Sustainable Landscape Design and Development
Is sustainable landscape architecture and development your passion? Have you already completed a bachelor’s degree program on this or a related topic, and want to deepen your knowledge through a master’s degree? If you are also looking for an international focus in the English language, want to sharpen your overview and develop your management qualities, then welcome to our program!
Your heart beats for...
A Degree Program with a Future
The first two semesters consist of required and mandatory elective subjects, as well as a landscape and a landscape planning and development project with real-life project work. The 3rd semester is an internship, and the 4th semester is dedicated to the master’s thesis.
- A Bachelor's degree (or higher) in landscape architecture or in a related field such as architecture, urban planning, environmental planning, etc. with a grade point average of at least 2.3 in Germany
- Information about the application process can be found on this page.
- Evidence of a very good command of the English language (B2), proven by one of the following requirements:
- at least 7 years of language classes at an institution of general education. As a general rule, performances should at least have been assessed as 'befriedigend' (3.0) in the last four half-year periods of classes. This is only applicable to European candidates.
- a Bachelor’s degree completed in Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand or the USA
- a Bachelor’s degree in an accredited degree program taught in English at a German institution of higher education,
- TOEFL test with a score of 550 (paper-based) or 79 (internet-based, iBT),
- Cambridge ESOL Certificate (CPE, CAE with minimum grade B, FCE with minimum grade A), or
- IELTS with minimum overall score 6.5
1st Semester
- Human-centered Open Space Planning and Design
- Sustainable Planting Design
- Landscape and Regional Planning in Germany
- Quality in Detailed Design
- Extra Muros 1
- Urban Landscape Project
2nd Semester
- Compulsory elective subject 1
- Compulsory elective subject 2
- Compulsory elective subject 3
- Compulsory elective subject 4
- Extra Muros 2
- Landscape Planning and Development Project
3rd Semester
- Internship
4th Semsester
- Master Thesis
- Colloquium (oral examination)
In this master's degree program, you will gain comprehensive perspective on the wide range of sustainability aspects in landscape architecture. Practice-oriented and professionally focused – including with respect to newly created work areas on the market. In the master’s degree program, you will combine tradition and innovation in planning, designing, and developing urban and rural areas. Focus on the challenges of the 21st century, such as
- Climate change
- Water-sensitive urban development
- Biodiversity
- Gender equitable cities
- Energy landscapes
- Healthy cities
- Food safety
- Urban shrinkage processes
- Increasing urbanization and migration
The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide the framework for the content of our master’s degree program.
Our degree program in Sustainable Landscape Design and Development is primarily application-oriented. It prepares you
- to conduct academic work in environmental or planning research areas
- to carry out leadership or management duties in sustainable landscape design and development in Germany and abroad
- to begin a career in the sciences/academia and complete a Ph.D.
... the 17 Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations
- directly to zero hunger
- directly to good health and well-being
- directly to gender equality
- directly to industry, innovation and infrastructure
- directly to sustainable cities and communities
- directly to responsible consumption and production
- directly to climate action
- directly to life on land
Studying at Sustainable Campus Höxter
Sustainable studying in Höxter
At the Höxter campus, much of the focus is on the environment, sustainability, and digitalization—for example, in the environmental engineering and landscape architecture degree programs and in the field of precision farming. Projects such as the 2023 State Garden Show demonstrate that sustainability can be exciting, practical, and innovative. This is ensured by modern laboratories, our own botanical garden, and close cooperation with local authorities and companies.
Important note: Future relocation of degree programs from the Höxter campus
The Sustainable Campus Höxter will remain one of the three locations of the TH OWL. Enrollment in the degree programs offered there will still be possible for the 2025/2026 winter semester. In the future, these will be relocated to the Creative Campus Detmold or the Innovation Campus Lemgo. Planning for this is underway; a concrete timetable will be announced in the course of 2025. TH OWL will ensure that all students are informed several months in advance and can continue to study and complete their programs without disruption.
Information
- Application and enrollment
- Dates and deadlines
- Semester dues
- FAQ about application and enrollment
- Studyplan
- Manual of course modules
Only the details of the currently valid examination regulations of the degree program as published in the promulgation gazette are authoritative and legally binding. You can find the announcement sheets here.
Contact and Counseling
- Our Central Student Advisory Service answers questions about studying at the university
- Offers for study orientation
- Get to know your department!
- Click here to go to the subject-specific student advisory service of the department
- Apply via our KIS portal!
- Information on the enrollment procedure is available from the Enrollment Office
- Studying abroad? Our International Office is there for you!
Still unanswered questions?
Our Student Service Center will answer all your questions about studying at TH OWL as well as about application and enrollment:
Phone: +49 5261 702 2534
E-mail: studierendenservice(at)th-owl.de
Service hours: Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.