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Landscape architect

Landscape architects plan, design, create and manage the landscapes we live and work in.

Average salary (a year)

£20,000 Starter

to

£45,000 Experienced

Typical hours (a week)

38 to 40 a week

You could work

evenings / weekends occasionally

How to become a landscape architect

You can get into this job through:

  • a university course
  • a college course

University

You could get a degree or postgraduate qualification, which is recognised by the Landscape Institute. Relevant degree subjects include:

  • landscape architecture
  • garden design
  • landscape design and technology
  • landscape planning
  • environmental conservation

It can help with your course application if you have some work experience in landscape architecture. This will also help you to decide if this is the career for you. The Landscape Institute has some useful information on how to get relevant work experience.

If you already have a degree in a related subject, such as architecture, horticulture or botany, you may be able to take a Landscape Institute accredited postgraduate course. The Landscape Institute has hints and tips which you may find useful.

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 2 to 3 A levels for a degree
  • a degree in a relevant subject for postgraduate study

More information

College

Doing a college course could help you to start out training towards this career. Relevant courses include:

  • Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Landscape Construction
  • Level 3 Certificate or Diploma in Horticulture

Entry requirements

You'll usually need:

  • 4 or 5 GCSEs at grades 9 to 4 (A* to C) for a level 3 course

More information

More information

Professional and industry bodies

You could become a member of the Landscape Institute to increase your professional standing.

Further information

You'll find out more about how to train as a landscape architect from the Landscape Institute.

What it takes

Skills and knowledge

You'll need:

  • design skills and knowledge
  • to be thorough and pay attention to detail
  • knowledge of building and construction
  • customer service skills
  • knowledge of English language
  • maths knowledge
  • the ability to use your initiative
  • the ability to come up with new ways of doing things
  • to be able to carry out basic tasks on a computer or hand-held device

What you'll do

Day-to-day tasks

Your day-to-day duties might include:

  • meeting with clients to discuss their needs
  • surveying sites to look at existing plant and animal life, and natural resources
  • getting the views of local residents, businesses and other people who use the site
  • using CAD packages to draw up ideas for clients to choose from
  • presenting your design ideas to clients
  • drawing up contracts and managing the tendering process for contractors
  • writing reports and environmental impact assessments
  • giving evidence to public enquiries
  • monitoring the progress of projects

Working environment

You could work at a client's business or at a client's home.

Your working environment may be outdoors in all weathers and you'll travel often.

You may need to wear protective clothing.

Career path and progression

With experience, you could move on to a supervisory or management position, become a partner in a private practice, or set up your own practice.

You could also take a teaching qualification and become a lecturer in landscape architecture at a university.

Training opportunities

Apprenticeships In England

We can't find any apprenticeship vacancies in England for a landscape architect right now.

The Find an apprenticeship service can help you with your search, send alerts when new apprenticeships become available and has advice on how to apply.

Courses In England

NPTC Level 1 Diploma in Land Based Studies (Horticulture)

  • Provider: OAKLANDS COLLEGE
  • Start date: 09 September 2019
  • Location: St. Albans

Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Land-based Engineering (1080)

  • Provider: REASEHEATH COLLEGE
  • Start date: 03 September 2019
  • Location: NANTWICH
Find courses near you

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