The Joint Master Programme in Cultural Heritage Landscapes and Design, offered by the National Technical University of Athens (NTUA) and Heidelberg University (UHD), is an interdisciplinary initiative that combines the complementary strengths of both institutions, fostering a rigorous and competitive environment. The programme critically explores the relationship between heritage, environment, and contemporary design, addressing challenges such as climate change, sustainability, and urban transformation. It offers a comprehensive framework integrating theoretical inquiry, methodological tools, and applied approaches to heritage management and planning across diverse spatial contexts. Drawing on architecture, landscape and urban design, cultural studies, and digital technologies, the curriculum balances preservation and innovation while cultivating the knowledge and skills needed for professional roles in heritage protection, interpretation, and strategic development. Positioned as a platform for academic excellence, the programme advances research, promotes international engagement, and delivers a high-quality educational experience with distinct European added value.
Cultural Heritage Landscapes and Design
Athens (NTUA) +
Heidelberg (UHD)
Partners
National Technical University of Athens (NTUA)
Heidelberg University (UHD)
Programme Key Details
Length
2 years
Language
English
Starting
October 2027
Locations
Athens, GR / Heidelberg, DE
Traineeship
Koumasa, Crete, GR
Degree
Joint Master Degree - M.A.
After Graduation
With a master degree in “Cultural Heritage Landscapes and Design”, graduates are well prepared to pursue further academic research, including PhD studies at leading universities and research institutions.
Thanks to its interdisciplinary and intercultural character, the programme opens up a broad spectrum of career opportunities across the cultural, public, and private sectors.
Graduates are equipped to work in:
- Public authorities and heritage agencies responsible for the conservation and protection of monuments and cultural landscapes
- Government bodies and policy institutions working in cultural affairs, cultural diplomacy, and international cooperation
- Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and cultural foundations
- Research institutions and universities, including participation in national and European research projects
- International organizations dedicated to heritage protection and promotion (e.g. UNESCO, ICOMOS, ICCROM)
- Private sector firms, particularly in architectural restoration, landscape design, and heritage management
- Organizations specializing in digital heritage and cultural innovation, including digitisation and cultural informatics
- Museums, archives, and cultural institutions involved in the management and interpretation of cultural heritage
- Tourism organizations and cultural tourism agencies focusing on sustainable development and heritage promotion
Added Values
Τhe programme equips graduates with a unique profile, a hybrid professional identity that bridges past and future, theory and practice, local and international perspectives, opening pathways to careers in cultural landscape, heritage management and sustainable environmental development.
- Interdisciplinary approach combining architecture, landscape design, archaeology, and heritage policy
- Hybrid skill set enabling both analysis and design/management of cultural landscapes
- Strong theory–practice balance through design studios, taineeship in Crete, and real-world case studies
- Hands-on experience with heritage conservation, policy frameworks, and digital tools
- International study environment across Athens and Heidelberg
- Exposure to diverse contexts in Northern and Southern Europe, fostering intercultural competence
- Career versatility spanning academia, cultural institutions, planning, and design practice
- Focus on contemporary challenges including climate change, sustainability, and development
- Innovative “design with heritage” approach linking critical thinking with creative action
Students' Work
UN-COVER UN-TIE UN-MUTE Multidisciplinary Approaches and Archaeological Museolization in the Archaeological Landscape of Koumasa, Crete
Walking and Discovering the Hillside Palimpsest of Gortyna, Crete
