Landscape Architecture with a Foundation Year - BA (Hons)

Currently viewing course to start in 2025/26 Entry.

Studying Landscape Architecture at BCU will equip you with the knowledge required to design and deliver projects when you graduate. We prioritise hands-on learning, allowing you to explore ideas and themes through a variety of design briefs. Landscape Architecture incorporates a range of skills from adjacent disciplines - from ecology, horticulture, policy and governance, to history and urban design. If you have interests in the arts or sciences, there is a place for you here.

  • Level Foundation
  • Study mode Full Time

This course is:

Open to International Students

Overview

Do you want to design the spaces that you live in? Landscape Architecture is the design of external spaces, as a combination of art, utility and natural systems. You could design parks, play areas, green spaces, a town square - or even a city! The role of a Landscape Architect is to design spaces that are suitable and inclusive for the user, so if you have ideas how to make the world around you a better place, this is something you can explore through this Landscape Architecture course.

As a Landscape Architect, you will respond to real world problems and challenges, such as improving air quality, water management, offset carbon footprint and reduce energy waste. The outdoor environment also has significant links to wellbeing and mental health – and you could be at the heart of designing sustainable urban living to benefit society for years to come.

During your time with us, you will engage with a range of design and research processes and consider the potential of working with nature and the built environment through the scales - from detailing intimate courtyards to regional spatial and ecological strategies.

About foundation courses

This four year degree course has been specifically designed to allow you to undertake additional level 3 study designed to ensure you are successful on your chosen degree.

After successful completion of your foundation year, you will have the flexibility to switch (should you wish to change direction) onto a number of related undergraduate degree options within Birmingham School of Architecture and Design.

This course is open to International students.

What's covered in this course?

Covering all aspects of landscape architecture, our course is fully recognised and accredited by the Landscape Institute (LI) and supported by a leading design team in its field. 

You’ll work in a design studio culture, which mimics real-world creative practice for landscape architects and prepares you for your future career.

Experience on live local sites and project briefs in landscape studios will develop your design creativity and hone your professional practice skills. Placements and competitions will give you fantastic opportunities. There are also chances to compete for industry connected awards.

You’ll have the chance to be part of collaborative architecture and design initiatives within the School of Architecture that give you the chance to work on a diverse variety of live projects. Past examples include: explorations in timber construction in the Wyre Forest, communicating with the public about what they really want from design for Stirchley High Street in Birmingham and implementation of a viewing structure to observe wetland ecology at Henbury Ponds.

You’ll also have the opportunity to attend lectures and take part in workshops from a large variety of international and award winning professionals. Previous guest speakers have included Martha Schwartz, Andrew Grant, Andrew Wilson, Jeppe Aagard Anderson, Neil Porter, Chris Beardshaw and Kim Wilkie.

You’ll be based in our multi-million pound City Centre Campus within our Parkside Building, where you will have access to digital studios and 3D design workshops. The proximity of the newly built Eastside Park provides inspiration to your studies, introducing a strong example of contemporary civic space and park design.

The University provides the support you need, while giving you a freedom that allows your projects to be as creative and individual… and the experience allowed me to gain employment at a landscape architect practice straight after my degree.

Jocelyn Bennett

Why Choose Us?

  • The course is fully recognised and accredited by the Landscape Institute, allowing you to work towards full UK chartered membership.
  • You’ll gain real industry experience, working on a wide range of briefs, from broad strategic scale, down to detailed design for construction.
  • Our connections with the region’s best landscape architecture practices give you unrivalled work experience while studying and helps you secure employment after graduation.
  • 91 per cent of leavers from the School were in employment or further study, according to a recent survey.
  • Birmingham School of Architecture and Design is highly respected and has a rich history of providing education and opportunities. It celebrated its centenary in 2009.
  • Two-thirds of the impact of our research was judged to be very considerable (3*) or outstanding (4*) - REF2021
Talk to the Course Director

If you would like to ask any questions about the course, you are welcome to email the Course Director on Sze.Ng@bcu.ac.uk. Alternatively, you can register for our next open day.

