NC Horticulture

Course overview

This course will reflect the current trends in the industry and give you the recognised skills and knowledge to develop your career in the horticulture industry.

You'll improve your practical skills and techniques whilst widening your understanding and identification of plants.

Virtual Experience

Take a look around the SRUC Virtual Experience for lots of great student videos and examples of what it’s like to study our courses, along with campus and facility tours.

You'll be expected to have a minimum of 3 National 4s including English.

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

What you'll learn

A range of topics will be covered during the course including:

soft landscaping
general and specialist planting
trees and shrubs
basic botany, machinery
estate maintenance
plant nutrition
plant husbandry
introductory garden design
plant identification
lawns and lawn care

Example modules include

Introduction to Plant and Soil Science
Introductory Horticulture
The Growing Process
Right Plant: Right Place
Machinery Maintenance and Use

Meet the Lecturer

Grant Skillen

Grant has been a member of our Horticulture and Landscape lecturing team at Oatridge Campus for over 18 months.

He has worked in the horticulture industry for nearly 25 years, mainly as a wholesale plant nursery manager but also has experience in the plant health department at the Scottish Government.

With a passion for plants and extensive industry knowledge, he provides an informative and enthusiastic approach to teaching on the NC Horticulture and Garden Design course.

View Grant's Pure profile

Course Funding

Full-time students of NC Horticulture can apply for a Further Education Bursary.

Once you’ve accepted a place, we’ll email the bursary funding online application. Complete the application and return it along with any required documents. You should apply even if you're still waiting for exam results.

Tuition fees are waived for students who qualify for a bursary.

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: Any care experienced students studying full time can apply for a bursary of around £202.50 per week. Find out more from our student funding teams at registryfunding@SRUC.ac.uk
Education Maintenance Allowance: Students between the ages of 16-19 who meet specific criteria may be entitled to an EMA. This means-tested allowance depends on the income of the home the student stays in.
Discretionary Fund
Childcare