Master in Landscape Architecture. Land Landscape Heritage at Polytechnic University of Milan
Two-year English-taught LM-3 master at Politecnico di Milano's Piacenza campus built on land, landscape and heritage, with four design studios plus ecology, geomorphology, historic gardens and urban forestry. Entry needs a related bachelor's, a portfolio and English.
Master
2 years
Piacenza
English
Polytechnic University of Milan
Landscape Architecture. Land Landscape Heritage is a two-year, 120 ECTS master's degree (class LM-3) taught in English at Politecnico di Milano's Piacenza campus. Entry needs a bachelor's of at least three years in landscape architecture, architecture or urban planning, or a related field after a curriculum check, plus a portfolio and an English certificate such as IELTS 6. Indian applicants need a four-year degree with at least 70 out of 100.
Entry requirements
Detailed entry requirements
PoliMi's Landscape Architecture master asks for a bachelor's of at least three years in landscape architecture, architecture or urban planning, or a related field that passes a curriculum check, the minimum grade set for some countries, a CV and portfolio for the evaluation, and English certified with a recognised test such as IELTS 6. There is no entrance test. Reviewed 8 October 2026. [1]
Degree and background
With a foreign degree, you need a bachelor's of at least three years in landscape architecture, architecture or urban planning. Degrees in agricultural and forestry sciences, civil and environmental engineering, industrial design, environmental and natural sciences, geography, cultural heritage, or fine arts, performing arts and fashion may also be admitted after a check of your curriculum. [2]
For Italian degrees, the 2026/27 regulations name classes L-17 (architecture) and L-21 (planning), with L-25, L-7, L-4, L-32, L-6, L-1 and L-3 admitted subject to the curriculum check. The same criteria apply to foreign degrees judged suitable by the Study Programme Board; if it cannot identify the subject areas and credits in your degree, it evaluates your whole career instead. [1]
The curricular requirements must be met before enrolment, because the programme does not allow enrolment with outstanding obligations. If the committee assigns curricular integrations, you complete them as single courses and then apply again. [1]
PoliMi also requires a degree that gives access to EQF level 7, issued by a university in the official system of its country, with subjects closely related to the programme. Franchised degrees are not accepted, and if you hold both a bachelor's and a master's, only the bachelor's is evaluated. [3]
Country rules and minimum grades
PoliMi sets strict country rules for some degrees, with no exceptions: [3]
- India: a bachelor's of at least four years, such as a B.Tech, B.E., B.Des. or B.Arch. A three-year B.Sc. may be considered only if it is an Honours programme. Minimum average 70 out of 100.
- Pakistan: a four-year continuous bachelor's, as 2+2 degrees are not accepted. Minimum GPA 3.3 out of 4.
- Bangladesh: minimum GPA 3.3 out of 4.
- Sri Lanka: an Honours degree at SLQF level 6 from a recognised institution. Level 5 qualifications are not evaluated.
- UK: an Honours degree or equivalent, with a university letter if the certificate does not say so.
If your average is below the minimum for your country, PoliMi does not evaluate the application. [4]
What this means for your transcript
The board looks at the subjects on your transcript and at your portfolio, not just the title of your degree. As a guide, based on the rules above:
- Usually a fit: a B.Arch, a four-year planning degree or a bachelor's in landscape architecture, with an average that meets your country's minimum.
- Check carefully: a four-year B.Sc. in Agriculture, Forestry or Horticulture, a B.Tech or B.E. in Civil or Environmental Engineering, or a B.Des. These fields are listed, but admission depends on the curriculum check, and any missing credits must be made up before enrolment.
- Often short: a three-year BA or B.Sc. from India in geography, environmental science, fine arts or another listed field, unless it is an Honours B.Sc., a 2+2 degree from Pakistan, or a degree outside the listed fields, such as a B.Com, BBA or BCA.
