Bachelors in Landscape Architecture

3 Years On Campus Bachelors Program

University of Western Australia

Program Overview

Landscape Architecture at UWA

If you’re passionate about designing spaces where people, nature, and cities come together beautifully and sustainably, UWA’s Landscape Architecture major is the perfect place to start. It’s made for curious, creative thinkers who want to understand landscapes, imagine resilient environments, and design places that truly matter — whether it’s a local park, a community garden, or a regional green system. Along the way, you’ll also gain practical design and planning skills that will set you up for a rewarding career.

Curriculum Structure

First Year: You’ll get a hands-on introduction to the world of landscape design. Units like Landscape Foundation Studio, Structures and Systems, and History and Theory of Landscape Architecture will help you understand how people and places interact, sharpen your drawing and visualization skills, and start thinking like a designer.

Second Year: The focus turns to context, ecology, and responsive design. Through studios such as Landscape Context Studio and Landscape Dynamic Studio, plus courses like Plants and Landscape Systems and Introduction to Landscape and Urban Ecology, you’ll begin creating real design solutions that balance both nature and community needs.

Third Year: This is where it all comes together. In units like Landscape Synthesis Studio, Landscape Resolutions Studio, and Design through Landscape Management, you’ll tackle complex projects that combine creative vision with practical problem-solving, preparing you for real-world challenges or postgraduate study.

Focus Areas: Sustainable design thinking, ecological systems, creative studio work.

Learning Outcomes: Graduates leave UWA able to read landscapes and communities, design resilient solutions, and confidently communicate ideas through sketches, models, and plans.

Professional Alignment: While this undergraduate major builds your foundation, many students continue into UWA’s Master of Landscape Architecture — an AILA-accredited pathway that supports professional recognition and future registration as a landscape architect in Australia.

Reputation & Employability: UWA is consistently ranked among the world’s top universities for environmental design and built environment disciplines, giving your degree international credibility and strong graduate prospects.

Experiential Learning (Research, Projects, Internships etc.)

When you step into this major, you’re not just signing up for classes — you’re stepping into the world of landscape architecture itself. You’ll be designing real landscapes, thinking about what communities truly need, and learning how to respond to huge global challenges like climate change and biodiversity loss. The degree is built around hands‑on, studio‑based work and collaborative projects within the School of Design, so you’re always doing — not just listening. Along the way, you’ll work with professional tools, create tangible designs and prototypes, and learn from experienced practitioners who will guide you into becoming the kind of designer that employers really want.

Here’s how that learning comes to life:

Studio‑based design projects: You’ll repeatedly tackle real landscape design challenges, testing your ideas and finding creative solutions.
Professional studio spaces: Spaces that feel like real design studios, where you can sketch, model, and refine your ideas.
The Design Hub: A collaborative workspace with senior student mentors who are there to support you as you develop your skills.
Digital fabrication tools: 3D printers, laser cutters, CNC machines — everything you need to turn your plans into physical forms.
Computer labs: Access to design software and drafting tools whenever you need them, giving you flexibility to work on your projects.
Printmaking and multimedia facilities: Express your ideas visually and present your work professionally.
Exhibition opportunities: Showcase your designs to the public in the Cullity Gallery, gaining real-world exposure.
Learn from the pros: Experienced practitioners teach the units, bringing insights from the real world straight into your projects.

If you’re the kind of student who learns by making, iterating, and experimenting, this program gives you the spaces, tools, and mentorship to really dive in and start creating.

Progression & Future Opportunities

Graduates from the Landscape Architecture major at UWA step into careers where creativity meets environmental impact. Many find themselves shaping cities, parks, and public spaces as landscape architects, urban designers, or environmental consultants. Others move into roles as government policy advisers, environmental managers, or even educators in landscape architecture.

Here’s what this means for you:

UWA Careers & Employability Support: The university offers tailored career services, mentorship, and industry networking to help you transition from study to professional life.
Strong Industry Connections: Students benefit from partnerships with landscape architectural and urban design practices, city and regional planning authorities, land development companies, and conservation agencies.
Accreditation and Professional Recognition: Graduating with a Landscape Architecture major positions you for further professional qualifications and respected industry recognition, crucial for long-term career growth.
Diverse Work Environments: Opportunities span private design practices, government agencies, conservation projects, and higher education, giving you flexibility in your career path.

Further Academic Progression:
After completing your Landscape Architecture major, you can continue to the Master of Landscape Architecture. High-achieving students also have pathways into postgraduate Urban Design programs, the Master of Architecture (with conversion units), Building Information Modelling graduate programs, or a Graduate Certificate in Architectural Conservation. These pathways allow you to specialize further and expand your professional credentials while building on the strong foundation from your UWA undergraduate study.