European Masters in Landscape Architecture European Masters

In the EMiLA programme we prioritise studio-based design education. During your two semesters at the University of Edinburgh you will engage with both design and theory in ways that mutually support different ways of thinking about our planetary landscape resources.

As an EMiLA student, you will participate in a major design studio entitled ‘Design Explorations’ in the University of Edinburgh in Semester 1, joining other graduating students of landscape architecture.

This course builds on a week of intensive fieldwork with staff and other experts around a landscape site facing complex issues in the UK or abroad.

You will also complete a theory course to help you develop your own ethical position as a landscape architect in a rapidly changing world.

You will spend semester two of year one and semester one of year two with one of our partner institutions and follow their graduating year curriculum.

During semesters two and three students will take two EMiLA specific courses, one e-learning module and one short course connected to the topic of enquiry of the EMiLA summer school.

When you return to the University of Edinburgh in semester four of year two, you have the opportunity to apply what you have learned in other institutions to your work in two courses. You will study ‘Design Explorations Part 2’ and a theory and making course entitled ‘Academic Portfolio’, which is structured to allow you to go out into the professional world with clear ideas about your own disciplinary priorities, and the way you wish to advance your own career.

Between years one and two, all EMiLA students gather at the invitation of one of our partner institutions for a summer school hosted by one of the partners in a location in Europe, bringing together the entire EMiLA community of staff and students together in one place.

Teaching

Teaching is delivered in the field, mostly through weekly tutorials in small groups or with individual members of staff. Lectures and talks for all students on relevant topics support these weekly tutorials.

The EMiLA summer school is taught in the field through the exploration of a site and its context, and then through small groups of students from different institutions working together with staff and experts from the host country.

Assessment

At the University of Edinburgh you are assessed against the two courses you study in each semester. You will then follow the assessment frameworks of partner schools when you study programme elements with the two host institutions you visit.

You are also assessed against a summer school and e-learning course that addresses the professional European context of landscape architecture.

Partner schools all use the same agreed grade conversion table to translate marks gained abroad into the grade system of your home institution.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

• Demonstrate analytical and conceptual skills to address the challenges of the climate and biodiversity crisis and the need for sustainable urban and rural initiatives that promote positive change for people and nature.
• Develop comprehensive independently motivated landscape led projects that operate at a variety of scales addressing multiple challenges and opportunities.
• Demonstrate an individual & creative approach to landscape architecture and an understanding of the environment as a dynamic system.
• Engage positively with the learning cultures of three different institutions that share a passion for the evolution and opportunity of Landscape Architectural design approaches in Europe.

Landscape Architecture graduates are highly sought after in the UK. The UK government added landscape Architecture to the Shortage Occupation List (SOL) in 2019 reflecting the skills shortage within the discipline.

The unique European perspective of EMiLA graduates means that they are highly sought after by international practices of landscape architecture and in international institutions as researchers or educators working at the advancing edge of the discipline.

EMiLA graduates go on to work in some of the most prestigious offices of Landscape Architecture in Europe.

EMiLA graduates are highly attractive to a range of non-governmental organisations and institutions that are dealing with our planetary landscape resources and the challenges they face in the climate and biodiversity crisis.

EMiLA graduates are well-placed to work in organisations that address but are not limited to:

• the climate and biodiversity crisis
• landscape planning
• advocacy and reform
• landscape change
• landscape design in urban and rural contexts
• conservation
• community led landscape transformations
• art practice within a nature or landscape basis
• landscape research.

Field trips

As part of the major courses ‘Design Explorations 1 and 2’ you will attend residential field trips to sites the studio is focused on. Each year we try to run one UK-based and one international option as a minimum for our graduating year students.

While you are studying with a partner institution you will join field trips with the students and staff of your host school.

Campus facilities

EMiLA students at the University of Edinburgh are based in Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) which is located in a central area of the city of Edinburgh, close to the central open parkland area of the Meadows.

You join other graduating students from the second year of the MLA programme and the fourth year of our MA programme in Landscape Architecture. In ECA, you will work in studio spaces dedicated to the discipline of landscape architecture and will have your own desk and making space.

ECA provides a host of unique workshop spaces where students can engage with woodwork, metalwork, plasterwork and print-making practices supported by dedicated technicians.

The main library facilities for landscape architecture students are in the ECA campus at West Port, on Chambers Street and in the main University library on George Square.

Lauriston campus redevelopment

ECA are excited to be undertaking a capital redevelopment of ECA’s Lauriston campus over the next 3 years, from April 2024 to April 2027.

The project aims to maximise the use of existing space, improve accessibility, and create a vibrant campus that fosters collaboration and innovation.

The project involves refurbishing and repurposing various spaces across the Lauriston campus, including technical facilities, student and teaching spaces, and the relocation of the Reid School of Music from Alison House to the Lauriston campus. New social spaces, seminar rooms, and studios are being created to accommodate our growing community.

You can find more about the project at the below link:

Building work starts at ECA’s Lauriston campus | Edinburgh College of Art

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

An undergraduate honours degree in landscape architecture.

We will also consider your application if you have an undergraduate honours degree in architecture and a portfolio that demonstrates a strong interest in landscape architectural issues.

As part of your application you must indicate the institutions you would prefer to attend during the two semesters away from Edinburgh. Whilst we will take your preferences into consideration, we cannot guarantee that places will be available in your preferred institutions.

You must familiarise yourself with the language requirements of the partner institutions before you apply. It is your responsibility to ensure you meet the language requirements of your preferred institution/s before you begin your studies.

A portfolio of work is required as part of the admissions process. This should be a digital document covering a range of work from your own academic, practice or professional background. The portfolio should demonstrate your skill level and ability to represent your own ideas as they relate to the discipline of landscape architecture.

The portfolio should be around (but is not limited to) 20 pages and should include short explanatory texts.The PDF document should use page sizes and a layout that best demonstrates the qualities of your work. The filesize should be under 60MB.

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

• IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
• TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
• C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
• Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
• PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
• Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

• Approved universities in non-MESC

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

• English language requirements

Tuition fees

It is important for applicants to consider the additional costs of moving and locating to the partner countries during their studies.

At the midpoint of the programme, there is a summer school. Although host institutions endeavour to cover as many costs as possible there is normally a requirement to pay for accommodation, travel and food. The costs of the summer school for students varies from year to year depending on any funding that the host school is able to attract.

Students pay for materials and printing during their studies.

Through your major design studio, it is likely that you will have a field trip that will incur additional costs.

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

• borrowing money
  • taking out a loan
  • family support
• personal savings
• income from work
• employer sponsorship
• scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

• your programme
• the duration of your studies
• your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

• Search for funding