English and Italian
English is part of the assessment of your preparation, and the regulations ask you to certify it when you apply, with a test recognised by PoliMi at its minimum score. [1] Accepted results for 2027/28 include: [4]
- IELTS Academic or General Training 6
- TOEFL iBT 78 for tests taken until 20 January 2026, or 4.5 for tests taken from 21 January 2026
- Cambridge B2 First at grade B, or C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency at grade C
- PTE Academic 59
- Trinity ISE II, or LanguageCert B2 Communicator
If English was the medium of instruction for at least three years of your bachelor's, a university document confirming that at least 75% of your courses were taught in English replaces the certificate. [4]
PoliMi's admissions office lets foreign-qualification applicants add the certificate after the deadline, before the admission letter, visa and enrolment, but the programme regulations tie it to the application, so we make sure it is in your file when you apply. [1][4]
Italian is not needed to apply to this English-taught programme. [4] The regulations ask international students to show Italian skills: PoliMi runs 40-hour Italian courses with a final exam, and a certificate at B1 or above exempts you. [1]
Selection and places
There is no entrance test. Admission follows a comparative evaluation of your previous studies and any other significant, documented training or professional experience, based on the documents you submit, including your CV and portfolio. [1][2]
The AUIC School's July 2026 portfolio guidelines ask for a PDF of 25 to 30 A3 landscape pages, at most 20 MB. Because applicants come from different degrees, the portfolio can include design projects and other work, such as documented care, landscape and environmental management for parks, monuments or nature sites. [9]
For applicants with Italian degrees, the technical annex sets a 150-point score with a minimum of 100. Applicants with foreign degrees go through PoliMi's international admissions process. [1]
For 2026/27, PoliMi offered 90 places at the Piacenza campus, 65 of them reserved for non-EU students. [1][6]
Intake and deadlines for September 2027
The AUIC School admits students with a foreign qualification in the first semester (September) only. Requests to defer to the second semester can be made from June to August and depend on places being available and are confirmed by the university. [1]
For the September 2027 intake, non-EU applicants living abroad have one general call for Architecture and Design programmes: [5]
- Application period: 1 October 2026 to 28 January 2027, 11.59pm CET.
- Early bird: the early bird window closes on 1 December 2026, and later applications are accepted until 28 January 2027.
- Outcomes: by the end of May 2027.
A further call from 1 to 18 March 2027 is only for EEA students and non-EEA students resident in Italy with certain permits. You can apply once per semester, to at most two programmes. [5]
Documents and non-EU steps
The online application needs your degree certificate (or, if you have not graduated yet, an enrolment document confirming you are in your final year), your academic transcript, a cumulative GPA statement with the grading scale, a CV of at most two pages and your portfolio. Documents cannot be changed after you pay the application fee. A recommendation letter, a motivation letter, course descriptions and a GRE score are optional extras that can strengthen the file. [4]
Your degree must be obtained before enrolment. To enrol you need a Diploma Supplement, a declaration of value or a CIMEA statement of comparability, and PoliMi may ask for one at any stage of the evaluation. [3][4]
Sources and verification
Checked by the ApplyAZ admissions team against the university's official documents listed below. Entry rules can change with each new call, and we re-check them before every application.
- Politecnico di Milano, School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering. Academic regulations and technical annex, Master's degree in Landscape Architecture. Land Landscape Heritage (class LM-3), academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Landscape Architecture, Land Landscape Heritage programme page: eligibility for students with a non-Italian degree, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Admission to Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification: requirements and country-specific rules, undated. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. List of documents required by the Admissions Office for Master of Science applicants with a foreign qualification, accepted certificates updated for 2027/28. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Application deadlines for Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification, September 2027 intake. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Places available for Master of Science programmes with a foreign qualification, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Tuition fees for Laurea, Laurea Magistrale and single-cycle programmes, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano. Call for DSU financial aid benefits, academic year 2026/27. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, School of Architecture Urban Planning Construction Engineering. Guidelines for the preparation of the portfolio, July 2026. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
- Politecnico di Milano, Piacenza Campus. Campus guide to programmes and student services, academic year 2025/26. Reviewed 8 October 2026.
About the programme
Landscape Architecture. Land Landscape Heritage is a two-year master's degree (laurea magistrale) in class LM-3, Landscape architecture, worth 120 ECTS and run by the School of Architecture, Urban Planning and Construction Engineering (AUIC).
It is taught in English at the Piacenza campus: for students starting from September 2025, the programme is taught only in Piacenza.
The degree website describes a multidisciplinary education that trains landscape architects to design in urban, rural and natural contexts at different scales, drawing on architecture, urban planning, agronomy and forestry, hydraulic and infrastructure engineering, ecology, social sciences, history, archaeology, law, economics and land management.
The School's portfolio guidelines note that applicants come from different backgrounds.
