mornings, but may be Monday if you choose the 'Work-based Learning Opportunity' module)
  • Part-time: 1 studio day (either Thursdays or Fridays in Year 1, then Wednesday mornings in Year 2)
• Scheduled teaching: You can expect to have 1 no-studio day, half a day (for research methods, thesis, or the modules 'Integration of Transdisciplinary Experiences' and 'Work-based Learning Opportunity')
• Independent study: You should spend roughly 300 hours in total in self-directed study, taking part in various activities like developing your design project, visiting archives, buildings, and sites, spending time in workshops and the library, and engaging with local communities

Career Development

• Careers this MA Architecture: Landscape and Urban Design Master's prepares you for: Sustainable design, Consultancy, Non-government organisations (NGOs), Environmental organisations, Regeneration projects, Heritage and Landscape Management bodies (such as National Trust and Historic England)
• Continuing your studies: As this Landscape and Urban Design Master’s course adopts research-informed teaching and learning methodologies, you can also choose to continue your studies to PhD level.

Supporting You

• Personal tutor: Your personal tutor helps you make the transition to independent study and gives you academic and personal support throughout your time at university.
• Student support advisor: In addition to the support you get from your personal tutor, you’ll also have access to a Faculty student support advisor.
• Creative skills tutors: If you need support with software and equipment or you want to learn additional skills (including skills not covered on your course), our creative skills tutors provide free workshops, activities, and one-on-one tutorials.
• IT and computing support: Computing support staff are always available to give technical support in the Faculty's computer suites during normal working hours.
• Disability advice and additional support: If you require extra support because of a disability or additional learning need, our specialist team can help you.
• Wellbeing and mental health support: Our online Learning Well mini-course will help you plan for managing the challenges of learning and student life, so you can fulfill your potential and have a great student experience.
• Library support: Library staff are available in person or by email, phone, or online chat to help you make the most of the University’s library resources.