BTEC National Diploma (qualifications are offered by EDEXCEL) - Horticulture (ND Hort).

(Qualification recognised for Associate Membership of the Institute of Horticulture.)

Normally two year courses consisting of 18 course units. The courses equip students for skilled and supervisory horticultural posts. The courses are equivalent to three GCSE A2 levels.

Students should possess four GCSE subjects at Grade C or above (or four GCE "O" levels/ CSE equivalents). Alternative acceptable entry qualifications are City and Guilds NCH. Although desirable, students do not necessarily have to have completed one year of practical work before entering the college.

The courses provide a broad range of practical skills and knowledge to enable successful students to enter the industry with the benefit of a comprehensive technical and practical training in horticulture. The first college year is of a general nature to develop an understanding of the principles and practices of horticulture and it includes a substantial science component. The final college year normally involves studying in greater depth a specialist branch of horticulture, but some courses have a more general final year. The industrial "sandwich" year is spent working at an establishment approved by the college. Students are required to become proficient at a number of skills, projects are undertaken and reports are prepared for the college. Students are assessed by written examinations, tests through projects, assignments and course work throughout the two years. All individual units are assessed, including an externally assessed Individual Vocational Assignment (IVA).

Courses are available in both general and specialised aspects of Commercial and Amenity Horticulture together with Retailing and Mechanisation.

UNIVERSITIES AND COLLEGES OFFERING COURSES IN HORTICULTURE:
NATIONAL DIPLOMA COURSES

Askham Bryan College amenity horticulture (with a variety of specialist options); urban forestry

BCA options in parks & gardens management, landscape design, garden centre management

Bishop Burton College horticulture - 2 years full-time

Brackenhurst Campus (Nottingham Trent University) horticulture - 2 year course.

Bridgwater College, Cannington Centre for Land-based Studies, Agriculture, Countryside Management

Brooksby Melton College horticulture, including landscaping and nursery practice

Capel Manor College landscape studies (garden landscape, design, construction and maintenance); rural studies (countryside skills and conservation); professional gardening (garden design, maintenance, crop propagation production); arboriculture

Chichester College - Brinsbury Campus landscape studies

Derby College - Broomfield Hall general horticulture (3-year sandwich) with options: professional gardener; landscape construction and maintenance; urban woodland management; countryside and conservation (2-year sandwich); floristry (2-year sandwich) with options: interior landscaping/greenhouse production or European studies/foreign language

Duchy College Two years full-time with options in landscape, plantsperson and commercial production and, where appropriate, linked to the Eden Project

East Durham & Houghall College environmental studies, land use and recreation, horticulture

Easton College amenity horticulture

Greenmount College amenity horticulture full time (2 year sandwich) with placement period in industry

Guildford College of Further and Higher Education, Merrist Wood Campus arboriculture; landscape construction & amenity horticulture; garden design, golf studies, countryside management

Hadlow College commercial horticulture with options of glasshouse and protected crops, nursery stock, commercial fruit production and floristry. Design Crafts, Garden Design, Landscape Construction, Landscape Amenity.

Kingston Maurward College (Dorset) amenity horticulture, landscaping, plant knowledge, contract management, arboriculture and sports turf, countryside management

Moulton College amenity horticulture (2year sandwich course), aboriculture (2 year sandwich course)

Myerscough College Horticulture; Arboriculture; Landscape; Sportsturf; Conservation

Nottingham Trent University (Brackenhurst) Horticulture, Agriculture, Animal Management, Horse Management

Otley College business and finance (environmental landscape services); landscaping, interior landscaping, sports turf technology, arboriculture, floristry, conservation

Pershore Group of Colleges - Pershore Centre amenity horticulture; commercial crop production; nursery stock production; garden centre sales and operation; landscape technology; countryside studies; garden design & construction

Reaseheath College landscape and amenity horticulture, and option in sports turf

Rodbaston College amenity and commercial horticulture

Sparsholt College decorative horticulture; golf course and sports ground management, forestry.

University of Lincolnshire & Humberside horticulture

Warwickshire College horticulture with options in horticultural technology, plant production, landscape and environmental horticulture, turf culture and greenkeeping, floristry, tree management and arboriculture

Welsh College of Horticulture horticulture with options in nursery & garden centre practices; landscape technology: landbased machinery; floristry

Wiltshire College Lackham professional gardening, floristry

Writtle College amenity horticulture (with specialist pathways), floristry, 3-D design (interior & exterior)