Get extensive experience through hands-on learning while discovering the science behind plants and their importance to our planet.
Our course is ideal if you want to explore different areas of horticulture, and understand the impact of horticulture and plants.
You’ll have access to an extensive plant collection on campus, take part in visits to parks and gardens, and gain experience of commercial trial work. We’ll also encourage you to undertake a summer placement during your course, to further develop your practical skills and knowledge.
Chartered Institute of Horticulture
Our horticulture courses are endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and are constantly updated to keep pace with this fast-changing and dynamic industry.
Why ARU?
Make the most of our research glasshouse, laboratories and extensive plant collection, alongside our farms and fields
Immerse yourself in horticulture on our extensive countryside campus
Reap the benefit of our long-standing reputation for education in horticulture
Our small class sizes ensure a personal approach to learning, and guidance tailored to you
Be inspired by our cutting-edge research, which includes innovative vertical, horizontal and hydroponic growing systems
Use our extensive industry network to help you develop your own sector links
It's possible to study this course part-time. You'll take the same modules as BSc (Hons) students, but sometimes in a different order or in different years.
As a part-time student you'll study for twice as long as full-time students, so your degree will take six years to complete. If you choose to add a foundation year, your degree will take eight years to complete.
The foundation year will prepare you for the rest of your course, and focuses on general skills such as researching and referencing, numeracy and ICT, and communication. We'll also start to look at some more subject-specific topics.
Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.
There's a demand for trained horticulturalists and it's an exciting time to be entering the profession.
Research by LANTRA, the sector Skills Council, indicates that over the next few years there will be 3,000 vacancies at graduate level in the horticultural industries. Issues such as food security, climate change, and the relationship between access to green space and the health agenda means the need for trained landscapers and horticulturists will increase.
A high proportion of horticulture graduates find full-time positions within six months of graduating. Some of the roles that our students have gone on to work in include:
local authority parks officers
education officers with the Royal Horticultural Society and local authorities
technical officers in research establishments
field trial officers
journalists
self-employed landscape gardeners.
At ARU Writtle we have strong links with industry and encourage you to undertake a summer placement during your BSc Horticulture course. This gives you further opportunities to develop your practical knowledge, along with other skills that employers value such as communication and teamwork.