What you will study
The programme is organised around three themes: the care and conservation of soil (Land), the interpretation and design of new and evolving landscapes (Landscape), and the knowledge of material and immaterial heritage (Heritage). Units in the 2026/27 course list, all taught in English, include:
- Landscape and Infrastructure Design Studio
- Open Space System and Parks Design Studio
- Built Environment and Landscape Design Studio
- Frontiers of Landscape Design Studio
- Ecology and Agronomic Science, and Geomorphology and Landscape
- Conservation and Management of Historic Gardens and Landscape
- Urban Forestry and Landscape Planning
- Environmental Analysis and Landscape Mapping
How the programme is taught
Each semester is built around a design studio, supported by integrated courses on landscape culture and history, representation and design techniques.
Studios are the core of the programme, and you must attend at least 70% of studio hours. Teaching is full time. [1]
Second-year electives include Contemporary Landscape Theory and Practice, Ethics of Climate Change, Sociology of Environmental Issues and European Environmental and Landscape Politics and Projects, or you can take a workshop instead. The plan also includes a 4-credit traineeship, which you can start from the first semester, and a 10-credit final examination. [1]
A few optional units, such as Temi di Pianificazione Urbanistica, are taught in Italian.
Career paths
The degree website says graduates will be able to face the challenges of contemporary cities and territories with critical thinking, specific cultural tools, knowledge and technical skills. The studios and courses point to work such as:
- Landscape design for parks, open spaces and infrastructure
- Landscape planning and urban forestry
- Conservation and management of historic gardens and heritage landscapes
- Environmental analysis and landscape mapping
- Climate adaptation and landscape regeneration projects
In Italy, graduates can take the State exam to register with the Order of Architects, Planners, Landscape Architects and Conservators, in Section A. [1]
Fees and scholarships
PoliMi sets fees by family income (ISEE), so programmes can be tuition-free for eligible students. Holding a PoliMi, DSU or other scholarship makes the biggest difference for international students. [7]
Applying through PoliMi's international pre-enrolment route lets you apply for merit scholarships. [1] The PoliPiacenza Association also funds scholarships for international master's students at the Piacenza campus. [10]
Politecnico di Milano runs the DSU right-to-study scholarship itself, based on income and merit. If a first-year scholarship is confirmed, both fee instalments are refunded apart from the administrative fee, so this programme can be tuition-free for eligible students. The university decides the awards. [8]
How to apply from outside the EU
A portfolio is part of the application: the AUIC School's July 2026 guidelines cover this degree and accept both design projects and other activities, such as care, landscape and environmental management, from applicants with different backgrounds.
With a foreign qualification you follow PoliMi's international pre-enrolment path, through the international admissions page. The foreign-qualification requirements add EQF level 7 access, a minimum grade for some countries, including India, Pakistan and Bangladesh, and English proof. [3]
The AUIC School admits students with a foreign qualification in September only. For the September 2027 intake, the general call for Architecture and Design programmes runs from 1 October 2026 to 28 January 2027, with an early bird window until 1 December 2026, and outcomes are due by the end of May 2027. [1][5]
Then come Universitaly pre-enrolment, a type D visa and a Diploma Supplement, declaration of value or CIMEA statement.
How ApplyAZ helps
ApplyAZ is an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities. We can include this programme in a shortlist of 20 to 30 English-taught programmes that fit your profile, so your plan never rests on a single application.
For eligible students who start with us, a named person owns each stage, from A to Z:
- We check your transcript against PoliMi's entry rules for this programme.
- We write your CV and a tailored statement of purpose.
- We prepare and submit your online application with your CV, portfolio, transcripts and English certificate, and Universitaly pre-enrolment.
- We help you declare your family income for reduced fees and file your Politecnico di Milano DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format.
- We prepare your visa file.
With operations in all 20 Italian regions, we follow each region's scholarship rules and deadlines as they change. The university decides admission, the region decides the scholarship and the consulate decides the visa, so no one can promise an outcome. You pay in milestones, and every service you pay for is either delivered or its fee is refunded (terms apply).
Programmes at Italian public universities can be tuition-free for eligible students. Check if you are eligible and book a one-to-one consultation session with one of our Italy experts, or see how ApplyAZ works.
Questions and answers
What bachelor's degree do I need for Landscape Architecture at PoliMi?
