Bachelor of Landscape Architectural Design
Student type:
Quick facts
-
Entry score
Not applicable
-
Duration
Full-time 3 years -
Location
Melbourne City -
Fees
Next intake
February, July Entry score
IELTS 6.5
Duration
Full-time 3 years Location
Melbourne City Fees
AU$36,480 (2019 annual)
Next intake
February, July
Overview
Landscape architecture is about spaces – natural, urban, private and public. It’s about investigating and proposing better ways of living in a complex, rapidly changing world.
Landscape architecture involves the design of outdoor public and private spaces. This multifaceted discipline blends design, art, science, nature and culture to achieve environmental, socio-cultural and aesthetic outcomes.
RMIT’s Landscape Architecture is a world-leading program, having previously won the International Schools Award at the European Biennial of Landscape Architecture held in Barcelona and taking first place ahead of more than 90 universities involved.
The judges declared that the work from RMIT showed our students’ ability to ’respond to modern challenges in society through critical analysis, innovative design and clever use of space’.
In this program, unlike in many generalist degrees, you will learn from staff that are current practitioners and actively engaged in the field, who will offer you invaluable and specialised knowledge and feedback. Studying in the heart of Melbourne will provide you with a stimulating urban laboratory with countless opportunities for research and design inspiration.
Details
Design studio typically makes up half the program each semester and is taught in small groups. You will focus on a particular theme and project each semester. After the first semester, you’ll select which design studio you wish to follow from approximately 15 on offer, completing 1 per semester during the course of your studies.
Supporting courses such as technology, communication and history comprise the remainder of your program and provide an understanding of the social and physical contexts of the built environment, as well as teaching you drawing skills.
In first semester you’ll complete a structured, foundational design and communications course. Subsequent semesters include 4 ’lower pool’ design studios. In the final semester of study, you will move into ’upper pool’ and complete an upper pool design studio working with Master of Landscape Architecture students. Study in the Master degree consists of 3 additional upper pool design studios, general elective courses and supporting courses such as professional practice.
Lower and upper pool studios are vertically integrated, i.e. grouped with students from various year levels.
Recent design studios include creating an innovative landscape installation for an indoor environment at the Grand Designs Live exhibition. The students received feedback and critiques from Kevin McCloud (Grand Designs UK) and Peter Maddison (Grand Designs Australia). Another design studio asked students to look at the future of farming in Victoria.
All programs are delivered in English. You will have access to online and digital resources through the myRMIT student portal.
Acclaimed and award winning international and Australian landscape architects, architects, urban designers and experts in related fields are consistently involved with the teaching and research projects undertaken within this program.
Industry-based projects occur throughout the design studios, such as working with Grand Designs Live and the award winning landscape architecture practice Oculus. Many public lectures are also held throughout the year, led by prominent local and international landscape architects and urban designers.
RMIT University is committed to providing you with an education that strongly links formal learning with professional or vocational practice.
The landscape program offers a huge range of international exchanges and design studios as well as internship opportunities. In recent years students have participated in design studios in Japan, Vietnam, Taiwan, France, Spain, and Africa, been on exchange to universities in Berlin, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and the USA, and participated in international internship programs in the USA and the Netherlands.
An internship elective is offered to selected students in both the Bachelor of Design and Master of Landscape Architecture degrees at a range of firms including the Karres en Brands office in the Netherlands and Stoss LU in Boston. Karres en Brands was the appointed landscape architect firm for Melbourne’s Federation Square.
This unique program forms part of a 5-year specialist degree, made up of the 3-year Bachelor of Design plus the 2-year Master of Landscape Architecture by coursework.
The first 3 years offer a range of opportunities to develop a strong knowledge base in the field and experience landscape architecture's design process.
Choose a program structure
| Title | Location | Duration | Plan code | CRICOS | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Landscape Architectural Design | City Campus |
3 Years Full-Time
|
3 Years Full-Time
|
BP256P15 | 066833B |
Choose a program structure
Program code: BP256
Career
The undergraduate program is a stand-alone award that provides employment options for those who seek to work in landscape design, or design more generally, in roles that do not require professional registration. Students must complete the Master of Landscape Architecture in order to be eligible to become accredited as a Landscape Architect.
