Admissions

Application Deadline is March 30, 2023 at 12:00 noon (HKT)

Applications are invited for admission in August 2023 to read for the degree of Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture.

To be eligible for admission to the programme, a candidate shall satisfy both the University Admissions Requirements and the Programme Specific Requirements as listed below:

1. shall comply with the General Regulations;
2. shall hold a Bachelor’s degree with honours of this University or a qualification of equivalent standard from this University or another comparable institution accepted for this purpose;
3. for a candidate who is seeking admission on the basis of a qualification from a university or comparable institution outside Hong Kong of which the language of teaching and/or examination is not English, shall satisfy the University English language requirement applicable to high degrees as prescribed under General Regulation G2(b).

An application for exemption from the above requirements shall be considered on a case by case basis.

The Division will admit up to 18 local and international students to the Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture (PDLA) program each year. We welcome applications from students from a broad range of academic and cultural backgrounds. The PDLA provides a foundational education in the discipline of landscape architecture focusing especially on the creative and intellectual aspects of the field. The diploma program is designed to prepare students without design backgrounds for continuing studies at a master’s level. Those students enrolled in the PDLA who wish to continue in the Master of Landscape Architecture (MLA) program at the University of Hong Kong will be granted a fast-tracked application process.

PDLA students engage in a broad range of core landscape architecture studies covering the history of the discipline, landscape materials and their technologies, representational methods, and studio design. Topical issues addressed during the program currently include issues such as urbanism, human settlement, community and heritage, public space, green infrastructure, impacts of climate change, environmental remediation, conservation, and sustainable development.

Students are exposed to diverse approaches to a broad range of environmental, contextual and problem-solving challenges. Students will build individual skills as develop their abilities to work productively in groups. As with any studio-based learning, this program features a high degree of one-on-one instruction but also expects students to develop self-initiating and reflective work methods.

The PDLA program extends over one year (three semesters) of full-time study. There is no part-time mode. The curriculum and syllabuses can be found at the Faculty of Architecture website:

https://www.arch.hku.hk/programmes/dla/postgraduate-diploma-in-landscape-architecture/

The composition fee for the 2023-2024 academic year is HK$169,000 (Subject to approval and excluding expenses for materials, books, and printing).

Applications for a taught postgraduate programme can be downloaded and submitted via our on-line application system:

https://www.aal.hku.hk/tpg/

Submission Requirements

1. Fully completed application form
2. Application fee
3. Official transcripts from all post-secondary school institutions that you have attended
4. Official scores from TOEFL or IELTS etc (if applicable)
5. Two letters of reference (referee’s report) by previous teachers or professional employers submitted by the referees directly to the University of Hong Kong. Please use the designated forms.
6. A portfolio of your creative work: no larger than A4 size, and ideally, having no more than 20 pages (double-sided). See Portfolio Guidelines below.
7. An academic statement of purpose: you should submit a written statement that addresses your background as it relates to your professional and academic interests and your motivations in applying to the Postgraduate Diploma in Landscape Architecture program. The statement must be entirely your own work, written in English, and no more than 1000 words.
8. Brief Curriculum Vitae (1 Page).

Portfolio Guidelines

• Your portfolio is a visual essay of your creative and intellectual abilities. It should express your interests in environment, community, and design issues and reflect your analytical abilities and problem-solving experience. Your portfolio will not be evaluated on competence in landscape architectural design. You might consider including images or works of studio art, photography, industrial and graphic design, creative writing, website design, video, sketchbooks or other representational media. Labels and writing should be kept to a minimum but sufficient to explain the work.
• Proper credit and context must be given on all work shown including clear indication of the author, collaborators, and professional office in which the work was completed or academic course and instructor for which the work was completed, where relevant. Failure to properly credit work may result in the portfolio being discounted.

Admission is both rigorous and competitive. Candidates should show that they:

• Have an appreciation for the natural and built environment and its communities;
• Are critical and articulate thinkers; and
• are motivated, collaborative and willing to learn.

The PDLA Admissions Panel selects candidates for interview based on their academic background, working experience, letters of recommendation, personal essay, and portfolio of creative works. Admission is offered on the basis of both interview performance and original submissions.