World Landscape Architecture is calling for entries for the 2025 WLA Student Awards, an annual international awards program that recognises the work of current and graduate students and universities. Students often explore new ideas, typologies, and paradigms, providing the industry with fresh ideas that challenge and further the discourse of landscape architecture.
Jury
The 2025 WLA Student Awards has a world-class jury to review and acknowledge the best student work in design, analysis and planning. This year’s jury includes the following jurors.
Panita Karamanea
Assistant Professor of Architectural Space and Landscape Design,
School of Architecture NTUAthens, March NTUA, MLA & PhD UTP ETSABarcelona UPC.
Wang Ling
Associate Professor, Doctoral Supervisor, and Chair of the Department of Landscape Architecture, School of Design, Shanghai Jiao Tong University.
David D. Pearson
Lecturer, Landscape Architecture Program in School of Architecture, Clemson University.
William Shivers
Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, University of Hong Kong.
Categories
Student Awards
Entrants can enter the following categories:
- Conceptual Small Design – (Smaller than 2,000 sq. metres/20000 sq. foot) – landscape design concepts (examples: gardens, pocket parks, art installations, temporary installations, memorials, etc)
- Conceptual Large Design – (Greater than 2000 sq. metres/20000 sq. foot) landscape design concepts (examples: waterfront, brownfield, greenfield, large park, wetlands, repurposing etc)
- Conceptual Analysis and Planning – design or research that must include analysis and planning of a site. (Do not submit pure design projects that have no analysis)
- Graduate Award – Design, Analysis or Research project submitted to a University.
If you doubt which category you should enter, review the past winners.
University Award
Universities can enter the following category:
- Design Studio – landscape design studios that seek to further the profession through advancing the understanding of environmental, social or economic (or all three) issues. This may include partnerships and collaborations with other institutions.
The Design Studio category is only open to universities not students.
Eligibility
Conceptual Awards – Students should be enrolled or recently graduated (2023-2025) in a university program including Landscape Architecture, Landscape Engineering, Landscape Design, Architecture, Urban Design, Urban Planning, Environmental Design, and Horticulture or similar courses.
Graduate Awards – Students should have been enrolled in or graduated from a university program in the past two years (2023-2025), including Landscape Architecture, Landscape Engineering, Landscape Design, Architecture, urban design, urban planning, and horticulture or similar courses.
***UPDATE*** Teams can enter the Student Awards if at least one member of the team is enrolled in or graduated (2023-25) from a university program including Landscape Architecture, Landscape Engineering, Landscape Design, Architecture, Urban Design, Urban Planning, Environmental Design, and Horticulture or similar courses.
Entries that have won an award (Award of Excellence, Merit Award or Honour Award) in previous years are not eligible for entry.
Students enrolled in courses at the same University as a juror are still eligible to enter. However, the juror will be ineligible to score any student from their university or associated univeristy/organisation. An average score from the other jurors will be used.
University Award – This is a new category for 2025. Any university with an accredited landscape architecture program (accredited by government or professional organisation, e.g., CLARB, AILA, SILA, etc.) can enter the University Award. The studio should have been completed between January 2022 and July 2025.
Fees
Student Award (Conceptual and Graduate categories) – $50AUD (Approx. 35USD, 30EURO, 25GBP, 235CNY) Purchase via the WLA Shop
University Award (Design Studio Award) – $150AUD (Approx. 100USD, 90EURO, 75GBP, 705CNY) Purchase via the WLA Shop
Deadline
Deadline for all entries (Student and University) is August 22, 2025 – 11:59PM Honolulu, HI, USA Time.
Entry Requirements
Student Award (Conceptual Small Design, Conceptual Large Design, Conceptual Analysis & Planning and Graduate Awards)
The entries must use the template provided and are a maximum five (5) A3 format pages (including Project Description Page and Image Pages) collated into one pdf (single pages not spreads) for judging. Entries must use the Entry Template that is provided via download link after purchasing the registration.
- Project Description Page is the first page is one (1) page of text (maximum 500 words – no images)
- Images Pages are the next four (4) pages with project images (multiple images can be placed on
each image page). Each image can include a 25-word maximum caption. The captions are optional. Do not include large amounts of text on images for Conceptual category entries. You can include short labels (place names, legends, etc) but not paragraphs of text. Entries with large paragraphs of text on the images will be disqualified. - Complete the page footer, which must include the Project Name (name of the project), Category
and Entry Number(same as order number). - The entry number (the entry number is the same as order number provided via email) and project name shall be shown in the locations as per the template.
- Do not change the font, font style or font size in the template for any text, including the footer.
- No student or university names or recognisable graphics/logos within the text or images. You will provide the student/s name and information in the Entry Email.
- Student Award submissions shall be less than 10Mb in pdf format. The PDF file only needs to be at a screen resolution (96 dpi) for jurors to review.
- Submissions must be in English
- All submissions must be submitted by email to [email protected] and include the following
Attachment (we do not accept links to services such as dropbox, onedrive or QQ)
– Entry PDF file – file named with Entry number, Project Name (maxiumum 35 characters, Category (E.g. 61025-Green Garden-Conceptual Small.pdf). The entry pdf file should be 5 pages (single pages).
Email Text
– Email Subject – Entry Number, Project Name, Category (e.g. 61025-Green Garden-Conceptual Small)
– Email Text include the following:
– Entry Number, Project Name
– A list of student/s entering, university name, program (e.g. landscape architecture) and supervisor (if applicable)
– A copy of the Student ID or IDs if a group submission in jpg format. We need this to verify that you are a student or recently graduated.