Careers
- landscape architect
- urban designer
Admissions
RMIT is committed to providing transparency to the admissions process. In line with this commitment, we provide you with information that will help in making informed choices about your undergraduate study options.
RMIT admits students from a range of educational pathways, including Year 12 results, previous higher education or vocational education study, work experience, and for some programs - interviews, auditions or portfolios.
To get a better understanding of admissions at RMIT, view our ATAR information.
The highest level of education you have previously completed will determine which category applies to you.
Entry to this program is competitive. Applicants are ranked and selected in order of merit based on their academic achievement, e.g., ATAR or GPA (including any adjustments).
Applicants with recent secondary education (current or within the past two years)
Successful completion of an Australian Year 12 senior secondary certificate of education or equivalent in 2016, 2017 or 2018. If applicable, this includes equity access schemes and any other adjustment factors.
School Network Access Program (SNAP)
The SNAP access scheme is designed to increase tertiary access and participation of eligible students from SNAP partner schools.
Applicants with Vocational Education and Training study
Satisfactory completion of an Australian Certificate IV or above (or equivalent).
Applicants with Higher Education study
Satisfactory completion of at least two courses (subjects) at an Australian undergraduate level (or overseas equivalent).
Applicants with Work and Life Experience
Successful completion of an Australian senior secondary certificate of education (Year 12) or overseas equivalent.
Prerequisites: VCE Units 3 and 4: a study score of at least 30 in English (EAL) or at least 25 in English other than EAL (or equivalent) or acheive an overall score of at least 155 in the STAT multiple choice.
You must:
- complete and submit the Landscape Architecture pre-selection kit.
- VTAC applicants must register and submit the selection kit here.
- All kits must be submitted by the dates noted below for each VTAC round:
- Early round (Non year 12 only): 27 September 2018
- Main round (All applicants): 28 November 2018
- All subsequent rounds (if places are available): 15 February 2019
- RMIT current or recent students please click the apply button to submit your direct application. The link to submit your pre-selection kit will appear on the applicant dashboard after you have submitted your application.
- All kits must be submitted by 6 March 2019*
- *Kits will be assessed in the order they are received until this date unless places are filled prior.
- You are exempt from completing the preselection kit if you have successfully completed an Advanced Diploma of Building Design (Architectural) or Diploma of Drafting/Building Design or a minimum of one year tertiary study in a design discipline (e.g architecture, interior design, industrial design, landscape architecture, graphic design, art or fashion design).
- attend an interview (some applicants).
- Shortlisted and exempt applicants will be required to attend an interview.
- Interviews will be held in October (VTAC Early round) and early December (VTAC main round).
- For all subsequent rounds and direct applicants, interviews will be arranged after you have submitted your application. Advisory letters will be sent in late October (Early round) and late December (Main round).
Pre-selection kit
The pre-selection kit requires:
- An applicant statement outlining why you wish to study design. Consider elaborating on what interests you about design and what contributions you think design can make to our living environments (maximum 150 words).
- A creative exercise. Provide a single image of a key creative inspiration, influential creative work or an inspiring space. It can come from any field (e.g., landscape architecture, art, photography, architecture, etc) or be an example from your own work.
- Creative exercise questions. You will be required to submit responses to the following questions in relation to your image.
1. What is the key idea that you want to highlight in the work? (Maximum 100 words)
2. What about the image makes it inspiring to you? (Maximum 100 words)
3. Does it change the way you think about a particular issue, space, process or way of designing? (Maximum 100 words)
4. What is the most successful element of the work? What is not as successful? (Maximum 100 words)
The creative exercise is an opportunity for you to communicate ideas and to express creativity using different media. There is no one correct answer and we do not expect you to have any prior knowledge of landscape architecture.
Art and Design application tips
View the following videos for some practical application advice:
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
The Indigenous Access Program will support your application into RMIT programs through an informal interview process with support from the Ngarara Willim Centre. Your relevant life, work, educational and training experience as preparation for study, in addition to any formal qualifications, are all considered.
Elite Athlete Program
The RMIT Elite Athlete Program (REAP) supports elite athlete and emerging athletes to achieve sporting and academic excellence.
