Sustainable Landscape Design and Development OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts

The Master’s programme at TH OWL – University of Applied Sciences and Arts focuses on the challenges of the 21st century, including the climate crisis, water-sensitive urban development, biodiversity, gender-equal cities, energy landscapes, healthy cities, food security, urban shrinkage processes, urban growth, and migration. The United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals serve as the programme's reference framework.

Germany combines a progressive academic setting in an inclusive society with a global perspective. We offer high-quality, affordable public higher education for your future success!

The two-year Master’s programme is taught in English and aimed at international applicants with a Bachelor’s degree in fields such as landscape architecture and planning as well as related disciplines like architecture, urban design, urban planning, and environmental planning.

The programme in the first two semesters consists of compulsory (first semester) and elective (second semester) courses as well as an urban landscape project and a landscape planning and development project that address realistic project assignments. The third semester includes an internship, and the fourth is dedicated to the Master’s thesis.

Join us at the “Sustainable Campus” in Höxter – a picturesque city on the banks of the Weser River in Germany, located in a region with rolling hills, scenic landscapes, and historical towns that date back to the early Middle Ages. One of Höxter's most famous landmarks is the Corvey Abbey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What we offer:

• New perspectives on future challenges
• Germany's long-standing tradition of landscape architecture
• Visionary professional approaches to designing and developing urban and rural spaces
• Courses covering a broad range of landscape design and development themes
• Real-life urban landscape design and planning projects
• Exchange with international sustainable development experts
• Excursions to European cities dedicated to sustainable transformation
• A creative study atmosphere
• Intercultural dialogue within an international group of students
• An internship semester as a stepping stone for your professional development
• Master’s thesis focusing on relevant international challenges
• International networking with alumni and faculty
• Possibility to start your first semester online, as long as your visa is pending
• Very low university fees
• Relatively low cost of living at the university’s location

First Semester:

• Human-Centred Open Space Planning and Design *
• Sustainable Planting Design *
• Landscape and Regional Planning in Germany *
• Quality in Detailed Design *
• Extra Muros 1 *
• Urban Landscape Project *

Second Semester:

• Infrastructural Landscapes **
• Planning Ahead: Development Through Maintenance **
• Participatory Landscape Development and Design **
• Sustainable Landscape Architecture **
• International Urban Landscapes **
• User-Oriented Open Space Development **
• Extra Muros 2 *
• Digital Tools in Sustainable Landscape Architecture and Public Spatial Planning **
• Landscape Planning and Development Project *

* = compulsory course / ** = elective course 

Third Semester:

• Internship

Fourth Semester:

• Master's thesis 
• Colloquium (oral examination)

For more information, please see this link:
https://www.th-owl.de/en/sustainable-landscape/program/

In the third semester

In order to apply to the Master’s programme, you need to meet the following criteria:

• A three-year Bachelor’s degree (or higher) in landscape architecture or in any related field, such as architecture, urban design and planning, environmental planning, etc.
• The grade point average (GPA) of the prior academic degree needs to correspond to a German GPA of at least 2.3.
• Non-EU applicants must verify academic documents via uni-assist to confirm eligibility to study in Germany: https://www.uni-assist.de/en/
• EU applicants upload their application at the university's Master's programme portal.
• In addition to degree, grade, and English language certificates, the following documents must be submitted (max. 10 MB via uni-assist). Incomplete applications will be rejected:
  • A curriculum vitae (CV, PDF, one page DIN-A4)
  • A letter of motivation (PDF, one page DIN-A4) is necessary. Please refer to why you want to participate in this Master’s programme; point out a perspective of where you picture yourself in the future and reflect on the following aspects (These references are important as they will serve as the basis for the reflection part of the internship report in third semester.):
  • 1. Why do you want to enrol in the SLDD Master’s programme?
  • 2. How can you demonstrate your motivation to participate in the SLDD Master’s programme (i.e. experiences from prior Bachelor’s programme, internships, design and planning competitions, or other professional experience)?
  • 3. What are your expectations of the SLDD Master’s programme and of your future profession? Which professional developments are you seeking during the programme and the internship, and what qualification are you aiming to acquire after your graduation?
• Portfolio with work samples (PDF, max. seven pages)
• Applications are evaluated by a committee to determine suitability for the programme.

For more information, follow this link.

The semester contribution is made up of the following components: contribution to the student body, the Association for Student Affairs, and the "Germany Ticket".

For information on the semester contribution, please click here.

Accommodation costs in Höxter need to be taken care of by the student. They vary between 250 and 300 EUR per month.

https://asta-hoexter.tumblr.com/wohnungsanzeigen

Since 1 January 2025, the annual requirement that must be paid into a blocked account when applying for a visa amounts to 11,904 EUR (or 992 EUR per month).

For information on living in OWL and information requirements for your visa and blocked account, please click here.

As registered students at OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts, non-EU students are permitted to work up to 120 full or 240 half days per year without an additional work permit.

You may work when the university is in session as well as during semester breaks. Only those days on which work is carried out are considered. Traditional jobs of an academic character such as student tutoring can be carried out in addition to the above-mentioned 120 full days or 240 half days. Such jobs are not subject to time restrictions.

First-year students are strongly advised to focus primarily on their studies and to begin learning German as the vast majority of off-campus jobs will require at least basic proficiency in German. This will open up many more opportunities in later semesters. Free German courses are available for students through our International Office.

See also: https://www.th-owl.de/en/international-office-th-owl/

The Deutschlandstipendium programme was created in 2011. As part of this programme, the federal government subsidises private donation funds raised by colleges to finance scholarships for talented and academically strong students. The programme was modelled after other programmes, including Studienfonds OWL which has been granting privately funded scholarships on behalf of five colleges in Ostwestfalen-Lippe, North Rhine-Westphalia.

More information and details are available at the following link: http://www.studienfonds-owl.de/en/scholarships/deutschlandstipendium/

Additional offers: www.th-owl.de/en/international-office-th-owl/international-campus-th-owl/scholarships/

Career Services OWL University of Applied Sciences and Arts: https://www.th-owl.de/en/studies/after-graduation/career-services/

Accommodation is available through the Student Services Office or on the private market.

Information can be found on the Internet at: 

https://www.th-owl.de/en/studies/starting-your-degree/housing-during-your-degree/