Master’s in Landscape Architecture and Planning

If you enrol in this programme, you join an academic, research-oriented group where you learn to unravel planning processes or to develop creative designs founded on in-depth academic knowledge. As part of the programme, you plan, work, and reflect on your own research topic, supported and coached by experts.

You can find the general outline of the programme and more detailed information about courses on the Study Handbook page.

During Year 1 you develop shared knowledge in design, planning, and research methods, and you dive deep into your chosen specialisation. More detailed course information can be found in the Study Handbook.

Common Part  

• Reflections on Planning & Design Practices - critical reflection on practices, theories, and methods (6 ECTS)
• Perspectives on Landscape Analysis - analytical approaches to landscape systems (6 ECTS)
• Research Methodology Landscape Architecture & Planning - training in field-specific qualitative & quantitative research methodology (6 ECTS)
• Atelier Landscape Architecture & Planning - hands-on studio approach integrating spatial planning and landscape architecture (9 ECTS)

Restricted Optionals - choose 1 out of 4: Climate-Responsive Planning and Design; Integrated Water Management; Foodscapes, Urban Lifestyles & Transition; or Global Landscapes & Place-Making (6 ECTS)

Specialisation Courses in Year 1

A: Landscape Architecture (18 ECTS in Year 1)

• Master Studio Park Design: A Narrative Approach - design of large parks, estates, or public areas with a focus on narrative and conceptual thinking (6 ECTS)
• Research & Design in Landscape Architecture - learn about different approaches to combining research and design, including research-through-design (3 ECTS)
• Master Studio Regional Landscape Architecture: A Systems Approach - regional-scale design studio with a focus on landscape-system thinking (9 ECTS)

B: Spatial Planning (12 ECTS in Year 1)

• Spatial Planning and Scarce Resources - dilemmas and strategies for effective, efficient, democratic, legitimate, sustainable and livable landscape planning (6 ECTS)
• Political Dilemmas of Spatial Planning - governance, conflicts, and decision-making (6 ECTS)

Electives 

Students choose individual electives to reach 120 ECTS total. Examples of elective topics: sustainability, communication, GIS, ecology, environmental policy, cultural geography. 

Read more in the Study Handbook.

This year is highly tailored to your chosen path and career ambitions.

Specialisation A: Landscape Architecture 

• Master Thesis Landscape Architecture - research project closely connected to a design practice (30 ECTS)
• Design Practice - advanced design project intertwined with the master thesis (24 ECTS)
• Professional Profile Landscape Architecture - explore your talents, ambitions and future role as a landscape designer (6 ECTS)
  

Specialisation B: Spatial Planning

• Master Thesis Spatial Planning - independent research project in spatial planning, supervised by a researcher from the chair group Land Use Planning (36 ECTS)
• Internship - practical professional experience in a spatial planning context (24 ECTS)

The Master’s programme in Landscape Architecture and Planning offers two specialisations: Landscape Architecture and Spatial Planning. Your profile will most likely fit only one of them. See Application and admission for details.

Landscape Architecture

In this specialisation you will learn to design landscapes across scales, from urban parks and public spaces to complex regional systems. You will master narrative and systems design approaches, translating site analyses, social and cultural contexts, and user needs into design concepts, masterplans, and detailed spatial designs. Emphasis is placed on research, creativity, and visualisation. You will develop and evaluate design strategies informed by scientific knowledge, addressing large-scale challenges. By integrating artistic design, analytical thinking, and interdisciplinary insights, you learn to create innovative, context-sensitive landscape solutions. Your graduation project in Year 2 combines a research thesis and a design practice. These two elements are interrelated through research-for-design, research-on-design or research-through-design. Your project topic relates to the ongoing research within the chair group Landscape Architecture. In addition, Year 2 also contains a career orientation course that runs the entire year.

Spatial Planning

In this specialisation you will learn to manage scarce land and resources within dynamic political and societal contexts. Core topics include competing land uses - such as housing, climate adaptation, and nature - and policy choices affecting property rights. You will explore strategic use of policy instruments and their dependence on political context and stakeholder interests. The specialisation also addresses key planning dilemmas, including efficiency, democracy, legitimacy, and sustainability. By integrating theory and practice, you will develop critical skills to analyse complex cases and evaluate planning strategies. Upon graduation you will be able to navigate complex trade-offs in shaping livable, future-oriented spatial environments. During your master thesis project in Year 2 you reflect on planning situations and explain what is going on, based on diverse theories from inside and outside the planning domain. Thesis research can focus on the organisation of space, on planning processes, as well as on planners and their actions. In addition, you will being your new knowledge and skills into practice during the Year 2 internship.

