Organic Horticulture HNC

This well established Organic Horticulture course is ideal for those interested in a career change or for those who are already working in horticulture.

The HNC in Organic Horticulture is a part-time course (one day per week over two years) validated by the University of Worcester and taught at Pershore College.

Using our organically certified facilities, students develop a sound knowledge of organic principles and standards. The course is broad-based and covers both the growing of edible crops and the management of ornamental gardens.

Pershore College is the West Midlands’ Regional Centre for the Royal Horticultural Society, the national headquarters of the Alpine Garden Society and holds the National Philadelphus and Penstemon collections for the National Council for the Conservation of Plants and Gardens.

To view more details about this course, please visit the Pershore College website.

Factfile
Entry requirements
Course content
Student views

Progression

After completing the course students can progress onto further higher level qualifications, such as HNDs, Foundation Degrees or Undergraduate degrees. They could also gain employment in the industry that the course is geared towards.

Study options

This course is taught at Pershore College (part of Warwickshire College) in collaboration with the University of Worcester. Pershore College is a centre of vocational excellence for Horticulture.
Two years, part-time study
Pershore College has Centre of Vocational Excellence status for Horticulture and has had organically certified facilities for more than 20 years

Get in touch

Admissions Office
01905 855111
admissions@worc.ac.uk

Pershore College (part of Warwickshire College)
Admissions:
Tel: 01386 551187
cstayte@warkscol.ac.uk
www.warkscol.ac.uk/pershore

160 UCAS Tariff points.

The college welcomes applications from students with relevant work experience who do not have full formal academic qualifications. Accreditation of Prior Learning will be considered.

The University will consider each application on its individual merits and will recognise a range of qualifications not currently included in the Tariff, including Access courses, European Baccalaureate and pre-2002 qualifications such as GNVQ.

If your qualifications are not listed, please contact the Admissions Office for advice on 01905 855111 or email admissions@worc.ac.uk for advice.

Further information about the UCAS Tariff can be obtained from http://www.ucas.com

Modules

Principles of Organic Horticulture
Plant Propagation
Horticultural Science
Plant Use & Knowledge
Introduction to Organic Crop Production
Mechanisation & Finance
Organic Pest & Disease Management
Garden Management & Maintenance

Assessment

A wide range of assessment methods has been devised to test a range of student skills. Assessment is through a mix of coursework and written tests.

The coursework includes reports, an ecological survey, crop plan, garden maintenance schedule, propagation trial and real-life growing, marketing project, practical projects, investigations, presentations and examinations (including practical examinations).

In addition to the one day a week at Pershore College you will need to spend additional time on assignment work.

Nicola Dale

Student, Organic Horticulture HNC

“It’s been an amazing two years and a truly outstanding course. It’s given me the confidence to say ‘I can do this’.”

Academic department

Institute of Science & the Environment

“The Institute’s acclaimed research in areas such as river management, rural issues, forensic biology, nutrition and archaeology has a common thread: our belief that science should be centred around its impact on people.”
Professor John Newbury, Head of Institute

Employability

The programme has been developed for someone who intends to enter the industry as a small-scale grower or gardener and who could seek self-employment or employment within these sectors. There are also openings in teaching and training, horticultural therapy, journalism and the media.

Alternatively, successful completion of the HNC can lead to direct entry into the second year of the HND Horticulture where a pathway in Organic and Sustainable Horticulture can be studied.