BSc (Hons) in Landscape Architecture

Landscape Architecture is distinguished by its’ position at the interfaces between art and design, and the physical, natural, environmental and social sciences.

This programme is concerned with the conservation and enhancement of landscapes all types, both urban and rural, and at all scales from the smallest open space to whole regions, for the benefit of current and future generations. It considers the complexity of interactions between humans and natural processes and the consequences of these interactions on the landscape, and how this can be managed and maintained to provide a high quality environment for both humans and nature. A range of themes are explored through case studies and project work and landscape management, design, planning and science are all reflected within the scope of the programme.

University Centre Reaseheath is an academic partner of the University of Chester. Foundation degrees, Honours degrees, and Cert Ed are awarded by the University of Chester.

Top professional skills required by Landscape Professionals

Research undertaken by the Landscape Institute in 2017

Our programme provides students with these fundamental skills that industry seeks, including:

Wring reports and evaluations 82%: From site assessment reports to conservation management plans and green infrastructure appraisals, students will develop professional report wring skills.

Project Management 65%: our Project Management module allows students to develop and utilise project management skills through projects such as RHS Flower Show Tatton Park.

Communications and presentations 65%: throughout several modules students are encourages to partake in studio critiques and formal presentations.

Contract Management 51%: Our dedicated Contract Management module in the final year gives students this understanding of and ability to devise and manage a contract.

Community / Stakeholder Engagement 50%: Community and Stakeholder Engagement module at level 6 provides students with the confidence to design and carryout appropriate and meaningful consultations.

(Visuals created by student Nathan Webster, 2020)

UCAS Entry Points

A minimum of 96 UCAS points

Start Date

September 2022

Course Length

Full-time: 3 years

A key feature of the programme is the development of vocational and professional skills and students benefit from access to the extensive estate and managed ornamental grounds within the campus and a range of high quality resources to support learning. In addition, a 5 week work placement* in the second year ensures that students are prepared for professional working life and Elements of Practice within the Landscape Institute educational framework are embedded within the curriculum content. Professional knowledge, values and ethics are reinforced throughout the programme but particularly at Level 6 to reflect the Landscape Institute Pathway to Chartership programme.

The course features:

Develop employability skills through work experience placements
Direct learning from the industry through guest speakers, site visits and study tours
This course is supported by the Landscape Institute, through its alignment with their areas of practice.
Facilities include £8 million National Centre for Horticulture, the Environment and Sustainable Technology, including design studios, an aquaponic glasshouse and 2021 commissioned 200m2 Vertical Farming Centre.

*Travel arrangements at your own cost.

What will I study?

Students undertake a credit-based work placement* to further enhance the development of professional knowledge. Delivery for this module will take place across the academic year. Students will be tasked to secure a placement during the period from October to March and a work placement induction week will take place the first week following the Easter break to provide students with an overview of placement requirements and responsibilities. The placement period will take place over 5 weeks following the induction week. Is it the responsibility of the student to identify and secure a suitable placement and to finance any associated costs. However some guidance may be sought for the course team.

Modules (all at 15 credits with the exception of the dissertation module and landscape major project which are both double credit modules at 30 credits) include:

Level 4

Plant Use and Association
Principles of Environmental Science
People, Place and Landscape Context 
Digital Communication Skills
Site Assessment 
Landscape Ecological and Habitat Management

Level 5

Landscape Materials 
Green Infrastructure Management  
Historical Conservation Management 
Landscape Sustainability and Environmental Change
Research Methods 
Work Based Learning for Academic Credit

Level 6

Landscape Assessment 
Professional Practice and Ethical Frameworks 
Project and Contract Management 
Planning, Landscape and Environmental Legislation
Final Major Project*
Dissertation Project*

(Optional *)

Optional Modules

Students will have the option to undertake either a dissertation or a final major project at level 6. Students shown provide an indication of which module they indent to study in the final term of level 5.

Teaching and Learning

Overall workload

Your overall workload consists of class contact hours, independent learning and assessment activity, plus field trips. Your actual contact hours may depend on which optional modules you select, but the following information gives an indication of how much time you will need to allocate to different activities at each year of the course:

Year 1:

27% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity

Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 320 hours

Independent Study: 880 hours

Year 2:

24% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity

Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 288 hours

Placement: 144 hours

Independent Study: 768 hours

Year 3:

17% of your time is spent in timetabled teaching and learning activity

Teaching, Learning and Assessment: 207 hours

Independent Study: 993 hours

Class sizes are on average between 5-12. Shared modules sessions are on average between 15-25.

Assessment and Feedback

Assessment Methods

Assessments are designed to encourage both academic skills and skills valued in the workplace. They include a combination of coursework and timed assessments in both independent and collaborative formats. Coursework may take many forms including: essays, reports, data processing, presentations, academic posters, seminar discussions, interviews, critical reviews and portfolios of evidence. Timed assessments will vary depending upon the nature of the module but will be problem-solving tasks dealing with real-life industry issues which support the development of industry and life skills.

Feedback

Formal feedback is supplied via Turnitin or directly from the module tutor. The majority of submissions are made via Turnitin and feedback for coursework is provided within twenty working days after the submission date. If for unforeseen reasons this is not possible, the reasons will be communicated to the students within 2 weeks and the feedback prioritised within the department.