• Lectures focus on a wide range of topics in the spatial domain
• Excursions help you get a grip on complex cases across The Netherlands
• Interdisciplinary group projects let you collaborate on real-world spatial issues with students from diverse backgrounds within the spatial domain
• Individual assignments allow you to work on your learning goals and improve your planning and design skills
  

At WUR, personal support isn’t just a service, it’s part of our culture. That’s why we have more lecturers, study advisors, and student counsellors available than at most universities in the Netherlands. This ensures you get the guidance you need, lowers the risk of dropping out, and adds a personal touch that makes your academic journey truly meaningful. It’s a clear sign of our commitment to your success.

• Master's in Forest and Nature Conservation zooms in the natural environment. Landscape Architecture and Planning takes a broader angle by including urban and agricultural areas, infrastructure, and recreational areas.
• Master's in Urban Environmental Management allows students to study the environment and to address sustainability issues in an urban setting. Landscape Architecture and Planning focuses on integrated planning or design of both urbanised and rural areas at different scale levels, and includes strategic and social viewpoints.
• International Land and Water Management focuses on how land and water resources can be governed. Landscape Architecture and Planning asks how landscapes can be understood, planned, and designed to guide spatial change.
• Master's in Geo-Information Science focuses on gathering and using geographic data. Landscape Architecture and Planning uses that data as input for landscape planning and design.

Check more information on Studiekeuze123.nl.

In this master’s you learn to apply your knowledge and skills in real-life interdisciplinary settings. You are in contact with practitioners throughout the program. Professionals are involved as guest lecturers, studio tutors, mentors and ‘commissioners’. During many courses and your graduation year you will encounter various types of stakeholders.

Graduates from this master’s are well-equipped to contribute to solving a wide variety of issues in the spatial domain. Examples of first jobs include:

• Strategy consultant at a large consultancy company
• Project leader at a planning and design agency
• Consultant spatial planning at a municipality
• Landscape consultant at a provincial landscape organisation
• Landscape designer at an urbanism and landscape design company
• Policy adviser at a province
• PhD researcher at a university

Student Career Services offers workshops, online services and individual coaching for  WUR students and recent graduates (until 1 year after graduation). Most graduates of this master’s program usually find a suitable job within ca. 3 months after graduation (source: studiekeuze123).

Interested in the master's programme Landscape Architecture and Planning? Find out whether your knowledge and skills match the entry level of the programme.

Purpose and reason for the admission requirements 

The admission requirements for the master’s programme of Landscape Architecture and Planning are defined in such a way that the students should be able to successfully complete the programme and one of the specialisations in two years.  

The criterion used for admission is  

A WUR BSc degree in Landscape Architecture and 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:  

For the specialisation of Landscape Architecture, a strong basis in design skills and understanding of landscape system characteristics is essential for completing the master. In particular:  

• A BSc based in outdoor spatial design, for example landscape architecture, urbanism, architecture, or garden architecture, with at least one course or project in landscape design
• Understanding of landscape system characteristics (geology, soil science, hydrology, ecology)  
• Landscape analysis skills  
• Outdoor spatial design skills at multiple scale levels  
• Understanding of both quantitative and qualitative research techniques 

Category 2. Spatial Planning:  

For the specialisation of Spatial Planning, it is vital that the student understands the interaction of society with its environment and has sufficient knowledge on spatial or urban planning. For example through:  

• A BSc in spatial, urban and/or regional planning  
• At least 24 ECTS in coursework dedicated to spatial planning, including spatial planning theory, methods and practice/studio/practical. A pre-master may apply.  
• At least 12 ECTS in coursework dedicated to spatial planning, including spatial planning theory, methods and practice/studio/practical. A pre-master will usually apply.  

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.  
• In addition to Landscape Architecture (Category 1), a design portfolio in PDF format (max. 25 MB) showing at least four outdoor design projects with different scale levels within each project, and of which at least one landscape design project. For each project include:
  • The design project.  
  • Reference to Transcript of Records or CV.  
  • In case of teamwork: A clear delineation of your contribution to the project.  
  • Short explanation / reasoning for the design.  

Scores attributed by the Admission Board  

• Admitted (under condition of obtaining the BSc or MSc degree)
• Not admitted  
• Pre-master

Ready to start your application process? Find everything you need to know about Application & Admission before applying for a master's.

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 within one academic year.  

*Check on the Application & Admission page the International credentials evaluation guideline for international equivalencies to a Dutch GPA>7.0. This guide also describes compensating factors for a slightly lower GPA the Admission Board may include in their judgement.

Contact our study advisors to discuss the possibilities of a pre-master's or how to mitigate knowledge gaps if you are still in the process of obtaining your degree.

Wondering how much your studies will cost? Let’s break it down. All information about the costs of this programme can be found on tuition fees and study finances.

Being a student goes far beyond hitting the books. From getting your own place to enjoying vibrant nightlife, social events, festivals, and distinctive sports clubs, there’s always something to do, both in Wageningen and elsewhere. Additionally, there are parks, forests, and a river nearby, so if you enjoy the outdoors, you're in the right area.

See all information about student life in Wageningen.