Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) Anhalt University of Applied Sciences

The Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) is an international, English-taught programme for students who want to shape sustainable, resilient and future-oriented environments. Students develop advanced competences in landscape architecture, urban design, environmental planning and strategic design processes. The programme combines academic quality with practical relevance through close mentoring, small cohorts and strong cooperation with real stakeholders.

Real Projects, Real Solutions 
Students work on current challenges in cities, landscapes and public space. Located in Bernburg, Germany, MLA offers an affordable and supportive study environment with strong pathways into professional careers.

Why choose MLA? 

• Small cohorts with personal supervision
• Real projects with municipalities and partners
• 20 week internship semester
• Optional German language courses
• Several excursions each semester
• Affordable living costs
• International learning environment

Course focus: 
Landscape Architecture, Urban Design, Sustainable Development, GIS and Digital Tools, Climate Adaptation, Landscape Planning, Planting Design, Materials and Construction, Project Management, Communication Skills, Research and Social Dimensions of Landscape Architecture

Teaching formats: 
Design studios, seminars, lectures, workshops, excursions, group projects, independent study, experimental formats and internship semester
A central teaching element is the atelier studio, where students work on realistic planning tasks, mostly on real projects.

Excursions:
Excursions take place every semester, including one larger summer excursion and smaller field trips. Recent destinations include Madrid, Hamburg and Copenhagen.

Career opportunities: 
Graduates work in landscape architecture, urban planning, environmental planning, GIS, sustainability projects and international consultancies. Many international graduates continue into employment in Germany.

Suitable for graduates in: 
Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Urban Planning, Spatial Planning, Environmental Design and related disciplines

The standard period of study is four semesters.
The programme begins each year in October (winter semester).

Before the official start, preparatory self study courses are available for students who come from related disciplines or wish to strengthen specific knowledge areas such as design, ecology or digital methods. This is important to us, so that you are all on a strong common starting point.

The first academic year takes place in Bernburg and includes the first and second semesters. During this time, you will build core competences in landscape architecture through a combination of design studios, seminars and project based learning.

Key study areas include:

• Urban Design and Landscape Design Studios
• Sustainable Planning and Development
• Landscape and Environmental Planning
• Planting Design
• Materials and Construction
• GIS, Digital Tools, AI and LLMs
• Graphic Communication and Representation
• History and Theory of Landscape Architecture
• Project Management and Communication Skills

Teaching is practice-oriented and closely linked to real planning challenges. A central element is our studio, where you work individually and in teams on realistic projects, often with external partners from the industry.

Excursions are an important part of the programme. Several site visits and field trips take place during the year, including one larger international summer excursion.

Students who wish to strengthen their career opportunities in Germany may also attend German language courses during their studies.

The third semester is dedicated to a compulsory 20 week internship in Germany or abroad. This internship will allow you to gain professional experience, build networks, improve language skills and often create direct pathways into employment. During this phase, you will also begin preparing your Master’s thesis.

In the fourth semester, you will complete the supervised Master’s thesis and present the work in a final colloquium.

We focus on combining academic depth, practical experience and strong career relevance, to lead you from your studies into your professional life.

We cooperate through academic networks worldwide and are currently linked to the New European Bauhaus. Partner universities include universities in Armenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Indonesia, Malta, Spain and the United States.

In your third semester, you will complete a compulsory 20 week internship worth 25 credits. This is one of the most valuable parts of the programme, because it allows you to step directly into professional practice while still studying.
You can complete your internship in Germany or abroad in planning offices, municipalities, research institutions or related organisations.

For many students, the internship becomes a real door opener. You gain practical experience, strengthen your portfolio, understand professional workflows and build valuable contacts with employers and industry partners.
If you would like to stay and work in Germany after graduation, the internship is an especially important opportunity to create local networks, improve language skills and demonstrate your abilities in a real working environment.

Many students discover their future career direction during this semester, and in some cases internships lead directly to later job opportunities.
After completing the internship, you submit a report according to the internship regulations.
During the application process, you can receive guidance and support from the programme team.

1. First degree:
You must hold a completed degree from a national or international university / college that offers a “Diplom” (diploma), Bachelor's or Master's degree of a programme in landscape architecture which is at least three years in length. Degrees from programmes in architecture, urban planning, spatial planning or related fields may also apply.