Written feedback will be supported verbally should the student require clarification. Formative assessment feedback will be provided at the time of completion where possible, with more detailed summative feedback for reports.

Additional Qualifications

To offer graduates a leading position in the jobs market, students are given the opportunity to enhance their career prospects by taking additional qualifications during their course of study. These could include a range of qualifications such as:

PA1 / PA6 Safe use of pesticides training
First aid
Health and safety (Reaseheath Certificate)

Timetable Information

Timetables will be distributed during the induction week.

Course Information

During the level 5 module, work based learning, students are expected to complete at least 150 hours of work experience. This is completed alongside lectures and students are expected to attend all timetabled sessions.

This is a compulsory module; the students are expected to secure the work experience opportunity with guidance and support from staff.

Financial arrangements will be left to the discretion of the employer, to be agreed with the student, where significant learning takes place and training is provided the value of this experience must be taken into consideration.

Entry requirements

A minimum of 112 tariff points from A and AS levels.
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) – A minimum of grade DDM
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma (first teaching from September 2016) – a minimum of grade D*D*
City & Guilds Level 3 Technical Advanced Extended Diploma (1080 – first awarded in 2019) – a minimum of grade DDM
City& Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma (720 – first awarded in 2019) – a minimum of grade D*D*
Mature students (aged 21+) will be considered on an individual basis on their prior knowledge and experience. This may be assessed by interview, completion of coursework/essay or other methods. There may be a requirement for a formal qualification to be completed first e.g. Access to HE course.
Students with a Level 5 qualification in a related subject may be eligible to join the third year of the course

Further study

Postgraduate study.

Career Options

Landscape architect
Parks and landscape manager
Historic landscape consultant
Landscape management consultant
Landscape contract manager

Useful Information

How much will this course cost?

Tuition Fees

As a Higher Education student you will have two main costs to meet; your tuition fees and living costs.

Our full-time tuition fees for UK and EU students, entering University, can be found on the student finance page. These fees are charged for each academic year of a course and are set by the college annually.

If you are an international student or for the latest information on tuition fees visit the student finance page on our website.

Additional Costs

As part of your experience on the programme, you will need to set aside a budget for:

The cost of travel to sites and occasional day trips and off site projects
The study tour, which will normally require around £350-£400 for travel and accommodation, in addition to daily expenses
Printing, binding, modelmaking, drawing equipment, portfolios and associated stationery costs approximate £400-£700
Materials for the final exhibition, which may be up to £250
Costs associated with a placement, travel, accommodation, materials etc.

Students will require drawing equipment for the duration of the course. A list of essential and recommended materials will be supplied prior to enrolment.

Membership of the Landscape Institute – £32 (1st June-31st May)

Student membership of the Landscape Institute is really useful to have to be able to access the member networking sections on the Landscape Institute website, discounts for conferences and the quarterly editions of the Landscape Journal. Once you have completed the programme, you could then apply for Licentiate Membership.

British Association of Landscape Industries – £15 per annum.

Equipment Costs

Non mandatory field trips non-credit baring, approx. £60 a year
Study tour non-credit baring, approx. £450 a year
PPE Steel toe capped boots, £40
Gloves, £5
Drawing equipment/materials, approx. £100
A laptop/PC/Mac that supports GIS and Vectorworks software. Many students may already have this, if not they will need to purchase a sufficient device. Students will be able to get free software for the duration of their studies

Prices of equipment are subject to change dependent on retailer.

Additional financial support

University Centre Reaseheath is committed to providing additional financial support to those who need it. To find out about the bursary schemes available visit the additional financial support pages on our website.

Accommodation

All Higher Education students are given the opportunity to apply for residential accommodation. First year students are guaranteed accommodation and this offer is made to all applicants who live more than a reasonable daily travelling distance from Reaseheath and who apply before 31st July of the year they intend to start their course. For full details on our halls of residence visit the accommodation pages.

Student support

We have a team of dedicated professionals on hand to offer you support when and if you need it during your time with us. These include our Student Services team, Higher Education Support Team (HEST), Library and Learning Resources and the Reaseheath Careers Service. You will find more information on the support provided at Reaseheath here.

How do I apply?

Before you apply you can come and visit us at one of our HE Open Events to see what we have to offer. Once we have received your application we will invite you to attend an Offer Holder Day.

Applications for full-time Degrees and Foundation Degrees are made through UCAS. Applications for all other full-time courses such as Access to HE and Level 4 Diplomas should be made directly to Reaseheath via the online application form. You can find out more here.

Student contract

For students to get the best out of their time at University Centre Reaseheath, we must both recognise that we owe obligations to each other. These obligations are set out in our Higher Education Student Contract. Before you accept an offer of a place at University Centre Reaseheath, it is important that you read these contract conditions. If you are going to be living in Halls of Residence, you will also need to read the Student Accommodation Licence Conditions. Both of these contracts can be found here.

Click here to view the University Centre Reaseheath Student Protection Plan.

The horticulture industry is incredibly varied and I collaborate with many different environmental disciplines. My job is very interesting as I work with corporate clients, large developers and government departments. I spend around half of my time at my desk, preparing reports, and the remainder I’m on-site or at meetings.

Rick Tomlinson BSc (Hons) in Landscape Design and Management

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