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Master of Arts (M.A.)

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...

Sustainable urban landscape projects, UN SDGs and landscape development, International teamwork and exchange, Informative excursions and experts meetings, Internship with real life experience, Practical part: 70 %, Foreign language: English: 20 %

A Degree Program with a Future

Type of Study

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.

Admission
  • 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:
  1. 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.
  2. a Bachelor’s degree completed in Australia, Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, New Zealand or the USA
  3. a Bachelor’s degree in an accredited degree program taught in English at a German institution of higher education,
  4. TOEFL test with a score of 550 (paper-based) or 79 (internet-based, iBT),
  5. Cambridge ESOL Certificate (CPE, CAE with minimum grade B, FCE with minimum grade A), or
  6. IELTS with minimum overall score 6.5
Structure and Contents of the Degree Program

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)
Acquired Knowledge and Skills

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.

Job Profiles

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.
As Graduate You Contribute to...

... 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

Our Sustainable Campus in 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.

Campus Life

Profile

Degree Course:
Sustainable Landscape Design and Development
Degree:
Master of Arts (M.A.)
Study model:
Full-time
Admission:
Non-restricted
Standard period of study:
4 semester
Start:
Winter semester
Course language:
English
Location:
Sustainable Campus Höxter
Tuition Fees:
None
Preparatory courses:
no

Application periods:

Germany and EU Countries
Winter Semester: 02.05. – 30.06.

Non-EU Countries
Winter Semester: 01.04. – 31.05.