Global Change Landscape Design

Global [climate] change is altering everything—everywhere in the world. We are faced with necessary challenges relating to the design and engineering of our surrounding environments and landscape. The landscape and its functions, its ecosystem services and its appearance, will inevitably change. As climate change adaptation accelerates, e.g. through the global energy transition away from fossil fuels and the associated creation of new industries, the urban, peri-urban and rural environment will become a large-scale powerhouse. At the same time, the underlying landscape with its structures, soils, peatlands, wetlands, forests and oceans must be supported in its function as an important global carbon sink. The landscape as such will become a global infrastructure element that will accommodate new industries, new settlements and decentralized production of renewable energy. Large and massive elements will dominate the landscape, such as wind farms, solar parks, battery parks, power lines, substations, biomass production, transport routes, new industrial zones, new residential areas, etc. All of this must be carefully considered and intelligently designed. This is the only way to ensure sustainable future development that enables functioning ecosystems and affluent societies to coexist.



Ireland is the only country within the European Union (EU) whose first language is English, and the UCD degree in Landscape Architecture is the only one in Ireland that offers access to the title of Landscape Architect. The Master’s programme in Global Change Landscape Design offers professional experience as an embedded programme component in the third trimester, providing a unique path to career entry after graduation.

Course Content & Structure



90 credits taught masters

60 credits of taught modules

30 credits internship

Core Modules Include:



Research-By-Design Studios A and B

Landscape Research

Geo-design For Urban Futures

Water, Soil & Vegetation

Fieldwork

An honours undergraduate degree (NFQ Level 8) with a minimum upper second class honours or international equivalence in a relevant programme including Landscape Architecture, Architecture, Urban Design, Interior Design or any other Creative Studies in a cognate discipline may apply.



Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.



Portfolio submission is essential (We ask that you submit a portfolio of your own creative work. We are interested in any form of creative work, but also in any type of independent project work that could inspire others. File size maximum 100 MB. The format must be PDF.)



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information. Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

https://tinyurl.com/2ae2ffax

1 year full-time

Delivery - On Campus

T407 MSc in Global Change Landscape Design Master of Science Full-Time

Commencing September 2025

Graduate Taught

Careers & Employability

Graduates of the program literally have the world at their feet. Global change creates needs and opportunities that are only now fully unfolding. Medium and large offices and global consulting firms are looking for landscape specialists who can understand, assess and design the future landscape. This is not just limited to the world’s land masses, but also includes the oceans, where large offshore industries (e.g. wind power) are emerging.



Specifically, graduates will have a skill set affording opportunities to work in a variety of industries and companies, including:



-Landscape Architecture/Urban Planning firms SWA Group, ARUP, AECOM, Hargreaves Associates

-Environmental Consultancy firms MKO, ERM, Tetra Tech, Jacobs

-Real Estate Development companies Remcoll, LDA, Lendlease

-Government agencies European Environment Agency (EEA), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), National -Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS), Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage

-Non-Profit Organizations European Landscape Convention (ELC), Irish Environmental Network, Heritage Council of Ireland