– Was artificial intelligence used in the production of images or text for this entry (Yes/No). If Yes what was produced using artificial intelligence? - Please ensure that you have thoroughly checked the PDF files before submitting. We will no longer accept updated or revised entries.
University – Design Studio Award Entry Requirements
The entries must use the template provided and are a maximum five (5) A3 format pages (including Studio Description Page and Image Pages) collated into one pdf (single pages not spreads) for judging. Entries must use the Entry Template that is provided via download link after purchasing the registration.
- Design Studio Description Page is the first page is one (1) page of text (maximum 1000 words – no images). You should include a description about the design studio, learning outcomes, collaborations and how the studio advanced the profession and related issues.
- Images Pages are the next four (4) pages with design studio images to illustrate the description text (multiple images can be placed on each image page). Examples of images can be diagrams (learning outcomes, pedagogy, methodology, studio sessions (site visits, meetings, etc), and student work (credited). Each image can include a 25-word maximum caption. The captions are optional.
- Complete the page footer, which must include the Category, Entry Name (name of the studio or similar), and Entry Number.
- The entry number (the entry number is the same as order number provided via email) and entry name shall be shown in the locations as per the template.
- Do not change the font, font style or font size in the template for any text, including the footer.
- No university names or recognisable graphics/logos within the text or images (suggestion to photoshop any university logos (including sports teams, etc) in the background or student wearing univeristy merchandise/apparel. You will provide the University name and information in the Entry Email.
- University Award submissions shall be less than 10Mb in pdf format. The pdf file only needs to be screen resolution (96 dpi) for juries to review.
- Submissions must be in English
- All submissions must be submitted by email to [email protected] and include the following
- Attachment (we do not accept links to services such as dropbox, onedrive or QQ)
– Entry PDF file – file named with Entry number, Entry Name (maxiumum 35 characters, Category (E.g. 81025-Working with -Studio Award.pdf). The entry pdf file should be 5 pages (single pages).
Email Text
– Email Subject – Entry Number, Project Name, Category (e.g. 61025-Green Garden-Conceptual Small)
– Email Text include the following:
– Entry Number, Entry Name
– University name, program (e.g. landscape architecture), Studio Name, Studio Leader/Supervior and any associated lecturer, tutor, teacher/coordinator (if applicable)
– Was artificial intelligence used in the production of images or text for this entry (Yes/No). If Yes what was produced using artificial intelligence? - Please ensure that you have thoroughly checked the PDF files before submitting. We will do not accept updated or revised entries.
Awards
Student Awards
The following awards may be awarded to winners
- Award of Excellence – includes a digital pdf certificate and $AUD250 prize money.
- Outstanding Award – includes a digital pdf certificate.
- Honourable Mention Award – includes a digital pdf certificate.
Shortlisted entries will receive a shortlisted digital pdf certificate.
All winners and select shortlisted entries will be published on WLA.
University Award
The following awards may be awarded to entrants.
- Award of Excellence – includes a digital pdf certificate.
- Outstanding Award – includes a digital pdf certificate.
- Honourable Mention Award – includes a digital pdf certificate.
Shortlisted entries will receive a shortlisted digital pdf certificate.
All University Award winners will be published on WLA.
FAQ – Frequently Asked Questions
Is the registration for one or more categories?
A WLA Student Awards Registration is for one (1) entry in any of the WLA Student award categories. E.g. If you wish to enter two projects in two categories you need to purchase two entries.
My entry was shortlisted last year. Can I enter it again?
Yes, you can enter a shortlisted award that did not win an Award of Excellence, Merit or Honour Award.
Can I enter two categories?
Only if the entry meets the category’s eligibility criteria, you will need to purchase a registration for each entry.
I can’t find my order/entry number?
The order number you receive after purchasing a registration entry is your entry number and can be found in the first email you receive. If you do not receive your order email with 24-48 hours after purchasing, please contact [email protected] A purchase with multiple entries will receive separate emails with additional order/entry numbers within 24-48 hours.
There are multiple files in the zip/rar file. Which one do I use?
We provide the template in various file formats, including Indesign, PDF, EPS and Powerpoint. You only need one format to create your entry submission, which is one pdf file.
Can I put images on the first page?
No, the first page is for text only. No images, graphics, logos or other representation should be placed on the first page.
Can I put more than one image per image page?
Yes, you can place as many images on one page (excluding the Project Description Page) as you wish.
Can I change the border, font, layout, etc of the Template?
No changes should be made to the template to maintain equality between the entries. The font, border, entry number location and size, and layout should be as supplied in the template.
Can I put text on the images?
Text can only be put on images to provide captions or labels or critical information such as labels, place names, chart title or axis, legends, section title, etc on a plan or diagram. No long text such as paragrNo long text, such as paragraphs, etc., should be placed on images.
Can I include links (to websites or videos) in the entry submission?
No, the submission should be plain text and images.
Can I include a video or audio in the entry submission?
No. As the jurors volunteer their time, they have a limited amount of time to review entries and, therefore, do not have time to review videos or audio submissions.
Can I send the entry pdf file as a link?
No. Do not send links to services such as Werransfer, Dropbox, OneDrive, QQ, or similar. Submissions with file links will not be accepted.
Please submit questions not answered above to [email protected]
