Doctoral studies in the scientific field of landscape architecture is education for research work in this field. The focus of landscape architecture is planning future conditions in space, which is not basically a research activity.

Research into landscape architecture is nevertheless of key importance for establishing a reliable basis of knowledge on which planning solutions are based. The basic fields of research are professional theories, for example, theory of design, form, structure, examples in the landscape, theory of perception of the landscape and methodologies of the profession, research and development of new approaches/methods of planning. As one of the planners' activities, landscape architecture connects knowledge of various natural science and social science disciplines, such as geomorphology, ecology, hydrology, spatial sociology, ecological psychology etc. Specific needs for knowledge appear within landscape architecture, which individual research fields develop with their own research methods. Doctoral studies in the field of landscape architecture are directed to recognising these needs and developing a capacity to use the scientific instruments of various scientific disciplines for the needs of landscape planning problems.