A bachelor's of at least three years in landscape architecture, architecture or urban planning. Degrees in agriculture and forestry, civil and environmental engineering, industrial design, environmental sciences, geography, cultural heritage or fine arts may be admitted after a curriculum check. From India, the degree must last at least four years, with an average of at least 70 out of 100. [1][2][3]
Is there an entrance exam? Do I need a portfolio?
There is no entrance test. PoliMi compares applicants on their previous studies, CV, portfolio and documented experience. The AUIC guidelines ask for an A3 landscape PDF of 25 to 30 pages, at most 20 MB, and accept non-design work such as park or environmental management. [1][2][9]
What English level is required? Do I need IELTS?
You need a PoliMi-recognised English certificate, such as IELTS 6, TOEFL iBT 78 (4.5 for tests from 21 January 2026), Cambridge B2 First at grade B or PTE Academic 59. A bachelor's taught at least 75% in English for three years can replace the certificate. [4]
When is the deadline for non-EU students?
For the September 2027 intake, Architecture and Design programmes have one general call, from 1 October 2026 to 28 January 2027. The early bird window closes on 1 December 2026. Outcomes are due by the end of May 2027, and students with a foreign degree start in September. [1][5]
Can I apply before I graduate?
Yes. You can apply in your final year with an enrolment document from your university confirming that you are in your last year, as long as you hold the degree before you enrol at PoliMi. [3][4]
I have a B.Sc. in Agriculture or a B.Tech in Civil Engineering. Can I apply?
Possibly. Agricultural and forestry sciences and civil and environmental engineering are among the fields admitted after a curriculum check, and four-year Indian degrees meet PoliMi's length rule. Any missing credits must be made up before enrolment, because the programme does not allow enrolment with outstanding obligations. [1][2][3]
Where is the programme taught?
At Politecnico di Milano's Piacenza campus, in English. The 2026/27 regulations list Piacenza as the programme's campus, and since 2025/26 the degree has run there with a renewed study structure. [1][10]
How many places are there for non-EU students?
For 2026/27, PoliMi offered 90 places in Landscape Architecture at the Piacenza campus, 65 of them reserved for non-EU students. The 2027/28 figures were not yet published when we reviewed this page. [1][6]
Can someone handle my whole application to Landscape Architecture at PoliMi?
Yes. ApplyAZ, an Italy-based consultancy that works only with public universities, checks your transcript against PoliMi's rules for this programme, handles the application and Universitaly pre-enrolment, helps you file the Politecnico di Milano DSU scholarship application at the right time and in the right format, and prepares your visa file, for eligible students. Start by checking your eligibility.
I'm applying from India. What is the route into Landscape Architecture?
PoliMi accepts Indian bachelor's degrees of at least four years, such as a B.Arch or B.Tech, with an average of at least 70 out of 100, and considers a three-year B.Sc. only if it is Honours. Your degree should fit architecture, planning or a listed field, and you need a portfolio and English proof such as IELTS 6. The steps are the online application, PoliMi's evaluation and Universitaly pre-enrolment. [2][3][4] Indian students apply for the type D study visa at the Italian embassy or consulate that covers their state, such as New Delhi, Mumbai or Bengaluru.
Is the route different from Pakistan, Bangladesh or Sri Lanka?
No. The academic rules for Landscape Architecture are the same whatever your nationality. Applicants from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka follow the same steps as India: online application with a CV and portfolio, PoliMi's evaluation and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for their country of residence. Read our guide for students in Dhaka.
I live in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman or Bahrain. Where do I apply for the visa?
At the Italian embassy or consulate responsible for the country where you legally live, after Universitaly pre-enrolment. The academic rules for Landscape Architecture are the same whatever your nationality, and Gulf residents follow the same steps: online application with a CV and portfolio, PoliMi's evaluation and Universitaly pre-enrolment. Read our guides for Dubai, Riyadh and Doha.
I studied or live in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur. What is the route?
The academic rules for Landscape Architecture are the same whatever your nationality, and your degree is assessed like any other foreign qualification. Non-EU applicants who live abroad follow the same route: online application with a CV and portfolio, PoliMi's evaluation and Universitaly pre-enrolment, then a type D study visa from the Italian mission for where they live. Read our guides for students in London, New York, Toronto, Vancouver, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur.
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