Why Study / Key Benefits

The Bachelor of Landscape Management is a new, specialised undergraduate degree at Lincoln University, introduced for 2026. Lincoln describes it as the only specialised landscape-management undergraduate degree in New Zealand and Australia and says it was developed in response to industry demand for professionals able to manage and plan landscape projects.

Key benefits include:

• Combines landscape architecture, design, planning, ecology, horticulture, sociology, culture and project management.
• Focuses on the management and long-term development of landscapes and public spaces rather than primarily on landscape design.
• Develops an applied approach to sustainable landscape development.
• Covers both scientific and cultural values underlying landscape management.
• Allows students to use elective courses to develop their own areas of interest.
• Develops knowledge of physical landscapes, landscape design and construction, planning, horticulture, recreation, tourism, project management and cultural processes.
• Includes practical work in both professional practice and landscape implementation.
• Can prepare graduates for roles managing parks, public spaces and landscape projects. 

Programme Structure and Subjects / Topics

The programme is structured over three years, with compulsory courses and substantial elective choice. Lincoln explicitly states that students can focus on areas of interest through electives.

Year 1 includes:

Semester 1:

• Introduction to Earth and Ecological Sciences
• Te Tiriti o Waitangi (The Treaty of Waitangi)
• Visual Communication
• One 15-credit elective

Semester 2:

• Introduction to 3D Design
• Structures and Land Surfaces
• Ecology I: New Zealand Ecology and Conservation
• One 15-credit elective.

Examples of first-year elective options include:

• Digital Tools for Design
• Introduction to Horticulture
• Land, People and Economies
• Chemistry IA
• Society, Culture and Environment
• Introduction to Tourism
• History of Design
• Nga Tikanga M?ori
• Soil Science I.

Year 2 includes:

Semester 1:

• Planting Design and Management
• Applied Amenity Horticulture
• 30 credits of electives

Semester 2:

• Landscape Planting Practice
• Landscape and Culture
• Principles of Urban and Regional Planning
• 15 credits of electives.

Second-year elective choices include:

• Organisation and Human Resource Management
• Environmental Analysis with Geographic Information Systems
• Applied Agroforestry
• Landscape Analysis, Planning and Design
• Design Details
• M?ori Planning and Development
• Horticultural Systems
• Sustainability Analysis and Actions
• Environmental Analysis
• Site Design
• Sustainable Futures
• The Living City
• Physical Landscapes: Formation and Function
• Sustainable Tourism Systems.

Year 3 includes:

Semester 1:

• Environmental Planning
• 45 credits of electives

Semester 2:

• Project Planning and Management
• Applied Ecology and Conservation
• 30 credits of electives.

Third-year elective options include:

• Innovative Design
• Urban Design
• Practicum: Applied Landscape Practice
• Recreation and Tourism in Protected Natural Areas
• Heritage Interpretation for Tourism and Recreation
• Design Theory
• Climate Change and Land Use
• Landscape Ecology
• Sustainable Design and Planning
• Sustainable Tourism Planning and Management
• Horticultural Management Analysis
• Agroforestry Systems.

Disciplines / Specialisations

The degree does not currently present fixed named majors or specialisations. Instead, students build their focus through electives.

Major disciplinary areas include:

• Landscape management
• Landscape architecture
• Landscape design
• Landscape planning
• Ecology and conservation
• Horticulture
• Urban and regional planning
• Project planning and management
• Landscape construction and implementation
• Sociology and culture
• M?ori and Indigenous knowledge
• Recreation and tourism
• Sustainability
• Geographic Information Systems
• Climate change and land use.

Programme Highlights

• New programme commencing from 2026.
• 3 years full-time.
• 360 credits.
• Described by Lincoln as the only specialised landscape-management undergraduate degree in New Zealand and Australia.
• Combines landscape architecture, design, planning, ecology, horticulture, sociology, culture and project management.
• Focuses on sustainable landscape development.
• Includes both scientific and cultural perspectives.
• Strong elective flexibility.
• Minimum 6 weeks of compulsory practical work.
• Potential to complete up to 50% of the practical-work requirement overseas with Academic Board approval.
• Covers public spaces, parks, urban and rural landscapes.
• Provides an alternative for students interested in landscape-sector management but not necessarily a design-centric landscape architecture career.

Career Outcomes

Lincoln states that graduates will be prepared for careers in project management and development, including public spaces and parks management. Depending on course choices, graduates can also move into areas such as ecology, recreation and tourism.

Potential career directions include:

• Landscape project management
• Landscape development
• Parks management
• Public-space management
• Landscape implementation
• Landscape planning
• Environmental planning
• Ecology and conservation
• Recreation management
• Tourism and landscape-related tourism
• Horticultural management
• Urban landscape management.

Latest Updates / Special Requirements

This is a newly introduced programme. Lincoln announced it in September 2025 as one of three new programmes commencing in 2026.

A major practical requirement is compulsory practical work before graduation:

• Minimum total: 6 weeks.
• At least 3 weeks must be in an approved office-based professional practice or department, public or private, focused on Landscape Management.
• At least 3 weeks must be in an approved aspect of landscape implementation.
• Students must submit two satisfactory practical-work reports.
• An employer verification form must also be submitted.
• With Academic Board approval, up to 50% of the practical-work requirement may be completed overseas.

International Student Visa Requirements

For a student coming to New Zealand to study this full-time bachelor's degree, the relevant visa will generally be the Fee Paying Student Visa, subject to individual circumstances.

Immigration New Zealand requires applicants to:

• Have an offer of place from an approved education provider.
• Have enough money to pay tuition fees or hold an applicable scholarship.
• Have sufficient money for living expenses or an acceptable sponsor.
• Be in good health.
• Be of good character.
• Have a genuine reason for studying in New Zealand.
• Show that they can leave New Zealand at the end of their stay.
• Have full medical and travel insurance for the required period

Students may be required to provide:

• Passport
• Offer of Place
• Evidence of tuition payment or ability to pay
• Evidence of living-cost funds
• Sponsorship/financial undertaking documents where applicable
• Medical/chest X-ray evidence where required
• Police certificate where required
• Evidence of onward/return travel or sufficient funds for travel
• Certified English translations of relevant documents that are not in English.