Admission requirements - MSc Landscape Architecture and Planning

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements

The admission requirements for the master’s programme Landscape Architecture and Planning are defined in such a way that the students should be able to successfully complete the programme and specialisation nominally in two years. It is vital that the student understands the interaction of society with its environment and has sufficient knowledge on spatial or urban planning. For Landscape Architecture a strong basis in design skills and understanding of landscape system characteristics is essential for completing the master.

The criterion used for admission is

a WUR BSc degree in Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning, or equivalent.

The norm for this equivalence is

The students’ expertise is assessed to meet one of the following two complete categories:

• Category 1. Landscape architecture knowledge and skills:

  • Landscape system characteristics (geology, soil sciences, hydrology, ecology)
  • Spatial design skills at multiple scale levels (for example landscape architecture, urban design, architecture, garden architecture, horticultural design)
  • Research methodology

• Category 2. ≥30 ECTS in spatial planning knowledge and skills, through either of the following topics:

  • Spatial science (spatial or urban planning)
  • Human geography

Not all topics mentioned need to be mastered at the same level; they will be weighed by the Admission Board per individual application.

Method of assessment whether this norm is met

• Transcript of records displaying the content of previous course subjects and project work;
• Curriculum vitae displaying relevant work, internship and/or project experience on an academic level in a relevant field if applicable.

• For Category 1. Landscape Architecture knowledge and skills, the spatial design skills are assessed via a design portfolio in PDF format (max. 25 mb) showing at least four design projects with different scale levels within each project. For each project include:

  • The design project;
  • Reference to Transcript of Records or CV;
  • Your contribution in the design project;
  • Short explanation / reasoning for the design.

Scores attributed by the Admission Board

Admitted / not admitted / admitted under condition obtaining the BSc or MSc degree / not admitted with offer of pre-master

The Admission Board may allow and/or suggest compensation of knowledge gaps by:

• a GPA≥7.0* for the previous education for small discrepancies as new knowledge is sufficiently easily acquired;
• a GPA≥7.0* and an individual pre-master's programme for larger discrepancies that can be compensated in ≤30 ECTS and one year of study.

*Check the general admissions page for the International credentials evaluation guide for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide includes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.

Contact us through the contact button above to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.

Find out more about enrolment and fees of a pre-master's programme.

Category 1. Landscape architecture knowledge and skills

These requirements may be covered in a BSc Landscape Design. Graduates of study programmes that contain sufficient spatial design skills may be admissible through a pre-master programme. The pre-master starts in February and usually consists of the following courses:

• Fundamentals of Landscape
• Studio Regional Design
• Landscape Aesthetics
• Research Methodology for Human Environment Interactions.

Find more information on these courses in the study handbook.

Category 2. Spatial Planning knowledge and skills

These requirements may be covered in a BSc in Spatial or Urban Planning, or Human Geography.