Horticulture (final year top-up) BSc (Hons)
| Program start date | Application deadline |
| 2023-07-27 | 2023-04-01 |
| 2023-10-01 | 2023-07-01 |
| 2024-01-05 | 2023-10-01 |
| 2024-04-01 | 2024-01-01 |
Program Overview
Introduction:
This course develops your academic and applied horticultural skills to degree level. You’ll deepen your knowledge of plant and crop development, as well as looking at green-space management. Your learning will include the modern production methods and management of plant crops, agronomy, and post-harvest issues. You’ll explore the current issue of international food security, developing the scientific and technical knowledge, skills and experience to help tackle this challenge.
Study at NTU's rural Brackenhurst Campus. You'll develop your skills in our specialist facilities including the glasshouse complex, a covered hard landscape unit, workshops, Computer Aided Design (CAD) studio, general drawing studio and historic gardens.
Gain fieldwork experience to cultivate your skills. Visit sites and gardens of particular interest in the UK and Europe on study trips.
We're ranked 3rd in the UK for the number of undergraduate students on sandwich courses studying agriculture, food and related studies (HESA, 2021/22).
We're in the top 15 in the UK for Agriculture and Forestry courses (Complete University Guide 2023).
Program Outline
What you’ll study
This course explores both regional and international green spaces. You'll look at the development of spaces for specific communities, and evaluate and devise strategies for their management. You'll also examine the role of social, economic and cultural influences on the development of designed landscapes. This includes looking at the creation and management of future sustainable landscapes.
Year One
Keystone Project
Select an original project of your choice, set within your chosen subject area, that identifies a suitable issue or topic of professional interest. With the aid of a nominated supervisor the Keystone Project is aimed at encouraging connection and engagement with real-world issues and enterprises.
International Landscape Strategies
Develop your critical understanding of the philosophy for aesthetics and style of international designed landscapes and your appreciation of the chronology of such landscapes and gardens. Create solutions for unique environments that reflect the needs of the individual. group or community. You will also devise changes that would encourage positive experiences of the developed environment. This involves reflection of the impact design elements have on the human psyche.
Project Management
You will conduct and present a 'real' integrated management project for the horticultural industry or research sector. This will help develop your professional skills for critically reviewing project management processes and evaluating the effectiveness for achieving project outcomes. Your work will be carried out as part of a project team.
Agronomy
Develop an understanding of theoretical knowledge and field based skills in plant and crop production for indoor and outdoor crops. This module includes a mixture of lab and agronomy based fieldwork, that explores the productions aspects of crops in addition to husbandry and post-harvest issues of food and plant production.
Global Politics, Issues and Ethics
Explore issues relating to sustainable production, food security and the global supply chain and gain an overview of current policy at global, EU and national level. Also, investigate issues of global concern such as the implications of climate change.
How you’re taught
You'll learn from our expert teaching staff who have substantial industry experience and specialist areas of interest within the landscape and horticulture sectors through a combination of practical sessions, seminars and lectures. You'll also benefit from our strong links with industry through lectures from visiting guest professionals and inspiring workshops.
Please note that field trip locations may vary and are subject to availability and change.
Contact hours
Lectures/ seminars/ workshops (21%), independent study (79%)
Careers and employability
Your future career
This broad-based degree will open up a wide range of career opportunities. Graduates find employment in professional consultancies, government bodies and local authorities.
Placement opportunities
This course includes an optional year-long placement in industry. We have links with a range of horticultural and agricultural supply chains, crop and ornamental growers, government agencies, and landscapers and designers.
Placements are an excellent opportunity to both explore a potential career avenue and to build on experience, and it can lead to a Placement Diploma in Industrial Studies.
NTU Enterprise
You'll also have the opportunity to turn your ideas into a viable business with help from NTU Enterprise, NTU's purpose-built Centre for Entrepreneurship and Enterprise, a support centre to help students create, develop and grow their own businesses.