Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning (Bachelor of Science)

The Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning degree program combines art and science, i.e. social, cultural, natural and engineering sciences. You will be able to develop your artistic creativity and conduct scientific research. You will examine and design landscapes, whether they are nature reserves, city parks or squares, gardens, energy parks, or brownfield sites. Your goal is to improve the quality of life for people and nature. This requires sociological knowledge, social commitment and artistic intuition. Planning and designing landscapes also requires knowledge of the physical conditions of the environment – ecology, geology, climatology, soil and vegetation science. You will cooperate with a team on a variety of project work and with little lecture-style teaching, and during your obligatory semester abroad you will learn that your work is also relevant internationally.

The main focus of landscape architecture is on creative and scientific fields of design, closely related to urban planning and architecture. Within this focus, the ecological and scientific planning aspects are in the foreground. The Bachelor's program is interdisciplinary and combines both disciplines. After a two-semester orientation phase during the study program, you can freely choose your specialization.

Graduates in Landscape Planning and Landscape Architecture are in great demand. "Landscape architect" is a protected professional title in Germany, secured by the federal states’ Chamber of Architects and the laws of the Building Chamber. With the additional proof of professional experience, you are entitled to be included in the lists of the Chambers of Architects or planner lists after graduation.

On the job market, you can aim for independent landscape architecture and planning offices as well as building and environmental administrations. Do you prefer to prepare ecological reports or to work in governmental and non-governmental nature conservation? How about environmental education, journalism, real estate, or project development? You are well prepared for these activities as well with the Bachelor's program in Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning.

As a graduate of a university for which the master's degree is the standard degree, we recommend our advanced master's programs in Landscape Architecture, Ecological Engineering, Urbanism, or Conservation and Landscape Planning.

During the first two semesters of project studies, you will focus on fundamental technical and methodological knowledge and get to know the specializations of landscape architecture and landscape planning. You will acquire essential knowledge in the fields of design, ecology and botany, and a foundation in natural and engineering sciences as well as in architecture and urban planning.

From the third semester onwards, you will expand your knowledge in complex project studies and core subjects. Further specialized required modules cover architecture, urban planning, soil science, geographical information systems, computer-aided design, spatial economics and planning law. Through various elective modules, you can set priorities according to your individual interests and thus build your professional profile. You can choose between fields such as urban planning, liberal arts, environmental sociology, spatial planning, hydraulic engineering, limnology, traffic planning, land management, forestry and agricultural sciences.

In the fifth semester, you will complete the obligatory stay abroad. During your internship, you can expand your skills and try out job responsibility in a planning office, national park or other public authority, or take interesting modules of your choice at an established partner university. Are you looking forward to broadening your horizons in an exciting intercultural working and learning environment? Thanks to TUM’s multitude of international contacts with foreign institutions, almost all options are open to you.

After your return from abroad, you will be able to return to intensive project studies and in-depth discussion of current issues in science and research. Numerous seminars will expand your theoretical and methodological repertoire and train you in modeling or research design. We offer access to special fields of landscape architecture and landscape planning, for example in landscape ecology, green technologies, land conversion, energy landscapes or urban redevelopment.

Your studies end with a bachelor’s thesis on a topic of your choice. Combine personal skills and preferences with the knowledge you have acquired and demonstrate your professionalism!

Interest aroused? Just take a look at an exemplary curriculum!

With a degree in Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning, you will be able to design open spaces, develop landscapes and master challenges for the protection of nature and landscapes. During your interdisciplinary university studies, you will learn many methods for analysis, evaluation, planning and design, and be able to apply them. Your knowledge of urban planning, botany, ecology, construction technology, plant use, CAD, garden design, design methodology and planning theory, instruments and law as well as project management will characterize your professional competence.

Depending on your individual interests and the focus of your studies, you will be particularly well experienced in architecture and urban planning or soil science and spatial development. Besides, you will be able to develop planning approaches, design solutions for complex problems, and check their structural feasibility. Alternatively, you could prepare expert reports and assess the condition and development goals of landscapes.

Overall, you will always aim to create sustainable living spaces for people and nature and never lose sight of the social, ecological and economic interrelationships.

During the application period you can apply online via the application portal TUMonline for a place in the winter semester. You simply upload your documents for admission to the Landscape Architecture and Landscape Planning study program directly on the portal.

After reviewing your documents, we will invite you to an interview (aptitude assessment) at the university. Please bring your motivation portfolio with you.

