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During this programme, you will: 

• Work in a dedicated Design Studio with your own workspace. 

• Collaborate on real-world projects addressing societal and environmental challenges through design. 

• Learn through research-led modules combining design and traditional methodologies. 

• Participate in site and field visits to explore diverse landscapes. 

• Engage with faculty who are experienced practitioners and researchers. 

• Develop skills that prepare you for professional practice.  

Key information:  

• Complete full-time in two years 

• Delivered on campus 

• Modules taught during autumn and spring semesters 

• Submit a design research thesis and written dissertation in the final semester 

• Elective options available in Year 2, Semester 3 

You will learn through: 

• Design studio projects, lectures, and workshops 

• Field visits and hands-on activities 

• Reflective practice and guided research 

• Regular feedback from faculty and peers 

• Access to books and journals via UL Glucksman Library 

Year 1 

Autumn Semester  

• introduce the core knowledge and processes of designing with and in landscape. 

• equip students with the knowledge to thoughtfully integrate ecological perspectives into their design work, both in urban and rural contexts. 

• advance the students' capacities across a range of typical representation skills and techniques required in the practice of landscape architecture. 

• immerse students in both the histories and theories of landscape and landscape design - past and present. 

Spring Semester  

• extend the students' progression in advancing their experience and skill in the core knowledge and processes of designing with and in landscape.  

• demonstrate how designing with natural processes and conditions can help address climatic, environmental, social and economic challenges. 

• advance the students' capacities across a range of digital data-gathering, mapping and representation techniques.  

• focus on the role and activities of the landscape architect within professional and legislative contexts.  

Year 2 

Autumn Semester 

• enable students to further advance their skill, expertise and experience in the core knowledge and processes of designing with and in landscape. 

• focus on working with landscapes that are predominantly formed by or impacted by water systems. 

• deepen students' critical understandings of their design methods and processes 

• Elective module  

Spring Semester 

• ) develop a design research project to address in-depth a topic of the student's own choice. 

• support and extend the personal, philosophical and intellectual intent of the MLA Thesis Landscape Design Project. 

Elective options (choose one; availability varies): 

Books and journal articles needed for the course will be available online through the UL Glucksman Library.   

For more information on each module, you can search the faculty, school and module code on UL’s  

• A first or second-class Level 8 honours degree ( or equivalent) in landscape architecture or a related discipline such as architecture, design, geography, environmental science, planning, ecology, horticulture, civil engineering, or similar. 

• A strong interest in landscape architecture and evidence of creative aptitude. 

Submit 3 separate PDFs as follows: 

• CV (max 3 pages) 

• Personal statement (300 words)
• Describe your interest in Landscape Architecture?
• What of your previous experiences (academic, professional and self-directed) has led you to Landscape Architecture? 

• Portfolio of creative work (15–20 pages, digital format)
• This should be sourced from your own work produced during a relevant first degree, relevant professional experience, or through extra-curricular activities or self-led projects.  

Your portfolio should: 

• Demonstrate creative skills and ability to visually represent ideas. 

• Include design or socio-environmental work relevant to landscape architecture. 

• Be clearly presented and diverse in media. 

Follow these guidelines to curate your creative work. 

• Your portfolio should demonstrate your creativity, design thinking, and visual skills, reflecting your potential for success on the MLA.  

• All work must be original. 

• A signed declaration confirming that all work is your own must be included. 

• Collaborations must be clearly labelled, specifying your individual contribution to group or team work, in educational and/or professional contexts.  

• Drawing Skills: Include hand-drawn sketches, observational drawings demonstrating spatial understanding. These drawings can be of any subject matter (they do not necessarily need to be of landscape).  

• Design Creativity: Show your conceptual and innovative thinking. This may include design concepts, models, or exploratory work in any medium. 

• Process work: Include your design process, including initial sketches or sketch models, research, brainstorming and iterations. 

• Visual Communication: use diagrams, photography, drawings or mixed media to convey ideas effectively.  

• Please include any work in any medium completed for any purpose that you think is relevant to your design ability. Media in the portfolio could include, for example, drawing and painting, graphics, printmaking and photography, woodworking and ceramics, extracts from sketchbooks and design journals (illustrating the design process followed in a project), textiles and dress or clothes making, sculpture and joinery, computer game design, or any other visual media. You must demonstrate your ability to draw in pencil. 

• Include Sketches: you are encouraged to submit scanned extracts from sketchbooks along with your portfolio. You may choose to annotate your sketches relating them to some of your other works or to add written comments to put them in context.  

• A clear and straightforward presentation of your work will serve you best. Be graphically clear – do not embellish the design of the portfolio. 

• Show only your best work.  

• Demonstrate a diversity of work.  

• Portfolios should contain not less than 15 and not more than 20 pages.  

• Please ensure that any photographs of three-dimensional objects are of high quality.  

• Please ensure that the digital representations and reproductions of your work are at an appropriately high resolution to be clearly viewed on screen.  

• Only include technical drawings if they relate to a design that you have developed in some way.  

If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an online interview with faculty. 

Other Entry Considerations: 

We encourage you to apply even if you don’t meet the standard entry requirements, as long as you can show that you have the creativity, interest in design, and visual representation skills needed for the programme. 

At UL, we value all kinds of learning and support different ways to qualify through our Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) policy.  

International students:  

• For details on country-specific qualifications visit postgraduate entry requirements for international students. 

English Language: 

• English Language Competency certificate
• For details on accepted language qualifications visit English Language Requirements 

Guidelines on Completing your Application: 

• To make sure we can review your application quickly, please:
• Upload all documents. Your application can’t be reviewed until we have all the documents on the checklist. 
• Title the documents you are uploading. For example, "Personal Statement", "Undergraduate Transcript", "Postgraduate Transcript", "English Language Certificate" etc. 
• *If you are waiting to graduate, submit your application with the documents you have to date, you don’t need to have finished final exams before applying. 

EU - €8,200 per annum

Non EU - €20,800 per annum

*Please note year 2 fees are subject to change 

Further information on fees and payment of fees is available from the Student Fees Office website. All fee related queries should be directed to the Student Fees Office (Phone: +353 61 213 007 or email student.fees.office@ul.ie).  

Funding 

Find further information on funding and scholarships.. 

There is strong demand for qualified Landscape Architects in Ireland and internationally. Graduates work in: 

• Private practice and consultancy
• Local authorities and public sector roles
• Urban planning and environmental design
• Climate adaptation and sustainable infrastructure projects
• Evolving legislation and climate challenges are creating new opportunities for professionals who can design resilient, sustainable landscapes.