2. Work experience:
A minimum of one year of experience in a related field is required.

3. Portfolio:
You need to submit a portfolio that consists of around five design projects related to landscape architecture. The portfolio must include at least two professional works out of five. In case of group projects, your role in the submitted projects should be properly mentioned.

Criteria for Acceptance:
Applicants should comply with all necessary prerequisites mentioned above.

Acceptance into the programme is based on the final grade point average from your first degree programme, the evaluation of your submitted portfolio and your motivation letter.

In addition, the regulations for the acceptance process to Master's degree programmes at Anhalt University of Applied Sciences include special acceptance criteria as well.

96 EUR semester fee

(This covers a contribution to the Student Services and Student Union, but no public transport semester ticket is included. Please see the university website for updated information.)

Approx. 1,000 EUR per month to cover living expenses (including accommodation, excluding health insurance costs, excursions)
Cheap rail fares / student discount available for trains

Non-EU students should be aware that student visas entail strict regulations regarding work. Local student jobs are open to international students, as are student tutor positions at Anhalt University (depending on qualifications and job availability).

The MLA Network: Through our diverse collaborations and guest lectures, as well as through formats like internships, studio projects, and alumni work, opportunities exist to establish contacts in professional practice, enhancing your career prospects nationally and internationally.

Career Service: The Career Service of the Anhalt University of Applied Sciences offers our international students a wide range of tailor-made services for a successful career start in Germany. It supports students in designing a professional curriculum vitae, helps with further qualifications and helps to develop new career perspectives. The Career Service is also a point of contact for companies and institutions that are looking for highly qualified staff with an international background and want to establish contact with students at an early stage.

Generally, there are two ways of finding a student apartment in Bernburg. You can request a spot in one of the residence halls or look for an apartment on the private market.

1. Residence halls: Accommodation near the campus is offered by the Studentenwerk Halle / Student Services. It is recommended that new students contact Studentenwerk Halle before coming to Bernburg. Please visit the website http://www.studentenwerk-halle.de.

2. Private accommodation is usually outside of the Strenzfeld campus. You can use this platform to find a private room or apartment:
https://www.wg-gesucht.de/en/

For more detailed information, please consult our websites:
https://www.hs-anhalt.de/en/international.html
https://www.hs-anhalt.de/en/life/bernburg/housing.html

The Anhalt University of Applied Sciences offers innovative teaching and research at an international level and with international study quality and quality of life at three sites in Bernburg, Dessau, and Köthen. 63 Bachelor's and Master's courses in seven departments prepare over 8,000 students for one thing above all: a successful start to their careers.

The Anhalt University of Applied Sciences is based in three beautiful cities – Köthen, Bernburg, and Dessau. The three locations in Bernburg, Dessau, and Köthen are cities with a high quality of life that offer both cultural and natural attractions – they are located in the German state with the highest density of UNESCO world heritage sites. Köthen is traditionally an important centre of culture and education; Bernburg focuses on the natural sciences; and Dessau is home to the Bauhaus, renowned worldwide for architecture and design.

Anhalt University of Applied Sciences is proud to be part of these three attractive cities. Furthermore, it offers worldwide exchange semesters. We have partnerships with 86 universities in 42 countries.

The Campus
The MLA is located in Bernburg on a unique campus with the university and its residential buildings. The Bernburg-Strenzfeld campus stands out with a high quality of life and studies. With 50 hectares of experimental fields, state-of-the-art laboratories for the life sciences, and numerous beautiful herbaceous gardens, it offers space for experiments in teaching and applied research. The residence halls are located in the midst of parks and sports facilities. The departments of Agriculture, Ecotrophology and Landscape Development (Dept. 1) and Economics (Dept. 2) are located here. Well-equipped sports facilities and attractive leisure time activities offer the perfect way to relieve stress. Fifty-three professors supervise around 3,000 students.

The City
Bernburg, a city on both sides of the Saale, offers a high quality of life to around 35,000 people with affordable housing, good job opportunities, and many cultural and leisure time activities. The parks in the Saale valley can be reached by foot from the city centre. Students enjoy this as well as the Lower Saale Valley nature park. The city of hills and valleys also has an eventful history: Its landmark is a magnificent Renaissance castle. From this castle, the House of Ascania ruled over the sovereign Duchy of Anhalt-Bernburg. Since 2015, Bernburg has carried the Community of Protestant Church’s honorary title “Reformation City of Europe”.