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Are you interested in the layout of the Netherlands of the future? Do you want to have an impact on our environment and be part of creating its better future? In this half-year pre-master programme of the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture, you will be introduced over a short space of time to the fields of Urbanism and Landscape Architecture. The pre-master programme is suitable for students from art schools or other relevant study programmes. You will learn the most important professional knowledge and develop an essential foundation in terms of design skills.
Good to know
The pre-master programme is suitable for students from art academies or other relevant programmes, as well as professionals. If you succesfully complete the pre-master's programme, you will be better prepared for a master's programme at the Academy of Architecture. What is unique to this pre-master is that we combine the fields of Urbanism and Landscape Architecture. The Academy believes in the importance of urbanists, landscape architects and architects thinking andworking in an interdisciplinary manner.
The pre-master's programme is not intended for students who are directly eligible for admission to the Master's programme in Urbanism or Landscape Architecture, nor for people who wish to use the pre-master's programme as a “refresher course” or as better preparation for the Master's programme.
The pre-master's programme in Urbanism & Landscape Architecture takes place once a year. You start in January and finish in June. Application fortheJanuary 2026 pre-master's programme is nowclosed. Application fortheJanuary 2027 pre-master's programme will open in mid-September 2026.
The pre-master Urbanism & Landscape Architecture has three fixed lesson times per week:
Tuesday from 19:30 – 22:30
Thursday from 19:30 – 22:30
Friday from 09:30 – 16:30
In addition, we occasionally organise activities during the day on other moments during the week. Please keep in mind that the programme is subject to change. You will receive your timetable once your application has been accepted.
The pre-master will go ahead in the event of a minimum number of eight participants. You will know whether the pre-master will definitely be going ahead no later than six weeks before the start of the pre-master.
The course fee for the pre-master’s programme for the academic year 2025–2026 is €1.300.
This amount does not include additional costs for study materials, excursions, literature, or food and drinks during workshops.
Application & admission
In order to be able to start the pre-master, you will need the following prior education:
- You have completed a study programme at an art school (Dutch level HBO). Are you unsure whether you have a relevant previous education? View the overall guidelines here, or the list of matching Dutch diplomas here. Please contact us at avb-premasters-minors@ahk.nl if you have questions about admission. Don't forget to include your diploma and transcript so that we can review your application.
- You are a professional who would like to pursue a master's course in Urbanism or Landscape Architecture, but your previous education lacks important professional knowledge or design skills.
- You have a command of English at level B2 (Dutch: Havo level) of the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR), or equivalent.
In your motivation letter, clearly state why you want to follow the Pre-Master's in Urbanism & Landscape Architecture at our academy. What is your goal in completing the Pre-Master's?
The portfolio must be submitted as a PDF file. Please limit your portfolio to a maximum of about twenty pages. A good portfolio consists of:
- A wide variety of your design work. These are projects from your previous education and/or from your professional practice. Preferably as diverse as possible.
- Own projects in which you show what your design qualities are. In joint work you state exactly what your role was in that project. Or projects that you initiated and designed yourself.
- Various design work - in scale - in which you show which design skills you have mastered. Don't just show final results. Also initiations in sketch stage and ideas. And images such as floor plans and cross-sections and surroundings in different scales, details, etc.
- Various design work – in images – in which you show what your visual skills are, such as hand sketches, models, visuals, diagrams and models.
- Work from relevant work experience or courses with which you can show your design knowledge
- Your own fascinations within the profession – make sure you show us this!
Please use the online application form for the Pre-Master's in Urbanism & Landscape Architecture to send us your CV, motivation letter, portfolio, diplomas and other qualifications. We will assess your suitability for the Pre-Master's programme.
What you learn
- You will be introduced to historical and contemporary ideas about city and countryside.
- You will increase your insight into the profession of Urbanist and Landscape architect.
- You will learn through practical challenges; you will design and experiment a lot yourself.
- You will get inspired by visiting professionals and various excursions.
- And: when you have successfully completed the pre-master programme, you are prepared for a possible Master’s degree at the Academy of Architecture.
After your pre-master
If you successfully complete the pre-master in Urbanism & Landscape Architecture and receive a positive recommendation from the tutors, you will have a better chance of being admitted to the master's course at the Amsterdam Academy of Architecture. Please note: completing the pre-master does not automatically guarantee admission to the master's course. As with other Bachelor's students, we will assess your final admission on the basis of your portfolio and letter of motivation.