Don’t let the grass grow under your feet – design yourself a career in landscape architecture!

What is landscape architecture?

Landscape architecture shapes the world we live in, combining nature with manmade structures. Do you picture yourself working with the natural environment, bringing nature into our cities and towns and enhancing the beauty of public spaces? If so, you could think about qualifying as a landscape architect.

There are five main areas of landscape architecture: landscape design, landscape management, landscape science, landscape planning and urban design. As a qualified landscape architect, you could work across all these areas, just cover a few of them or specialise in one aspect.

Preparing for a career in landscape architecture

If you’re thinking about being a landscape architect, you should consider trying to get some work experience or a placement. When planning a career you should always think about what will help in the future and universities will always take into account any work experience that you have and it not only helps with gaining a university place but it will also help you to decide whether landscape architecture really is what you want to do.

Finding work experience

To find work experience you can contact your local branch of the Landscape Institute – you can find your nearest branch by visiting www.landscapeinstitute.org and they’ll help you locate practices in your area and find work experience or job-shadowing opportunities.

What qualifications do I need to be a landscape architect?

The usual entry requirements for a degree course are three A-levels at grades A*-B or the equivalent, in a relevant subject such as art, biology or geography for instance.

Landscape architecture is a chartered profession, meaning that the person has the credentials of being fully qualified in their chosen profession. In order to pursue this qualification, make sure that the university course you apply for fully accredited.

Universities such as Sheffield, Edinburgh, Kingston, Birmingham offer degrees such as Landscape Architecture, Garden Design, Landscape Design and Technology, Landscape Planning and Environmental Conservation and you can study Design and Landscape Architecture at Writtle College which is affiliated to Essex University.

Undergraduate courses take three to four years to complete. After finishing your degree you’ll be able to apply for licentiate membership of the Landscape Institute which then allows you to apply for relevant jobs and then build your career.

Once you have started to practice as a landscape gardener you will continue to learn in order to qualify as a fully chartered landscape architect. There are three levels of qualification for a landscape architect: Licentiate, CMLI (chartered member) and Fellow. As a licentiate, the average salary is £20,000 - £29,000. A CMLI’s earns an average salary of £30,000 - £45,000 and a Fellow’s average salary is £50,000 - £80,000, including job roles of Head of Department or director.

Find out about other land-based careers