Options with landscape and garden design
Training in landscape and garden design provides you with certain subject-specific skills. These include having an understanding of the theories and concepts behind landscape architecture, the ability to interpret or produce a brief, a knowledge of plants and an understanding of design, specifically through the use of computer-aided design (CAD).
In addition to this, students of landscape and garden design will acquire other generic skills which are transferable to different roles. These include:
The course itself involves you in practical activities, but the more experience you can gain through vacation and part-time work or freelancing, the more favourably employers will look upon you when you apply for jobs, whether you choose to stay with your subject or move on into other careers.
You may also have the chance to take part in study tours, visiting different parts of the world and gaining international experience.
In addition to the degree, aim to capitalise on all the opportunities your university may offer such as study tours in both the UK and abroad as well as industrial placements working within the design sector. You may also be able to gain valuable experience through collaborative activities set up by your university with artists, designers and community organisations.
You will improve your CV by obtaining paid or unpaid work experience. While many part-time jobs and volunteering opportunities will help you to develop important employability skills such as teamwork and communication, try to obtain experience relevant to your landscape and garden design, such as working as a landscape assistant.
Although some of the jobs listed here might not be first jobs for many graduates, they are among the many realistic possibilities with your degree, provided you can demonstrate you have the attributes employers are looking for. Bear in mind that it’s not just your degree discipline that determines your options. Remember that many graduate vacancies don't specify particular degree disciplines, so don't restrict your thinking to the jobs listed here. Look at your degree... what next? for informed advice on career planning and graduate employment, or login/register with My Prospects to find out what jobs would suit you, a helpful starting point for self-analysis.
Explore types of jobs to find out more about the above options and related jobs.
A 2012 HESA survey of 2011 graduates indicates that six months after graduation just over 60% of landscape and garden design graduates were in employment. Almost a further 6% were combining work and study.
Of those going into work, just over half entered professional and technical occupations. On graduating, most went to work in design practices, private or public, or for other environmental and development-related organisations.
Just over 7% went into commercial, industrial or public sector management roles. A large number of landscape and garden design graduates, like graduates in other subjects, also went into stop-gap jobs, presumably to gain experience or earn money before travelling.
According to Lantra: The Sector Skills Council for the Environmental and Land-based Sector , £3billion is contributed to the UK economy by the landscaping industry. Around 96% of businesses are micro-businesses that employ fewer than ten people.
Work in bigger organisations is available, though, including voluntary organisations, such as Groundwork , public sector bodies, such as the Forestry Commission , and large engineering and construction firms.
Landscape architects may choose to specialise in design or landscape management, landscape planning or landscape science, depending on their skills, experience and personal interests. After developing their expertise and building a reputation, they may choose to be employed or self-employed as consultants.
For an insight into employment areas with your landscape and garden design degree, see:
For further information on possibilities in other employment areas, see job sectors.
Statistics are collected every year to show what HE students do immediately after graduation. These can be a useful guide but, in reality, because the data is collected within six months of graduation, many graduates are travelling, waiting to start a course, paying off debts, getting work experience or still deciding what they want to do. For further information about some of the areas of employment commonly entered by graduates of any degree discipline, check out What Do Graduates Do? and your degree...what next?
Just over 13% of landscape and garden design students who graduated in 2011 went on to further full-time study while almost a further 6% took up part-time study while working. Many graduates complete the necessary one year’s professional experience then return to complete their professional study (Diploma in Landscape Architecture) to obtain chartered status with The Landscape Institute (LI) .
There are also related postgraduate courses, such as landscape management or landscape design, and other more specialist courses, such as land reclamation and urban design. A business course could be useful if you intend to start your own company.
Regardless of the area of work that you plan to enter, bear in mind that experience is highly regarded and, indeed, that postgraduate study is not a substitute for experience in any area of work.
These trends show only what previous graduates in your subject did immediately upon graduating. Over the course of their career - the first few years in particular - many others will opt for some form of further study, either part time or full time. If further study interests you, start by thinking about postgraduate study in the UK and search courses and research to identify your options.
For details relating to finance and the application process, look at funding my further study.
