Full Time BSc (Hons) Horticulture

BSc (Hons) Horticulture

UCAS Code
Honours: D410 / Ordinary: D417

Duration&Mode
3 years FT or 4 years with industrial placement

Typical Offer:
UCAS Tariff Points
140 tariff points to include at least 80 tariff points from 6-unit (GCE A-Level/VCE A-Level) and/or 12-unit awards (VCE A-Level). A maximum of 20 tariff points will be counted from Key Skills

BTEC National Diploma
MPP

OCR National Extended Diploma (18 Units)
P2

Irish Leaving Certificate
CCCC

Scottish Highers
190 - 240 points

International Baccalaureate
24 points

Postgraduate Qualifications
Students on this course will be given the opportunity to progress to a relevant Masters programme in the Postgraduate School.

Course Aims This course is ideal for students who wish to keep their options open and not specialise in a particular area of horticulture. It is suited to those who have limited experience of the horticultural industry and who wish to follow a broad approach before deciding on their future career. On completion of the course, students will have acquired a good range of practical horticultural and business skills to equip them for a career in a wide choice of fields.

Course Content In the first year students are introduced to the wide range of subjects that make up the modern horticulture industry, covering aspects of scientific and management studies relevant to the needs of the industry. In the second and third years students choose from an extensive range of optional modules. In most modules, time is equally divided between practical studies and lectures.

Special Features Writtle currently offers specialist degree programmes in a wide range of horticultural disciplines. Students on this course have access to an extensive range of optional subjects offered in other degree programmes, and can select a pathway through the degree to suit their individual preferences.

Students who have a pass at HND, Foundation Degree or its equivalent can join the final year of the honours degree programme. Depending on previous experience a personalised course of study is arranged for students from the extensive range of modules offered. On successful completion of the course these students are awarded a BSc Horticulture.

Industrial Placements Writtle has an extensive range of placements on offer and students are given comprehensive advice and support to ensure that they find a suitable placement. The majority of the placements are in paid employment but some students may choose to work for voluntary agencies. The industrial placement is optional on BSc programmes, but many students find that this is an invaluable experience. Each year a number of students choose to spend part or all of their placement abroad.

Career Prospects Students with this qualification can enter a broad range of fields including supervisory posts with crop production or landscape companies, trainee retail managerial schemes, horticultural officers with local authorities, research work, teaching and lecturing positions.

• Horticulture Resources
• Centre of Excellence for Horticulture

Student Comment
After completing the Foundation Degree in Professional Floristry I decided to 'top up' to the Honours Degree in Horticulture and as I hadn't had much experience in a garden environment I thought taking a year's work placement would be a good idea before coming back to Writtle to finish my course.

I was accepted for a place working with the National Trust for Scotland on their Organic Gardening Studentship at Kellie Castle in Fife. I learnt a huge range of skills on this placement, including growing fruit and vegetables, pruning roses and old fruit trees, machine maintenance, driving tractors, and propagating new plants as well as the normal day-to-day jobs such as cutting grass and weeding.

Working with the National Trust for Scotland was an excellent experience in itself as I was working with some very knowledgeable gardeners and horticulturists who were all keen to teach me new techniques. I was also provided with accommodation in the form of a beautiful little cottage in the castle grounds with views of the sea and I became familiar with all sorts of wildlife such as deer, badgers, buzzards and mice!

I was also encouraged to use the skills I had already learnt at college when I demonstrated at the castle's Christmas Wreath making workshop, as well as working with the flower arrangers in the castle and cutting flowers from the garden for them to use. I made so many friends during the year that I am still in touch with and I am certain that the contacts I made in the industry will be useful when I come to finding employment after my degree.

Heidi Baker
BSc (Hons) Horticulture