Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø

Use the links below to view lists of courses in related subject areas.

• Architecture

Part 1 Entry

Students eligible for the MLA will normally have a minimum of a second class degree in a closely related subject area. The following disciplines are typical although this is not an exhaustive list and the suitability of all applicants will be assessed via a combination of portfolio and interview.

• Design for the built environment including: architecture, urban design and planning, interior design, garden design.
• Other design or arts related disciplines may also be considered, including: fashion, film, graphics, and product design (among others).
• Land or plant-based sciences including: geography, horticulture, forestry or agriculture, ecology, environmental science and management.
• Engineering, including especially: civil, hydrological and structural engineering.

In most cases, international students with a closely related qualification from their home country are eligible for the 2-year course, which helps them adapt to the specific professional and cultural context of the discipline in the UK. In exceptional circumstances, where considerable work experience in landscape architecture is demonstrated, students are eligible for Part 2 entry.

Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification. Accepted English qualifications can be viewed on the

Direct Part 2 Entry

Candidates with a minimum of a second-class degree in an accredited UK undergraduate Landscape Architecture course will normally be accepted directly into Part 2 of the MLA. Candidates from other countries with an IFLA recognised undergraduate qualification of an equivalent standard may also be eligible for direct entry at year 2.

Candidates from other very closely related disciplines (principally Architecture and Urban Design) may be considered, subject to providing evidence of a Level 6 understanding and knowledge of additional subject areas specific to landscape architecture.

Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 6.0 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification. Accepted English qualifications can be viewed on the

Architecture Conversion Route

Candidates with a minimum of a second-class degree in a UK undergraduate RIBA validated and ARB prescribed architecture course (whilst this is available) will normally be accepted into the architect conversion route. Candidates from other countries with a recognised undergraduate qualification of an equivalent standard may also be eligible for this entry route.

The suitability of all applicants will be assessed via portfolio review of work produced during the undergraduate programme and work experience if relevant.

Overseas applicants will require IELTS with an overall score of 6.5 with no less than 5.5 in any category, or an equivalent accepted English qualification.

Fees for entry in 2027 have not yet been set. For reference, the fees for the academic year beginning September 2026 were as follows:

• (full-time)
  UK students (per annum): £12,400 p/a collected by MMU
  International, including EU, students (per annum): £28,500 p/a collected by MMU

Specialist costs

• Compulsory estimate: £1,700
• Optional estimate: £1,000

Students often choose to buy a laptop in their first year, however there are PCs and Macs available on campus with the necessary software on them. The University also provides short-term laptop loans, although they do not support all the advanced digital design programs. If you purchase your own computer you may need to obtain specialist software and an external hard-drive.

You will be required to buy some model-making and drawing equipment. There may also be some additional costs if you choose to use specialist model making equipment such as the 3D printers and laser cutters. On occasion you may be required to print work for reviews but we will generally ask you to share your work digitally.

Placement costs

• Compulsory estimate: NOT SET
• Optional estimate: NOT SET

Professional costs

You can choose to become a student member of the Landscape Institute. It is free.

Other costs

• Compulsory estimate: £0
• Optional estimate: £700

Students can choose to go on the study trips - estimated optional cost £600. You may choose to buy books for the course, although the library is excellent - estimated optional cost £100.

All students should normally be able to complete their programme of study without incurring additional study costs over and above the tuition fee for that programme. Any unavoidable additional compulsory costs totalling more than 1% of the annual home undergraduate fee per annum, regardless of whether the programme in question is undergraduate or postgraduate taught, will be made clear to you at the point of application. Further information can be found in the University's (PDF document, 91KB).

International Postgraduate Scholarship

International students who have been accepted onto this course may be eligible for a £3,000 scholarship in the first year of study. We will assess your eligibility when you apply to this course. You do not need to apply to this scholarship separately.

You'll benefit from access to specialist workshops, studios, libraries, and support services across both universities. This includes an industry-standard Model Making Workshop, for the production of scale development and presentation models. The workshop contains digital fabrication technology, alongside equipment for core manufacturing techniques.

You can access a dedicated MSA Advanced Digital Design team who provide workshops and tutorials covering all the essential software plus a range of more specialist programmes and cutting edge workflows. Boost your employability with dedicated career support and a unique offering of MSA employability events, including portfolio development, networking opportunities, and tailored advice for entering the landscape profession. Join the MSSA, the UK’s largest student-led architecture society, and build valuable connections across the profession. 