Open Days

Join us for an Open Day where you'll be able to learn about this course in detail, chat to students, explore our campus and tour accommodation. Booking isn't open yet for this event, register your interest and we’ll email you as soon as booking goes live.

Next Open Day: 22 March 2025

Register your interest

Entry Requirements

These entry requirements apply for entry in 2025/26.

All required qualifications/grades must have been achieved and evidenced at the earliest opportunity after accepting an offer to help confirm admission and allow for on-time enrolment. This can also include other requirements, like a fee status form and relevant documents. Applicants can track their application and outstanding information requests through their BCU mySRS account.

Essential requirements

80 UCAS Tariff points. Learn more about UCAS Tariff points.

If you have a qualification that is not listed, please contact us.

Fees & How to Apply

Please select your student status to view fees and apply
  • UK Student
  • International Student

UK students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees

International students

Annual and modular tuition fees shown are applicable to the first year of study. The University reserves the right to increase fees for subsequent years of study in line with increases in inflation (capped at 5%) or to reflect changes in Government funding policies or changes agreed by Parliament. View fees for continuing students.

Award: BA (Hons)

Starting: Sep 2025

  • Mode
  • Duration
  • Fees
  • Full Time
  • 4 years
  • £17,690 in 2025/26

Access to computer equipment

You will require use of a laptop, and most students do prefer to have their own. However, you can borrow a laptop from the university or use one of our shared computer rooms.

Printing

You will receive £5 print credit in each year of your course, available after enrolment.

Field trips

All essential field trips and associated travel costs will be included in your course fees.

Access to Microsoft Office 365

Every student at the University can download a free copy of Microsoft Office 365 to use whilst at university and for 18 months after graduation.

Key software

You will be able to download SPSS and Nvivo to your home computer to support with your studies and research.

Key subscriptions

Subscriptions to key journals and websites are available through our library.

Specialist software

You will be able to access free licences for specialist software such as AutoCad, Vectoworks and Twinmotions.

Free Adobe Creative Cloud licence

Students studying on this course can request a free licence to install the entire suite of applications on up to two personal devices.

Project materials (mandatory)

We aim to go paperless where possible to reduce the printing costs and environmental impact. However, we do sometimes require students to print out their work for review, presenting and display. Materials of Model making could be from recycled materials to reduce the cost.

In general,

  • £50-100 per year for printing and physical materials
  • £50 per year for model making
  • The cost of project materials of final year students potentially could be higher.
For the Foundation Year you are expected to budget £100 for project materials.

Media consumable items (mandatory)

This course requires the use of consumables, such as Items to carry out hand sketching – general stationery, pens, papers, tracing papers, sketchbooks etc. You should budget around £50-100 per year.

Exhibitions (mandatory)

Students may be required to enter Graduate Fashion Week.

Excess printing (optional)

Once you have spent your £5 credit, additional printing on campus costs from 5p per sheet.

Personal stationery and study materials (optional)

Based on the past experience of our students, you might find it helpful to set aside about £30 for each year of your studies for your personal stationery and study materials.

Placement expenses (optional)

If you choose to undertake a placement, you'll need to budget for accommodation and any travel costs you may incur whilst living or working away from home.

Field trips (optional)

This course includes the option of additional trips that may enhance your experience, at extra cost. For example a study tour costing £600, which in non-mandatory.

Gallery visits (optional)

It is advisable for all Creative Arts students to visit exhibitions, galleries and other creative and cultural institutions and events depending on your own individual area of interest. Travel and entry costs may be associated with this.

Competition fees (optional)

If you choose to participate in some external design competitions you may need to cover submission fees, which can vary from £50-100.

Books (optional)

All module key texts will be in the University library, but in limited numbers. You may choose to purchase a copy. We suggest budgeting approximately £30-50 per year for this.

Personal equipment (optional)

Whilst not essential, it is advised you own a computer or laptop capable of running Adobe packages.

Software (optional)

Essential software will be provided but additional software may incur license costs. For example, you may need to purchase SketchUp Pro at a cost of £50 per year.

