• Studying
• Choosing a course
  • Undergraduate courses
  • Graduate entry courses
• How to qualify
• Paying for training
  • Grants
  • Student loans
  • Four year accredited programmes
  • Bursaries
  • Special circumstances
  • Work while you learn
  • Postgraduate Courses
  • Flexible learning
  • Career Development Loans and bank loans
  • Special circumstances
  • Work while you learn

Four year accredited programmes

Many undergraduate entry accredited programmes in landscape architecture are of four years duration, consisting of a ‘package’ of two qualifications such as a degree followed by a diploma year. You will need to complete all four years of the accredited programme to qualify for Licentiate membership of the LI.

Under current arrangements (ie for those applying to begin courses in 2011), you should be able to get the same financial support for the fourth year of your programme as for your degree provided that

• you indicate that your course is of four years duration when you first apply for your loan
• the qualification awarded at the end of the fourth year is not a post-graduate qualification (such as an MA)

If you would prefer to graduate with an Masters level qualification, most universities offer you the opportunity to top up your diploma to a Masters by undertaking further modules, or offer an Masters award as an alternative final year. However, you may need to self finance some, or all, of your final year. University course teams will be able to advise you further on funding for your fourth year and the options they offer.

If you are applying for a course in Scotland, where the standard length of degree is four years, and the standard award is an MA rather than a BA you should be eligible for funding for the full four years even if you are exiting with an MA award.