Landscape architect
Help make our environment healthier, greener and more attractive by designing and creating spaces for plants and wildlife within towns and cities.
About the job
A day in the life – Landscape architect
What it's like
Have you ever imagined a job where you get to mix art, science and taking care of our Earth? That's what a landscape architect does!
You'd design and create spaces for plants and wildlife to make towns and cities healthier and more attractive places to live. For example, you might work on public parks, green spaces in cities, housing developments or wildlife conservation areas. You’d be protecting the environment and supporting people’s health and wellbeing.
You'll use your creative and technical skills to plan and design spaces, then organise the work to bring your vision to life.
Your tasks might include:
meeting with clients to discuss their needs and ideas
visiting and surveying the sites
using computer programs to create design ideas
presenting design ideas to clients
drawing up contracts, managing the bidding process and monitoring project progress
writing reports and doing environmental impact assessments
There are five areas you could work in as a landscape architect:
landscape design
landscape management
landscape science
landscape planning
urban design
You might work across one or two of these areas or you may specialise in just one of them.
You'll work closely with landscape contractors and other professionals such as architects, town planners, surveyors, civil engineers and environmental campaigners.
Green job
In this job you'll be doing work to help the environment, by:
choosing local plants, which help local wildlife and need less water
designing for water saving: planning ways to collect rainwater or use smart watering systems
using eco-friendly materials such as picking materials for paths, walls and other structures
Hours
You'll usually work Monday to Friday, but may need to work overtime to meet project deadlines
Environment
Landscape architects have a mix of work environments:
office: a lot of time is spent here, creating designs, working on computers and meeting with clients
outdoors: visiting work sites to see how projects are going and to check out the land
Travel
You'll also need to travel to inspect sites and meet clients.
Explore more information about this job
Here are some useful links to learn more about this career:
Like the sound of this career?
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Landscape architect'
Select qualification level(s)
Other careers that you might like
Architect
Related industries
Many jobs can be done in lots of different industries. We've highlighted the ones we think are most important for this job.
Construction and built environment
Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- landscape architecture
- autocad
- landscape design
- landscape planning
- sketchup (3d modeling software)
- impact assessment
- site analysis
- urban renewal
- environmental planning
- graphic communication
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- working with numbers
- creative
- designing
- cooperating
- verbal communication
- working with technology
- attention to detail
- developing a plan
- taking responsibility
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Art and Design
Biology
Design and Manufacture
Environmental Science
Geography
Skills for Work: Rural Skills
University
A degree recognised by the Landscape institute will be helpful getting into this job. You could study subjects, such as:
Architecture
Ecology
Geography
Horiculture
You can find a list of accreditred courses in the UK at choose landscape.
College
Getting qualifications at college, such as an HNC or HND, could help you get a job or progress to more advanced study. Useful subjects include:
Landscape Design and Construction
Horiculture and Landscaping
Apprenticeship
Modern Apprenticeships (MAs) mean you learn on the job. You get paid and work towards a qualification at the same time. You might want to consider an MA in Horticulture.
Discover Modern Apprenticeships on Apprenticeships.scot.
Getting work experience in a relevant role can help you build the skills and experience you’ll need to become a landscape architect. Search for engineering opportunities on Volunteer Scotland.
Once in a job you'll undertake a period of mentored training while working towards the Pathway to Chartership (P2C).
Find the right course for you
Browse courses in Scotland related to 'Landscape architect'
