Garden Design HNC

This design-led course, written in conjunction with one of the country’s top garden designers, is ideal for those seeking a career in garden design and who want a high level professional qualification.

The course aims to develop the design skills of those who wish to become self-employed garden designers or work within the landscape industry.

As well as spending one day at College each week, you will be expected to carry out a minimum of twelve hours personal study per week. On the course you are encouraged to produce imaginative and accurate designs and to recognise the most appropriate use of plants and materials. In addition to garden design, you will study plant use, the use of hard landscape materials, surveying, horticultural science, and project management.

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.

This course can open up career opportunities for students in the garden and landscape industry, working in a design and build capacity.

Alternatively, successful completion of the HNC will allow progression to further higher education courses, including HND and Honours degrees.

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

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

Admissions Office
01905 855111
admissions@worc.ac.uk

Pershore College Admissions
01386 551187
jfreeman@warkscol.ac.uk

160 UCAS tariff points

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

Plant Use & Knowledge
Horticultural Science
Introduction to Garden Design
Surveying & Design
Plant Use & Design
Establishing & Managing a Small Business
Garden Design: Principles & Practice
Landscape Levelling & Construction

Assessment

A wide range of assessment methods is used to test a range of student skills. Assessment types include design projects, end tests, plant identification exercises, written reports, oral presentations and practical assessments.

Anne Guy

Student, Garden Design HNC

“The HNC Garden Design course provided me with the necessary skills, knowledge and confidence to embark on a new career in garden design.”

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 garden designer and project manager and who could seek self-employment or employment within a design team in the landscape or amenity horticulture 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 Amenity Horticulture and Landscape Design can be studied.