Professional Gardening HNC

This course, based at Pershore College, is ideal for people with a keen interest in horticulture and who want a professional qualification.

The course covers a broad range of subjects and is ideal for those wishing to develop a career in estate gardening.

The course utilises the excellent resources at Pershore as well as those of local gardens and horticultural businesses. As well as spending one day each week at Pershore College, you will be expected to undertake a minimum of twelve hours of personal study each week.

Although not essential, students are encouraged to seek work in Professional Gardening whilst on the course, in order to gain extra valuable practical experience. With this in mind, the College has contact with the Professional Gardeners’ Guild and the Women’s Farm and Garden Association, both of which may be able to assist students with employment and further practical training.

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 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

Location of Study
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, 1 day per week

Get in touch

University of Worcester Admissions Office
01905 855111
admissions@worc.ac.uk

Pershore College Admissions Office
01386 551187
cstayte@warkscol.ac.uk
www.warkscol.ac.uk/pershore

160 UCAS Tariff points

Applications are welcome from students with relevant work experience who do not have full formal academic qualifications. Accreditation of Prior Learning will also 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

Horticultural Science
Plant Use & Knowledge
Plant Propagation
Introduction to Garden Design
Mechanisation & Finance
Plant Use & Design
Garden Maintenance & Management
The Production Garden

Assessment

A wide range of assessment methods has been devised to test a range of student skills. Assessment types include seminar papers, tests, reports, presentations and examinations (including practical examinations).

Tim Feline

Student, Professional Gardening HNC

“I really benefited from Pershore’s HNC Horticulture course. It was hard work but the knowledge and enthusiasm of the staff and fellow students fired my imagination and widened my horizons.”

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

This course can provide access to career opportunities in garden management, teaching/education and contract management.

Alternatively, successful completion of the HNC will allow progression to further higher education courses, including Foundation degree and BSc (Hons).