You must have successfully completed an Australian Year 12 (or equivalent senior secondary school qualification) with a minimum 70% average.
Equivalent qualifications may also include completion of the RMIT Foundation Studies program or a recognised post-secondary diploma in the relevant discipline with the required grades.
Meeting the minimum academic requirements does not guarantee entry. Your application will still need to be assessed and accepted.
Folio: You must supply evidence of your creativity in the form of a folio that contains a variety of your personal work in art, design or media relevant to the program/s you are applying for. The folio should demonstrate your interests and creative thinking as well as your conceptual, design, problem solving and technical skills. You should include evidence of how ideas were developed as well as finished works.
Examples of work to include in your folio are drawings, paintings, graphic designs, photographs, digital images, models, sculpture, video, scripting, short stories, and/or 2D and 3D Flash animation.
We recommend you explain each work to help the Selection Officer understand the purpose and background of that work.
Folios should be submitted electronically on a CD with files in PDF, JPEG, SWF, DCR or QuickTime format suitable to be read on Mac OSX or later, unless otherwise specified. Each electronic file should be no larger than 10MB.
You must present your folio at an assessment session (if you are living outside Melbourne, this can be conducted via email, phone or Skype).
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 (Paper Based Test): minimum score of 580 (TWE 4.5)
- TOEFL (Internet Based Test - IBT): minimum overall score of 92 (with minimum of 20 in all sections)
- 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 Advanced Plus Certificate at RMIT English Worldwide.
Pathways
Bachelor of Design graduates can apply for entry to the Master of Landscape Architecture
by coursework.
A grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or greater will guarantee a place in the Master of Landscape Architecture
by coursework, while those students with a GPA of less than 2.5 may apply for a place in the Master of Landscape Architecture and undertake additional selection requirements (like a portfolio or interview). Selection via this route is competitive and not guaranteed.
When you successfully complete the Bachelor of Landscape Architectural Design and achieve a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.5, you are guaranteed entry into the Master of Landscape Architecture. If you achieve below the minimum GPA, you may still apply and will need to submit a folio. Applicants will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
When you successfully complete this program, you may be eligible for entry into an RMIT Honours or Postgraduate program.
Fees
In 2019, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958*.
* 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.
Additional expenses
Student services and amenities fee (SSAF): AU$303 maximum fee for 2019.
Other items related to your program, including field trips, textbooks and equipment.
Fees are adjusted on an annual basis and these fees should only be used as a guide.
Learn more about fees for undergraduate study.
Defer your payment
You may be eligible to apply for a HECS-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.
All undergraduate and honours degrees have Commonwealth supported places (CSP) available. In 2019, the annual student contribution amount (tuition fee) you will pay for a standard year of full-time study is between AU$6,566 to AU$10,958.
In a CSP, your tuition fees are subsidised by the Australian Government. Your share of the fee (student contribution) is set each year by the Australian Government and is determined by the discipline areas (bands) of the courses in which you enrol, not the overall program.
How much can I expect to pay for my Commonwealth supported place?
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 2019
Student contribution band by course (subject) |
Maximum annual student contribution amount in 2019 |
Band 1: humanities, behavioural science, social studies, clinical psychology, foreign languages, visual and performing arts, education, nursing |
$6,566 per standard year |
Band 2: mathematics, statistics, computing, built environment, other health, allied health, science, engineering, surveying, agriculture |
$9,359 per standard year |
|
$10,958 per standard year |
HECS-HELP Loans
The Australian Government provides financial assistance via the HECS-HELP loan scheme, which allows eligible students (such as Australian citizens or holders of an Australian permanent humanitarian visa) to defer payment of up to the full amount of their student contribution.
SA-HELP Loans
You may be eligible to apply to defer payment of the Student services and amenities fee (SSAF) through the SA-HELP loan scheme. If you use SA-HELP, the amount will be added to your accumulated HELP debt.
How does a HELP loan work?
If your HECS-HELP and/or SA-HELP loan application is successful, the Australian Government will pay RMIT, on your behalf, up to the full amount 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 2019 is $303.
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 2019 is AU$36,480.
The total indicative tuition fee for 2019 commencement is AU$115,200.
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.