Memberships (optional)

You may wish to join a union or professional body related to this course, such as the Landscape Institute, student membership is free.

Accommodation and living costs (optional)

The cost of accommodation and other living costs are not included within your course fees. More information on the cost of accommodation can be found in our accommodation pages.

Guidance for UK students

UK students applying for most undergraduate degree courses in the UK will need to apply through UCAS.

The Universities and Colleges Admissions Service (UCAS) is a UK organisation responsible for managing applications to university and college.

Applying through UCAS

  1. Register with UCAS
  2. Login to UCAS and complete your details
  3. Select your course and write a personal statement
  4. Get a reference
  5. Pay your application fee and submit your application

You are not required to submit a portfolio for this course.

Course in Depth

Foundation year

The foundation year provides an opportunity to explore the exciting world of contemporary design through various scales and develop creative solutions, encapsulating Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Interior Architecture and Design, and Product and Furniture Design.

It provides a supported learning environment to explore conceptual ideas through to detailed design, mapping and modelling and is assessed through mini design-focussed projects and a specialised final project in a chosen field.

The foundation year is ideally suited to students who need to develop their design, drawing, technical and presentations skills before entering a BA course, or for those who have not yet decided which specific design discipline or career to pursue.

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Year one

Laying the foundation for deeper understanding, this year covers a broad spread of study areas, moving seamlessly, connecting abstract design theory and consideration of global scale contexts, to micro-scale understanding of materials and technology.

Through this process, you will gain an understanding of the scope, scale and connectivity of landscape architecture, its transformative abilities and power to help ensure a global human future. 

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits):

Year two

You'll develop professional approaches to design and construction in your second year.

You will develop connections between key design theories and real-world practice, through debate of current topics, placement study, collaborative projects (Co.LAB), and the exploration of two different multifaceted design processes.

Modules include:

In order to complete this course you must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 100 credits):

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete at least 20 credits from the following list of OPTIONAL modules.

Professional Placement Year

In order to qualify for the awards with Professional Placement, a student must successfully complete all of the modules listed above as well as the following Level 5 module.

Year three

Through guided but self-directed investigations, you will define your own academic pathway.

Built on research and led via creative but pragmatic exploration in design, you will successfully communicate connections between theory, contextual analysis, project brief, conceptual proposals, design development and design detail, to produce a broad-scale, multi-layered design project.

In order to complete this course a student must successfully complete all the following CORE modules (totalling 120 credits)

Download course specification

Download now

Our landscape architecture degree is assessed on 100 per cent course work, with no practical or written exams. We feel this best mirrors the way you’d work in the real world and so better prepares you for a career in the landscape design industry.

You'll benefit from our extensive resource base, including digital studios and 3D design workshops. There will also be traditional drawing workshops with observational and technical drawing, model-making and digital visual communication skills. You'll begin to develop a strong portfolio and confidence with design principles and all aspects of communication.

The course follows a clear development path over its duration.

  • Year One – foundation principles of landscape architecture
  • Year Two – Realism, collaboration, design sectors, practice and construction
  • Year Three - Bespoke study integrating theory, practice and professionalism

Classroom Activities

  • Design studio – working on design projects with tutor and peer discussion and guidance
  • Study trips – see exemplary and interesting projects and sites with great opportunity
  • Workshops and skills training of key software and approaches to visualisation
  • Industry-aligned course, supported by collaborations with external partners and real projects, with potential opportunity for a work placement.

Employability

Enhancing your employability skills

You’ll have a sound knowledge of the physical, economic and social factors which influence contemporary built environment practice. You’ll also understand the professional, legal and institutional framework of landscape architecture.

You’ll develop a comprehensive portfolio that shows employers a range of skills in design practice and academic study.

Experience on live local sites with client-driven briefs in landscape studios will develop your design creativity and hone your professional practice skills.

You’ll be skilled in the latest techniques, including rapid prototyping and 3D design.

The course supports student employability and long-term career opportunity  through enhancing your development and instilling an understanding of life-long professional progression.

