Master in Landscape Architecture for Global Sustainability

Master in Landscape Architecture for Global Sustainability is one of 3 English-taught Landscape Architecture programmes at Master's Degree level in the register, offered by 3 institutions. 3 are recorded as free for EU, EEA and Swiss students.

What you study

The core of the curriculum is project work, spanning design, landscape ecology, theory and history. The programme has 60 ECTS of compulsory courses: an introductory course in Landscape Architecture for Global Sustainability, a theory course on Landscape in a Globalised World, and three design studios that address the ecological, urban and social issues of contemporary contested landscapes. You then choose 30 ECTS of electives, which lets you specialise in themes or regions that interest you. The degree ends with a 30 ECTS master's thesis, an independent research and design project that brings together the programme's central concepts.

Teaching uses both scientific and artistic methods. You work through an interactive design process with regular supervision, presentations and feedback. The programme is research-driven and studio-based, and it experiments with strategies and design scenarios rather than looking for fixed solutions. Field trips are part of the programme but are not mandatory, and students must be prepared to cover their own travel expenses.

How the programme is organised

This is a two-year, full-time master's degree worth 120 ECTS, taught in English. It is acknowledged by the International Federation of Landscape Architects. The programme is transdisciplinary, integrating landscape management, planning, design and ecology with theories and methods from development studies. You study in an international environment, and group work gives you the chance to exchange intercultural experiences and knowledge. Courses cover contemporary concerns and a suite of methods, as well as insights into working internationally and experiencing cultural differences. Learning activities include lectures with academic literature and case studies, seminars where you discuss subjects across disciplinary backgrounds, studio-based project work on physical sites, and exercises that let you practise analysis methods, modes of representation and presentation skills. Fieldwork is encouraged. NMBU has exchange agreements with universities across the world, and all courses are in English so international students can join the regular semesters and choose from a preselection of relevant electives in English.

Who it suits

The programme builds on prior studies in landscape architecture and related disciplines, and it advances your existing qualifications, whether a bachelor's or a master's degree. It suits people who want to deepen their understanding of landscape architecture in a globalised world and who are ready to engage with the environmental and social challenges of contested landscapes. These are territories where competing claims, values and power relations shape the use and meaning of land and resources. The programme prepares professionals who can design, plan and manage sustainable and resilient environments that respond sensitively to diverse socio-cultural and ecological contexts. It also equips you with skills and methods to handle the uncertainties of future environmental and social challenges. If you have formal training in visualisation or not, the programme encourages you to describe any relevant experience with visualisation tools in your motivation letter.

Admission, language and next steps

You need a bachelor's degree in landscape architecture, architecture, urban and regional planning, landscape planning, landscape sciences, geography, development studies, resource management, environmental studies, landscape engineering or another relevant field. There is an average grade requirement of C from the bachelor's degree. You must upload transcripts, a motivation letter of no more than 600 words and a 4-page portfolio in PDF format. The motivation letter should explain how the programme complements your existing qualifications, what career trajectory you envision, and how your background and professional experience will contribute to a diverse learning environment. Applicants without formal training in visualisation are encouraged to describe relevant experience with visualisation tools. You must also meet NMBU's English language proficiency requirement. Application deadlines are 1 December for applicants outside the EU/EEA and 15 April for Norwegian, Nordic, EU/EEA and Swiss citizens. Check the programme page for details. Students from the EU/EEA and Switzerland are normally exempt from tuition fees at state institutions; other degree students normally pay a fee set by the institution. NMBU requires you to have your own personal laptop; the university provides necessary software licences. An online information meeting takes place on 1 April 2026, from 12:30 to 13:30 Oslo time; you receive the link after registering. Student accommodation is offered through NMBU's Student Welfare Association (SiÅs), with international students prioritised, though not guaranteed; apply immediately after accepting your offer.

Master’s applications go straight to Norwegian University of Life Sciences, not through the national admission service (NUCAS). Study in Norway states that you need a bachelor’s degree comparable to a Norwegian bachelor’s degree (180 ECTS), including courses equal to at least one and a half years of full-time study relevant to the programme. The institution lists its deadline as: Nordic applicants: April 15 EU applicants: April 15 Non EU-applicants: December 1. The register shows 1 December 2026 as a deadline date for this programme. Deadlines are set by each institution for each programme, so confirm yours. Entry requirements and language tests are also set by the institution, so start from the official programme page. Our guides cover tuition fees, study permits and housing.