The motivation portfolio is a collection of materials that you have personally compiled to explain to us your motivation for the study program and your ideas about the professional field of landscape architecture and landscape planning. This could be for example:

• Samples of work (written or photographic, including relevant technical papers, texts, drafts, drawings, sketches, and photographs);
• written compositions on topics such as ecology, nature conservation and environmental protection or urban planning and landscape architecture;
• descriptions and reflections of your personal perception of the built and undeveloped landscape;
• practical experience and reports on completed internships, a Voluntary Ecological Year, community service, etc.

That means you can decide whether you bring graphics, photographs, or texts with you; there is no disadvantage if you choose one of these categories.

We are open to your ideas! The important thing is that we see you as a personality, with strong motivation, concrete ideas about your studies as well as clear expectations and professional goals. The compilation of the application documents will enable you to thoroughly examine your choice of studies and prepare for the interview. At the same time, you can help determine the course of the interview through the documents you submit. We ask you to submit certified copies of proof of relevant professional training or other practical work experience.

If you are subsequently admitted, you only need to submit a few certified hard copies for enrollment.

The prerequisite for the study is the general qualification for university entrance or a comparable qualification.

A pre-study internship before the start of your studies is not required for admission.

The admissions process of the degree program is described in the admission regulations of the study program.

• Curriculum
  The degree chart gives you an overview and recommendation, which modules you should take in which semester according to academic and examination regulations (FPSO).
   
• Timetable (TUM ID required for login):
  This timetable is intended to give you an overview of the planned compulsory and elective modules of a semester. It is for orientation purposes only and will not be updated during the semester! 
  
  Via TUMonline you can have a timetable created for each semester according to FSPO.
  
  You can also create your own individual timetable, which can contain not only the dates of the selected courses, but also your personal appointments.
  
  First steps with TUMonline

• General Academic and Examination Regulations at TUM (APSO)
• Academic and Examination Regulations (FPSO)
  • Regulations on the aptitude assessment
  • Academic and Examination Regulations 20231 (from start of degree program WS 23/24)
  • Academic and Examination Regulations 20181 (from start of degree program WS 18/19)
• Examination dates & registration via TUMonline
  In TUMonline you can register for the module examinations that accompany your studies. 

  Important: You can only take most of the exams if you have actively registered yourself via TUMonline within the registration period. The registration and deregistration period will be displayed at the exam date.

• Further examination matters
  • Academic progress check
  • Examinations
  • Recognitions
  • Theses

• Board of Examination
  The board of examination is a committee consisting of university professors and lecturers of the degree program. The chairperson of the board of examination of your degree program is Prof. Dr.-Ing. Stephan Pauleit. Applications to the board of examination are received by the secretary and submitted to the board of examination for decision. You can reach the secretary by sending an email to examination.co@ls.tum.de.
   
• General Education occupancy

  Unfortunately, there have been discrepancies in last weeks concerning the General Education ("General Education Subject") for students between 2018 and 2022 valid Academic and Examination Regulation (FPSO). According to FPSO 20181, valid from the start of studies WS2018/19, the following applies:

  "Students do not have to choose General Education, but if General Education was choosing, then at least to the extent of 5 credits."

  In the past, there have been discrepancies and misinterpretations regarding the 5 credits of General Education. Covered students, who would like to complete their studies this summer semester 2023 were unable to do so because the TUM online system did not positively set the Elective Area II - Disciplinary Basics for them. For these students, who have less than 5 credits in General Education, the examination board approved the following special regulation for General Education on 05.09.2023:

  "Students, who complete their studies in the summer semester 2023 by taking the last examination (i.e., up to the end of the first week of lectures in the winter semester 2023/24) may also contribute General Education Subject with less than 5 credits (i.e. 1-4 credits) in order to complete their course of study.”

  Furthermore, according to the examinations board, the following applies:

  Students, who will not finish until the winter semester 2023/24, still have the opportunity to complete the 5 credits of General Education subject or to take another elective module from this area."

  With this special regulation for General Education in the summer semester 2023, it is possible for all students to finalize their studies. If there is still a need for clarification or advice in this regard, students are encouraged to contact their student advisor.

A subject-specific stay abroad is planned for the 5th semester. This can be a course of study at a foreign university, a research stay or an internship. Thanks to a variety of contracts and partnerships with foreign institutions, as well as specific support and advice, there is a worldwide selection.

• Information about the stay abroad (with TUM login only)
• To the map with the partner universities
• Internship database of the TUM School of Life Sciences

The internships of the Vocational Field Orientation module can be completed in Germany or abroad. There are numerous support possibilities for the stay abroad. Just ask at our International Center.

The Weihenstephan Internship Office can offer further information and support in your search for internship companies.

More information about

• Internships
• Excursions