Global Change Landscape Design

The MSc Global Change Landscape Design program at UCD represents a unique opportunity for students to become future leaders in the field of landscape design. With its innovative curriculum, world-class faculty, and emphasis on practical experience, this program prepares students to tackle the complex challenges of global change with confidence and expertise. If you are passionate about making a difference in the world and shaping the landscapes of tomorrow, then this program is for you.



Global [climate] change is altering everything—everywhere in the world. We are faced with necessary challenges relating to the design and engineering of our surrounding environments and landscape. The landscape and its functions, its ecosystem services and its appearance, will inevitably change. As climate change adaptation accelerates, e.g. through the global energy transition away from fossil fuels and the associated creation of new industries, the urban, peri-urban and rural environment will become a large-scale powerhouse. At the same time, the underlying landscape with its structures, soils, peatlands, wetlands, forests and oceans must be supported in its function as an important global carbon sink. The landscape as such will become a global infrastructure element that will accommodate new industries, new settlements and decentralized production of renewable energy. Large and massive elements will dominate the landscape, such as wind farms, solar parks, battery parks, power lines, substations, biomass production, transport routes, new industrial zones, new residential areas, etc. All of this must be carefully considered and intelligently designed. This is the only way to ensure sustainable future development that enables functioning ecosystems and affluent societies to coexist.



Ireland is the only country within the European Union (EU) whose first language is English, and the UCD degree in Landscape Architecture is the only one in Ireland that offers access to the title of Landscape Architect. The Master’s programme in Global Change Landscape Design offers professional experience as an embedded programme component in the third trimester, providing a unique path to career entry after graduation.



Course Content & Structure

90 credits taught masters

60 credits of taught modules

30 credits internship



Core Modules Include:

Research-By-Design Studios A and B

Landscape Research

Geodesign For Urban Futures

Water, Soil & Vegetation

Fieldwork



Live Learning

This programme offers students the opportunity to complete a 1-trimester work placement, where students’ technical and business knowledge can be applied and developed in a dynamic real-world setting. This creates a seamless transition between master’s studies and subsequent professional life, which is very attractive for students and future employers.



Face to Face

The program is taught face-to-face and takes place primarily in the inspiring and interactive environment of two design studios. This form of conveying creative content offers the opportunity for transdisciplinary work and network building that can last a lifetime.

Stage 1 Core Modules

ARCT41310 Geodesign for Urban Futures Autumn 5

LARC40680 Research-By-Design Studio A Autumn 15

LARC40690 Water, Soil & Vegetation Autumn 5

LARC40650 Landscape Research Spring 5

LARC40660 Fieldwork Spring 5

LARC40670 Research-By-Design Studio B Spring 15

LARC40640 Internship (Work Placement) Summer 30



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 2 of:

All Students MUST select 10 credits of Option Modules, one in Autumn and one in Spring, and between Core and Option modules register for a balanced workload of 30 credits per Trimester. Access to individual Option Modules may be dependent on prior learning and should be agreed with the the relevant Module Coordinator and the Programme Director.



ARCT41210 Architecture in a Climate Emergency Autumn 5

ARCT41260 Climate Carbon Cities Change Autumn 5

BSEN40720 Carbon & Sustainability Autumn 5

ARCT41240 Urban Resilience and Ethics Spring 5

ENVP40020 European Environmental Policy Spring 5

An honours undergraduate degree (NFQ Level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalence in a relevant programme including Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Urban Design, Interior Design or any other Creative Studies in a cognate discipline may apply.



Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.



Portfolio submission is essential (We ask that you submit a portfolio of your own creative work. We are interested in any form of creative work, but also in any type of independent project work that could inspire others. File size maximum 100 MB. The format must be PDF.)



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage. https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/

https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/

Apply online



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EEA) applicants: Yes

1 year full-time.

Delivery: On Campus

T407

MSc in Global Change Landscape Design Master of Science Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught

Career & Graduate Study Opportunities

Graduates of the program literally have the world at their feet. Global change creates needs and opportunities that are only now fully unfolding. Medium and large offices and global consulting firms are looking for landscape specialists who can understand, assess and design the future landscape. This is not just limited to the world’s land masses, but also includes the oceans, where large offshore industries (e.g. wind power) are emerging.



Specifically, graduates will have a skill set affording opportunities to work in a variety of industries and companies, including:



- Landscape Architecture/Urban Planning firms SWA Group, ARUP, AECOM, Hargreaves Associates

- Environmental Consultancy firms MKO, ERM, Tetra Tech, Jacobs

- Real Estate Development companies Remcoll, LDA, Lendlease

- Government agencies European Environment Agency (EEA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

- Non-Profit Organizations European Landscape Convention (ELC), Irish Environmental Network, Heritage Council of Ireland