MLA Part 1 provides a broad foundation of knowledge and skills in landscape architecture for students wishing to convert from related subject areas and for overseas students who may benefit from the transition to a different cultural and professional context. Part 1 of the MLA consists of 6 modules, totalling 120 credits.

The Architecture Conversion Route has two specially curated modules designed to enhance your spatial design skills while introducing the ecological, environmental, and cultural factors that shape the discipline of landscape architecture. Post successful completion of these two modules, the ACR Students will join the MLA Year Part 2.

See Course Units Overview for more detail on the different routes.

Core modules

• Introduction to Landscape Architecture (MLA Part 1)
• Planting Design and Technologies (MLA Part 1)
• Landscape Theory and Context (MLA Part 1)
• Biodiversity and Climate Adaptive Design (MLA Part 1)
• Landscape and Community (MLA Part 1)
• Landscape Research (MLA Part 1)

MLA Part 2 provides a final year of education for both landscape undergraduates and conversion students alike, and encourages a greater degree of autonomy and the opportunity to develop personal practice through both design and research-based work. A strong professional element underpins the whole year.

Those joining straight into Part 2 in September 2026 will study the modules marked 2027-28. Part 2 of the MLA consists of 5 units, totalling 180 credits.

• Landscape Atelier 2a 2027-28
• Landscape Atelier 2b 2027-28
• Landscape Atelier 2c 2027-28
• Dissertation and Exhibition 2027-28
• Landscape Profession and Practice 2027-28

Those joining the Part 2 in September 2027 after studying Part 1 or the Architecture Conversion Route will study the modules marked 2027-28.

Part 2 of the MLA consists of 5 units, totalling 180 credits.

Core modules

• Atelier Resolution 2027-28
• Atelier Inquiry 2027-28
• Dissertation 2027-28
• Experimental Technologies 2027-28
• Collaborative Landscape Practice 2027-28

There are three routes into studying the Master of Landscape Architecture at Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø School of Architecture.

MLA Part 1

MLA Part 1 offers a transformative education in the core skills essential to landscape architecture. Designed for those changing careers or joining from related disciplines, you will engage with diverse learning environments, global perspectives, and dynamic landscape typologies, discovering the full breadth of the discipline. Alongside building expertise in landscape architecture, you will have the opportunity to work in an interdisciplinary, collaborative setting with students and experts from MSA’s architecture, adaptive reuse, and urbanism programmes, drawing on the diverse range of expertise the programme offers. Throughout your modules, you will explore the intersection of professional design practice, critical theoretical inquiry, and technology and experimentation. This foundational year equips you with the knowledge and skills necessary to navigate the complexities of the field, preparing you effectively for Year 2 of the programme. This route has September entry, with students going into MLA Year 2 in September of the next year.

Architecture Conversion Route

The Architecture Conversion Route is designed for undergraduate architecture graduates seeking to transition into the dynamic and evolving field of landscape architecture. Building on the shared foundations of architecture and landscape design, the programme enhances your spatial design skills while introducing the ecological, environmental, and cultural factors that shape the discipline of landscape architecture. Through a combination of theoretical learning, site-based investigations, and hands-on design exploration, you will engage with the complexities of working with living systems, developing strategies for long-term ecological and climate resilience while addressing community needs. This foundation will prepare you to develop innovative solutions to contemporary landscape challenges and advance to Part 2 of the programme. This route has January entry, with students going onto MLA year 2 in September of the same year.

MLA Part 2

MLA Part 2 offers an opportunity for professional development, design excellence, critical inquiry, and academic research that challenges the status quo in landscape architecture. You will join one of the school’s internationally recognized ‘Ateliers’ to pursue a research-led design project, alongside developing an individual dissertation topic, supported by leading academics and researchers from Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø Metropolitan University and the University of Ò°ÀÇÉçÇø. You will also learn from experts in related disciplines such as ecology, horticulture, landscape management, water management, engineering, and soil conservation to enable you to engage with both the breadth and depth of the field. Modules will equip you with the skills required to achieve professional excellence, collect real-world experience in working with industry partners, conducting ambitious, independent, and academic research, effectively preparing you for a future in practice or further academic studies. This route has September entry, and is available to study full-time.

Practical support and advice for current students and applicants is available from the Disability Advisory and Support Service. Email: dass@manchester.ac.uk

The revised Master of Landscape Architecture programme is currently undergoing a full accreditation review by the Landscape Institute (LI).

Please be aware that accreditation is not guaranteed. If the programme is accredited following the review, the LI has indicated that recognition towards chartership for students who enrolled during this time may be backdated – this cannot be confirmed in advance. We will update this page as soon as we have further information – please check back for updates.