All the Turkish landscape architecture schools include compulsory internships, though the duration varies. Most universities have particular staff responsible for student internships. As there are many landscape architecture schools in Turkey, it is hard to generalise about them internships. It is better to contact departments directly to obtain correct information. Most landscape architecture departments provide some information on their web pages and some of them have English versions. As the internship is regarded as an integral part of the curriculum, the students are usually not paid. You can access the listing of some landscape architecture schools in Turkey by clicking the ECLAS list on: http://www.eclas.org/content/directory/landscape_schools/landscape_schools_main.php
Knowledge of Turkish is generally required but those who cannot communicate in Turkish may have a chance with some of the architectural and civil engineering companies. It is best to get in touch with employers directly.
Contacts
UCTEA* Chamber of Landscape Architects (http://www.peyzajmimoda.org.tr/ ) publishes annually a “Landscape Architecture Sector Catalogue” which includes contact details of employers. There are also a few web sites which provide listings of some employers (www.peyzajonline.com, www.peyzaj.org ). Unfortunately currently they all are in Turkish. However some landscape offices have English versions of their web sites. “Peyzaj” is the Turkish word for “landscape” and you can use it while using search engines on internet.
*Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects
Jobs
Currently graduates have opportunities to work in design and planning offices and nurseries as well as governmental organisations such as the State Planning Organization, Ministry of Environment and Forestry, Ministry of Tourism and Culture, Ministry of Energy and Natural Resources, municipalities etc. However there are still some difficulties in finding a career opportunity due to economic reasons and lack of institutional and legal recognition of the profession. Some hotels and resorts provide seasonal or full time positions in Mediterenean and Aegean regions. There are also a few recent graduates employed by GIS software companies to develop landscape planning and design modules.
The Chamber of Landscape Architects web page is the best source of job advertisements (http://www.peyzajmimoda.org.tr/PeyMimArayan.asp). The advertisements are also placed in national papers (eg Hurriyet, Sabah). Academic staff can also be very helpful to find a job. You can access Law on The Work Permit For Foreigners on http://www.calisma.gov.tr/CGM/Law_Work.htm. Knowledge of Turkish will be an advantage but one who can’t communicate in Turkish may have a chance with some architectural and civil engineering companies. It is best to get in touch with human resources departments of the companies.
Newly graduates are usually paid around 300-350 Euros monthly which is not enough to cover average living expenses, especially if you are paying for accomodation.
When applying for a vacancy it is advised to include your portfolio with your CV. You will probably be asked for an interview. You are expected to have skills on CAD softwares (mostly AUTOCAD®). Skills of additional drawing and graphic softwares such as Adobe® Photoshop®, Corel Draw® and 3Dmax® are also useful. When applying for a vacancy in nurseries, a reasonable knowledge of plants and planting techniques are required. If you need further assistance you can contact Ankara University, Department of Landscape Architecture on cakci@agri.ankara.edu.tr.
Isil Cakci, November 2005