Nürtingen-Geislingen University (HfWU), Germany
The language of instruction of the IMLA programme is English.
Additionally, German up to level A2 is taught as part of the programme in order to prepare the students for the professional internship / the needs of the labour market. The respective certificate (A2/CEFR) needs to be submitted by the end of the third semester.
The programme starts in March of the year following the application.
Students need to be present on-site.
2024: 15 November for all applicants
From 2025 (for studies starting in 2026): 1 October
However, it is strongly recommended for international applicants to submit their applications as early as possible to avoid any potential delays.
The IMLA programme is free of tuition for all residents of the European Union.
Non-EU citizens need to pay a tuition fee of 750 EUR per semester (at both locations of studies).
The exacting and effective programme is divided into six practice-oriented subject areas. These subject areas include planning and design projects of various scales, understanding landscape as a system, project management and planning, utilisation of information technologies in planning and design, application of planning and design methods, and international planning and design. The programme is designed to provide high-quality training aligned with the demands of the labour market, thus giving students an opportunity to hone skills that will be in high demand in the future. The International Master's in Landscape Architecture (IMLA) programme has a strong practical focus. The Master's programme incorporates a number of countries worldwide and addresses cross-border issues. Projects will be conducted in various European countries.
The International Master's in Landscape Architecture programme (known as the IMLA programme) is organised by two well-known universities:
The location of studies alternates each year:
Students joining the programme for the 2025 summer semester will study in Nürtingen near Stuttgart (application deadline: 15 November 2024).
Students joining the programme for the 2026 summer semester will study in Freising-Weihenstephan near Munich (application deadline: 1 October 2025).
The regular duration of studies is three semesters.
Structure of courses and schedule:
Semester one (summer semester):
Semester two (winter semester):
Semester three (summer semester):
Depending on each student's previous qualifications* an additional compulsory internship and an additional seminar will be required. In this case (*), the duration of studies will be four semesters.
*For students who did not study Landscape Architecture / Landscape Planning in their Bachelor's programme or for students entering the IMLA programme on a basis of less than three-and-a-half years of Bachelor's education (i.e. < 210 credits)
The IMLA programme has a strong practical focus. Much of its teaching in the area of management, marketing, and digital planning methods is provided by external specialists, and experts are invited to act as guest critics on projects. The faculty members are highly qualified in their areas of specialisation and also in didactics.
The IMLA curriculum overview can be found below.
The complete IMLA course handbook, including all module descriptions, is available on the IMLA website: https://www.imla-campus.eu/overview.
For students who did not study Landscape Architecture / Landscape Planning in their Bachelor's programme or for students entering the IMLA programme on a basis of less than three-and-a-half years of Bachelor's education (i.e. < 210 credits), a compulsory landscape architecture internship, e.g. in a design or planning office, will be required. The internship is included in the third semester, along with an additional elective (project or international seminar).
In this case, the duration of studies will be four semesters, and the Master's thesis as well as an additional international seminar will be postponed until the fourth semester.
The IMLA programme is free of tuition for all residents of the European Union.
Non-EU citizens need to pay a tuition fee of 750 EUR per semester (at both locations of studies).
Approx. 150 EUR per semester (varies depending on the location of studies)
Approx. 800 – 1,000 EUR per month to cover personal expenses
Students can apply for scholarships after enrolment. Availability is limited.
Academic admission requirements include successful completion of a degree course in Landscape Architecture, Landscape Planning, Landscape Construction, Landscape Management, Architecture or Urban/Regional Planning at a German university or "Berufsakademie" (University of Cooperative Education) or a comparable Bachelor's degree course in any of the above subjects at a foreign university. The degree must show evidence of above-average examination results.
An English language certificate at level B2 of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages CEFR (or equivalent) is required with the application.
There are current plans to change the language requirements to level C1. Please check the current information on the programme website before applying: https://www.imla-campus.eu/application.
There is no German language requirement at the time of entry into the course.
2024: 15 November for all applicants
From 2025 (for studies starting in 2026): 1 October
However, it is strongly recommended for international applicants to submit their applications as early as possible to avoid any potential delays.
Detailed information about the application process and all necessary steps can be found here:
Limited possibilities (preferably in the evening hours or at weekends)
Student halls of residence or private rooms.
At the study location in Freising, students can apply for housing in the student halls of residence of the Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern (student union). Applications can be submitted online from mid-November each year. Early application is highly recommended.
The Career Service of Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences acts as the point of contact between students and employers.
The primary function of the Career Service is to support students during their studies and in the transition from university to employment in all aspects of seeking and applying for employment, and with the acquisition of key skills. The free services of the Career Service are open to all students in all semesters who wish to apply for a permanent post after their studies, for work placements, or for final dissertations at other higher education institutions.
The Career Service is also the point of contact for businesses and institutions seeking staff with qualifications and training who wish to establish early contact with students at Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences.
There are similar opportunities at Nürtingen-Geislingen University.
Support for international students is offered via the International Office of Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences. There are similar opportunities at Nürtingen-Geislingen University.
Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences is not only Germany's largest university in the field of green sciences - it is second to none in Bavaria in its range of courses in the field of biological engineering sciences, with the result that it attracts students from all over Germany as well as from other countries.
Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences offers a unique combination of study programmes:
Bachelor's degree programmes:
Agribusiness, Agricultural Engineering, Agriculture (Weihenstephan), Agriculture (Triesdorf), Applied Informatics, Arboriculture, Biotechnology, Brewing and Beverage Technology, Climate Protection and Climate Adaptation, Engineering in Forestry, Environmental Engineering, Food Technology, Horticulture, Green Urban Planning, Landscape Architecture, Landscape Construction and Management, Management of Renewable Energies, Nutrition and Food Sciences, Organic Food & Business
Master's degree programmes:
Agricultural Management, Animal Health Management, Biotechnology / Bioengineering, Business Management and Renewable Energy Entrepreneurship, Climate Change Management, Environmental Engineering, Farm Management, Food Quality, Green Digital Engineering, International Management of Forest Industries, International Master's in Landscape Architecture (IMLA), International Master's in Agricultural Management, Landscape Construction Management, Regional Management
As IMLA is offered as a joint venture of two partner universities, both locations should be introduced here:
1) Weihenstephan is a suburb of Freising, a former bishopric founded 1,200 years ago and now better known for its numerous facilities in the fields of nutrition, environment, and nature conservation. Thanks to its proximity to Munich and the Bavarian Alps, Freising offers a wide range of cultural and recreational activities.
For more information about the university and the city:
https://www.hswt.de/en/
https://www.freising.de
2) Nürtingen was once the home of the German lyric poet Hölderlin and is located at the foot of the Swabian Alb highlands, not far from Stuttgart. The city offers a wide range of cultural activities, and its cosy bars and historic quarter lend it a very unique flair.
For more information about the university and the city:
https://www.hfwu.com
https://www.nuertingen.de
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