Architecture, Landscape and Environment MSc

The MSc Architecture, Landscape, and Environment offers you the opportunity to advance your studies in the dynamic teaching and learning environment of Edinburgh College of Art.

As an Architecture, Landscape and Environment MSc student, you will explore and work with an expanded understanding of critical theories and practices at the forefront of contemporary environmental and societal challenges, delivered by an experienced group of research-led senior staff at the University of Edinburgh.

Interdisciplinary in nature, the MSc Architecture, Landscape and Environment will offer you a unique opportunity to explore the interconnected nature of architectural and landscape history and theory with environmental concerns. The programme is not design-based, but instead has a generalist structure. It delivers individual student experiences through a flexible framework that focuses on student-led choice in the shaping of a learning experience, allowing you to appreciate and develop a wide range of specialised and experimental approaches relevant to the field of situated, spatial and site-related theory and practice.

Your learning experience will be defined by your choice of option courses and the focus of your final research projects. You will take compulsory courses that address the sites and methods of creative research. You can also draw on a wide range of optional courses that address architectural, landscape and environmental themes.

You will also:

• work closely with academic staff in seminars
• engage with sites in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the UK through fieldwork
• undertake a supervised situated research project following two semesters of coursework

(Revised 21 October 2024 to update information about fieldwork site location options - UK locations only)

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.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in architecture, architectural history, landscape architecture, or another humanities, social science, or creative arts subject.

We will also consider a UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in other subjects.

If you do not meet the academic entry requirements, we may still consider your application on the basis of your relevant professional experience, please contact us to check before you apply.

As part of the application process, you must submit a personal statement. Your personal statement must include a 300-word summary addressing the following points:

• What is your specialist field of interest?
• How would you hope your time on this programme will further your academic interest?
• What are your ambitions following your successful graduation from this programme?

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.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

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

As an advanced postgraduate programme, the MSc Architecture, Landscape, and Environment will provide you with a strong foundation to further your career path in your chosen disciplinary areas, with an expanded understanding of critical theories and practices relevant to contemporary environmental and societal challenges.

The programme offers you the necessary critical skills to pursue a diverse career in areas such as:

• spatial and design practices
• the creative arts
• policy (for example, heritage management)
• advocacy in third sector organisations (such as international NGOs and charities related to climate emergency, landscape conservation or cultural landscapes)
• cultural organisations
• museums and global media

The programme may also support you if you want to advance to doctoral-level research.