HNC Horticulture

Course overview

Places for Horticulture at Glasgow Botanic Gardens 2020 are now full.

This course will teach you the fundamentals of horticulture, and give you an awareness of the different sectors of the industry. It will look at nursery production, maintenance of gardens and greenspace and plant retailing, among other subjects.

There's plenty of opportunities to develop practical skills as well as your knowledge of plants and their cultivation.

Your knowledge of plant identification, propagation, growing on and garden maintenance will be backed by sound business knowledge.

Entry requirements

Two Highers (CC) including a science subject.

National 5 (A-C) or equivalent pass in English and Maths.

Alternative entry qualifications, such as a related National Certificate, are also accepted.

Applicants with a mature attitude who are seeking a change in career will be assessed individually.

What you'll learn

Much of your learning will be practical, like horticultural techniques for plant propagation, potting, pruning and growing on as well as plant trials and garden maintenance. At the end of the course, you'll put it all to the test by creating your own outdoor plot.

Guided walks through college grounds and Glasgow's Botanic Gardens help to develop your plant identification skills, and there are frequent visits to growers, nurseries and gardens.

Example modules include:

Horticulture: Plant Recognition and Use
Soil Management
Plant Growth & Development
Plant Physiology
Nursery Production

Meet the lecturer

James Crichton

James launched the HNC Horticulture course for SRUC at Glasgow's Botanic Gardens. He teaches a broad mix of knowledge and skills, from plant physiology through to practical horticulture.

Before joining SRUC, James had sixteen years of experience in the amenity horticulture sector, as well as three years working in Horticultural Therapy with the NHS.

View James' Pure profile

Bill Mackay

Programme Team Leader

Before his career in education Bill worked in management within the private sector. Now he's responsible for operational leadership of the Rural Business Management Programme in our South and West campuses.

He produces and delivers modules from 1st year through to Masters on subjects including Management theory, Finance and Business Planning.

Bill is also External examiner for Duchy College, Cornwall and is developing materials for the University of Edinburgh MSc in Poultry.

View Bill's Pure profile

Fees and funding

Eligible full-time students studying HNC Horticulture should apply to SAAS for fees and funding. A student loan is also available to help students with living costs.

If you do not apply, you will have to pay your fees yourself and if you have studied at HNC/D/degree level before SAAS may not pay your fees.

More information about funding your course

Find out more about your payment options for this course in our fees and funding section

Fees and funding

Other possible routes to funding

Care experienced bursary: There are a number of bursaries available to care-experienced students studying full time. Find out more from our student funding teams at: registryfunding@SRUC.ac.uk
Discretionary fund
- SAAS student bursary
- Care Experienced Accommodation Grant
- Childcare
- Going further bursary
- RUK bursary (for students from outside Scotland)
- The Gregor Thomas Royan Lamb Bursary for Future Farmers
- Centenary bursary
- Change your path bursary