Estonian University of Life Sciences
MSc in Landscape Architecture
Tartu, Estonia
MSc
DURATION
2 years
LANGUAGES
English
PACE
Full time
APPLICATION DEADLINE
EARLIEST START DATE
Sep 2026
TUITION FEES
EUR 4,000 / per year *
STUDY FORMAT
On-Campus
* 100 EUR non-refundable application fee
Key Summary
About: MSc in Landscape Architecture teaches planning, design, management of outdoor spaces. It covers urban and rural landscapes from small to regional scale. The curriculum advances bachelor study with courses. Teaching uses full-time, hybrid, and distance modes with lectures, seminars, studios, field trips, and library research. Assessment uses exams, essays, reports, hand-drawn and digital plans, plus design presentations.
Career Outcomes: Graduates can work in private firms and government agencies in Europe, or enter doctoral study. Roles include landscape architect, urban designer, environmental consultant, site planner, green infrastructure specialist, researcher; skills fit landscape planning, environmental design, heritage management, and spatial planning.
Landscape Architecture is a discipline that focuses on intervention in the landscape through the activities of planning, design, and management. It also focuses on the science that underpins these activities and the implementation of proposals. It is united around the concept of landscape, which is defined in various ways but is generally understood to mean outdoor spaces, environments, and places and relationships between people and these spaces, environments, and places, both in terms of activities and perceptions.
Landscape Architecture is concerned with landscapes of all types, both urban and rural, and at all scales from the smallest open space to the region.
The curriculum builds on the level of achievement expected at the bachelor level with in-depth studies of a range of more specialized subjects covering both practical and theoretical fields, including ones that have special aspects suitable for study in Estonia.
Teaching methods
The program offers different ways of study: not only full-time in-person attendance, but also a distant learning version where students attend in person occasionally and continue work in a hybrid mode in between those periods.
In this program, we use a mix of individual study and group project work. Teaching modes range from formal lectures and seminars, or field trips, to tuition on studio-based design projects, opportunities for research range from library-based research to fieldwork.
Assessment methods include writing examination papers, essays, and reports, but also hand-drawn or digital graphic-based plans and images. We consider open, public presentation and criticism of design projects important. We discuss realistic planning, design, or management problems, which form the basis of the project work. A relatively large proportion of the curriculum is dedicated to design studios, field visits, and research.
Specialty Module (62 ECTS) mandatory
Principles of module selection: Module is mandatory and has no prerequisites. Students must pass all courses described in the module.
1. Theory and methods of landscape architecture (19 ECTS) mandatory
Principles of module selection: Module is mandatory and has no prerequisites. Students must pass all courses described in the module.
- PK.0758 Basics of environmental psychology (2 ECTS)
- KE.0069 Estonian for foreigners (3 ECTS)
- KE.0080 Estonian. Intermediate (3 ECTS)
- PK.1747 Landscape architecture as a contemporary cultural practice (5 ECTS)
- PK.0784 Protection and restoration philosophy of cultural heritage (3 ECTS)
- PK.0754 Research methodology (3 ECTS)
2. Design and projecting of outdoor spaces (31 ECTS) mandatory
Principles of module selection: Module is mandatory and has no prerequisites. Students must pass all courses described in the module.
- PK.1737 Advanced presentation graphics (4 ECTS)
- MI.0462 Artificial water bodies in the landscape (3 ECTS)
- PK.1584 Historic sites and monuments restoration (4 ECTS)
- PK.1738 Landscape architectural projecting (6 ECTS)
- PK.1743 Outdoor recreation planning and design (11 ECTS)
- PK.0375 Sustainable environmental engineering I (3 ECTS)
3. Spatial planning and planning related impact assessment (12 ECTS) mandatory
Principles of module selection: Module is mandatory and has no prerequisites. Students must pass all courses described in the module.
- PK.0223 Environmental impact assessment (5 ECTS)
- PK.0407 Landscape and visual impact assessment (2 ECTS)
- PK.1581 Planning theory (3 ECTS)
- PK.1744 Strategic local planning (2 ECTS)
Elective specialization subjects (20 ECTS) mandatory
Principles of module selection: Elective specialization subjects module is mandatory for all students enrolled. Students must select courses in the size of 20 ECTS in total. Design project tasks and subjects are selected by students according to personal professional interests.
- PK.1746 Comprehensive landscape architecture project (14 ECTS)
- PK.1740 Practical training in landscape architecture II (6 ECTS)
- PK.1741 Practical training in landscape architecture III (20 ECTS)
Optional subjects (8 ECTS) mandatory
Principles of module selection: Students can choose optional subjects from their own university as well as other institutions of higher education. There are no restrictions on the content of optional subjects.
Master Thesis (30 ECTS) mandatory
- PK.1524 Master thesis (30 ECTS)
The chair professor of our landscape architecture study programs is Simon Bell. The students become professional landscape architects recognized both in Estonia and internationally.
The program equips students with appropriate knowledge and understanding in the following areas:
- the physical and natural systems and processes and the complex range of social, economic, and cultural factors that interact together to shape the landscape
- the theories and concepts underlying the practice of landscape architecture
- the range of techniques and materials used in landscape architecture
- the professional, legal, institutional and administrative context in which landscape architecture is practiced, including, where appropriate, contract law and landscape specification
- the social, cultural, and environmental values and ethical issues relevant to practice as a landscape architect, with particular emphasis on the role of sustainability
- the interface between the different areas of the landscape profession and between landscape architecture and other professions
The program also equips students with the advanced skills that are essential to prepare for study and critical and reflective practice in landscape architecture. Skills include:
- to interpret or develop a brief, through research, analysis, and exploration
- to identify, analyze, synthesize and apply appropriate data and information to support the development of solutions through design
- to generate, develop and evaluate creative, innovative, and appropriate design solutions and proposals
- to employ a range of relevant techniques and materials to specify and implement creative designs
- to conduct most aspects of the professional practice of landscape architecture
The Estonian University of Life Sciences offers 1 targeted scholarship (a tuition fee-free study place, no extra money for living and travel included) for candidate not from Estonia and 2 targeted scholarships for candidates from Ukraine (citizens of Ukraine) for the 2025 intake.
The scholarships will be awarded to the candidates with the highest amount of admission points, all candidates are considered as applicants to the scholarship. In order to maintain the scholarship during the whole nominal period of studies, the scholarship recipient must comply with the requirements set for full-time study (30 European Credit Transfer System credit points (ECTS) in each semester). If not, the scholarship recipient shall cover his/her cost of tuition, pursuant to the University Council Regulation "Terms and Procedure for Covering the Cost of Tuition in Formal Study", for the remaining study period.
The decision about awarding scholarships will be announced on the 21st of June.
Study loans are offered through Erasmus+ for master students from Spain, Italy (Emilia Romagna region), Croatia, Romania, and Turkey.
Graduates of the program will be able to work in professional practice in private design offices, in local government or government agencies throughout Europe, and beyond where their skills are needed. They may also use the master's degree as a basis for entering a doctoral program.