Master of Landscape Architecture
Student type:
Quick facts
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Entry score
Not applicable
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Duration
Full-time 2 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
Next intake
February, July Entry score
IELTS 6.5
Duration
Full-time 2 years Location
Melbourne City
Overview
Landscape architecture is a discipline that works across a range of creative ideas, living systems, physical materials, and future possibilities. It is about envisioning, investigating, and proposing better ways of living in a complex and changing world.
The Master of Landscape Architecture course is accredited by the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects. The course is recognised as a world-class facility in fostering design knowledge, critical thinking, and design advocacy through innovative teaching and research.
RMIT’s Master of Landscape Architecture will equip you to become a leader and innovator in landscape architectural practice.
Design Research is at its core
Design research projects undertaken within this course sit at a contemporary and international level. Design research enables you to engage profoundly with the discipline. You will investigate issues and topics that are relevant to contemporary issues in urban and natural contexts increasingly affected by climate change, natural disasters and misappropriation of land.
Study in RMIT’s unique design studios
You’ll learn through design studios, which operate as laboratories conducive to experimentation, investigation, and the exploration of design as an agent that responds to issues in the built environment. Studios are led by distinguished local and international academic practitioners drawing from a diverse field of knowledge and experience.
Top 3 reasons to be part of RMIT Landscape Architecture
- Learn through design studios, which model the best-practice of industry
- Open up employment opportunities and develop industry contacts
- Be immersed in an urban design laboratory in Australia’s design capital.
Details
It’s all centred around learning through design studios
The course’s celebrated design studios are situated within an urban campus, which means you will be immersed a laboratory of design exploration and at the centre of innovation.
Studios are located within the multi award-winning RMIT Design Hub. Studios are one of the major reasons that RMIT Landscape Architecture and its graduates are so highly regarded by industry.
What is a design studio?
Design studios model the best practice of global design firms.
Design studios typically make up half the course each semester, and are taught in small groups. You will focus on a particular design theme and project. You’ll select from a range of studio offerings, and learn specific techniques to develop ideas and outcomes.
In your final year, you will complete a thesis, referred to Design Research Project A+B. This will develop on the research outcomes reached at the conclusion of your landscape architecture studies.
Acclaimed and award-winning landscape architects, architects, urban designers, and experts in related fields are consistently involved with the teaching and research projects undertaken within this course.
Studios provide engagement with industry. Some projects may involve clients or actual projects where you will develop your proposals within a scenario-based, simulated design practice environment. Professional designers may also form part of your review panel at the end of semester.
Public lectures are held throughout the year, led by prominent landscape architects and urban designers.
Study Tours
A range of design studios offer travelling opportunities overseas to engage in field work, workshops and design projects. Previous locations include Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, France, Spain and Africa.
Exchange
International exchange options are available to universities in Germany, Denmark, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom and the USA.
RMIT’s Global Mobility Office supports students to undertake an exchange or short-term mobility activity with over 165 partner universities worldwide.
Internships
Internship placements are offered to students in the Master of Landscape Architecture each year, allowing them to gain work experiences at acclaimed and award-winning practices overseas.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Master of Landscape Architecture | City Campus |
Two years Full Time
|
Two years Full Time
|
MC172 | 064392E |
Choose a program structure
Program code: MC172
Career
This course will prepare you for the professional practice of landscape architecture, working independently or as part of a large team. From urban design projects to working with large open spaces, the parameters of projects are broad.
As a landscape architect, you will find career opportunities in the design offices of landscape architects, architects, planners, urban designers and engineers throughout Australia, and government organisations at federal, state and municipal levels.
Graduates may also become involved in smaller projects such as private gardens, historic estates and productive landscapes.
After completion of this two year program graduates meet the requirements to apply for membership and registration with the Australian Institute of Landscape Architects (AILA), the profession's accrediting body.
Admissions
You must have successfully completed:
- the Bachelor of Landscape Architectural Design from RMIT University with a grade point average of 2.5 (out of 4.0) or above.
OR - an Australian Bachelor degree (or equivalent overseas qualification) in architecture or landscape architecture or a related design field. You will be selected competitively based on your grades and folio.
Entry requirements
You must:
- Complete and submit the selection task by 28 February 2020. Submissions will be assessed in the order they are received until this date unless places are filled prior. The link to submit your selection task will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application.
- Attend an interview (some applicants)
Selection task
The selection task requires:
- a statement outlining why you wish to study this program, and your current research goals. You may also wish to include why you want to pursue a career in design and how your work experience has informed your research interests (maximum 150 words).