You’ll develop a range of transferable skills, such as how to communicate ideas and solve problems, as well as developing negotiation and planning skills. You’ll learn how to work effectively and efficiently either on your own or as part of a team.

Placements

During her studies on the BA (Hons) Landscape Architecture course, Daniela Teleku completed a work placement at Fira, a nationally recognised practice of landscape architects, urban designers, master planners and architects.

Fira2

Daniela wanted experience working for a practice where Architects worked together with Landscape Architects and Fira stood out as a firm with a multidisciplinary approach to projects.

Daniela was given the opportunity to get involved in a range of project work all at different stages, from early design to on site. Her work included detailed design for construction, conceptual and innovative design for a new play area in a historic park, looking at materials for construction, and a site visit at University of Birmingham Hotel and Conference Centre. She also built a 3D Revit model for a mental health project.

More about our placement opportunities

International

Birmingham City University is a vibrant and multicultural university in the heart of a modern and diverse city. We welcome many international students every year – there are currently students from more than 80 countries among our student community.

The University is conveniently placed, with Birmingham International Airport nearby and first-rate transport connections to London and the rest of the UK.

Our international pages contain a wealth of information for international students who are considering applying to study here, including:

Our international students

Our international reputation, professional accreditation and outstanding graduate success rate attracts students from countries such as China.

Taiwanese-Canadian Yi-Chun Huang said is going into the third year of the Landscape Architecture course. “I moved to Birmingham City University as a product design student at the Toyo Institute of Art and Design in Japan. I chose the University as my first interaction with the Dean was very warm and inspiring and encouraged me. I would like to explore more and gain varied skills in different fields. And my future plan would be to find a good job in UK.”

Facilities & Staff

Parkside gallery

Our Facilities

When you join Birmingham City University, the first thing you will notice is the exceptional quality of our campuses. With an investment of over £400 million across our buildings and facilities, we are committed to giving you the very best learning environment to help shape your experience.

You will be based in our multi-million pound Parkside building – a state of the art facility located within our City Centre Campus. Here you will have full access to our recently upgraded, high spec CAD (Computer-Aided-Design) workstations situated within our dedicated computer labs and open access areas. We also provide access to leading edge digital design software, enabling you to explore technical drawing, graphics, 3D modelling, visualization, animation, computation, simulation, and virtual reality.

The Parkside Building is also home to our digital fabrication labs, where you will be able to explore 3D printing, laser cutting, CNC machining, ceramics, glass and traditional model-making, guided by our team of expert technicians with access to our on-site material store, and professional printing facilities.

You’ll also benefit from:

  • Design studios
  • Physical and digital library
  • Loanable laptops
  • Dedicated social spaces
  • Cafés

Learn more about Parkside

Photo Gallery

From industry-standard software, to our workshops and studio spaces, everything you need will be at your fingertips from day one. Working with our dedicated teaching teams and expert technicians, you'll be supported from concept through to completion.

Our staff

Lucas Hughes

Course Director for MA Urban Design

Lucas Hughes holds qualifications in landscape architecture and urban design. He has a broad range of interest and experience within several professional sectors linking across the built-environment industry. His core focus is to promote high quality, integrated, design-led processes for the creation of characterful and sensitive built environment...

More about Lucas

Eccles Ng

Senior Lecturer in Landscape Architecture & Course Director for BA Landscape Architecture and BA Landscape Architecture with Urban Design

Eccles Ng is a Chartered Landscape Architect who became a Chartered Member of Landscape Institute (CMLI) in 2009. He has been in the landscape architecture industry since 2003 and designed on a variety of education, healthcare, housing and urban design projects. With a wide ranging portfolio from art to architecture and landscape architecture,...

More about Eccles

Dr Rasha Sayed Mahmoud

Flying Faculty for BIFCA and Link Tutor for BIFCA & SHAPE

Rasha has a PhD in environmental architecture design and urban planning, and has been in international private practice as a licensed professional architecture consultant for sixteen years. By 2017/2018, Rasha finished her program as a Visiting Scholar at MIT Massachusetts Institute of Technology, urban planning department DUSP, sustainable...

More about Rasha