- a statement outling your academic achievements and professional experience includng any work experience you are currently undertaking (maximum 300 words).
- a folio containing pieces from your undergraduate studies and, if available, professional projects. Your folio should be a package of images, drawings, sketches, paintings, models, photographs, computer work, etc. of personal creative/design projects; should include concepts/ideas that lead to the final design piece. You must collate your work into a single PDF (maximum 30 pages). You may upoad your PDF (maximum 10MB) or supply a URL if it's hosted online.
If you successfully complete BP256 Bachelor of Landscapre Architecture with a GPA of 2.5 or more you are guaranteed entry in to this program
- If you have successfully completed the Bachelor of Landscape Architectural Design from RMIT University with a GPA of 2.5 out of 4.0 or above, you are guaranteed entry into Master of Landscape Architecture. You do not need to submit a selection task.
- If you have completed the Bachelor of Landscape Architectural Design from RMIT University with a GPA less than 2.5 out of 4.0 or another architecture/landscape architecture specific Bachelor degree from a different institution, you will be required to complete and submit a pre-selection kit with your application. Short-listed applicants will be required to attend an interview.
To study this program you will need to complete one of the following English proficiency tests:
- IELTS (Academic): minimum overall band of 6.5 (with no individual band below 6.0)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 79 (with minimum of 13 in Reading, 12 in Listening, 18 in Speaking and 21 in Writing)
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) (PTE (A)): minimum score of 58 (with no communication band less than 50)
- Cambridge English: Advanced (CAE): minimum of 176 with no less than 169 in any component.
For detailed information on English language requirements and other proficiency tests recognised by RMIT, visit English language requirements and equivalency information.
Don't meet the English language test scores? Complete an English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Fees
Entry for this program is primarily through Commonwealth Supported Places (CSPs).
Government financial assistance is available to eligible students regardless of the type of place you enrol in.
2020 indicative annual fees
- Commonwealth supported places (CSP) range from AU$6,684 to AU$11,155*.
- Full-fee places: AU$33,600*.
Additional expenses
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$308* maximum fee for 2020.
- Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Annual fee adjustment
*Amounts quoted are indicative fees per annum, and are based on a standard year of full-time study (96 credit points). A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Defer your payment
You may be eligible to apply for a HELP loan, which can be used to defer payment of up to the full amount of your student contribution fees. You may also be eligible to apply to defer payment of your SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme.
For more information and to learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees see postgraduate study fees.
If you are offered a Commonwealth supported place, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government.
Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set on an annual basis by the government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of your individual enrolled courses, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
In 2020, the annual student contribution amount you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,684 to AU$11,155.
Courses (subjects) fall into one of three bands. The band determines the student contribution amount for the course.
Amounts listed in the table below are based on a standard, full-time study load (96 credit points per year) with all courses in the same band. A proportionate fee applies for more or less than the full-time study load or for enrolment in courses (subjects) from a combination of bands.
You can learn how to calculate your exact tuition fees for units from different bands at Fees for Commonwealth supported students.
Maximum student contribution amount for Commonwealth supported places in 2020
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2020 |
Band 1: humanities, behavioural science, social studies, clinical psychology, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, education, nursing |
$6,684 per standard year $835 per standard (12 credit point) course |
Band 2: mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, other health, allied health, science, engineering, surveying, agriculture |
$9,527 per standard year |
|
$11,155 per standard year |
How does a HELP loan work?
If your FEE-HELP, HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to 100% of your fees. This amount will become part of your accumulated HELP debt.
You will only start repaying your accumulated HELP debt to the Australian Government once you earn above the minimum income threshold for repayment, which is set each year by the Australian Government (this also applies if you are still studying).
The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) will calculate your compulsory repayment for the year and include this on your income tax notice.
For more information about loan repayment options see Commonwealth assistance (HELP loans) or Study Assist.
In addition to tuition fees, you will be charged an annual student services and amenities fee (SSAF), which is used to maintain and enhance services and amenities that improve your experience as an RMIT student. The SSAF is calculated based on your enrolment load and the maximum fee for 2020 is $308.
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the SSAF through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
For more information about calculating your actual SSAF see Paying SSAF.
You may also be required to purchase other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment. These additional fees and expenses vary from program to program.
The annual tuition fee for 2020 is AU$39,360.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2020 commencement is AU$80,640.
In addition to tuition fees you also need to pay for:
- Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) in each calendar year.
- Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) - Student visa holders must have cover for the total duration of their visa.
- Some programs incur additional expenses.
You also need to account for your living expenses. Estimate the cost of living in Melbourne.