General Information This course involves 25 weeks of college work and skills training and a four week practical learning period (PLP) in a Teagasc approved horticultural unit. In an average week, students will spend three days at the college and two days skills training in Botanic Gardens or Dublin Local Authority Park.

The Level 5 in horticulture equips the learner with a skills and knowledge in the varied and interesting field of Horticulture. This course involves 25 weeks of college work and skills training and an 8 weeks practical learning period (PLP) in a Teagasc approved horticultural unit. In an average week, students will spend four days at the college

This introductory horticultural course is suitable for people who wish to:

• Make their careers in horticulture
• Assess their area of preference in horticulture
• Develop knowledge and skills in horticultural areas
• Progress to an Advanced Certificate in Horticulture
• Transfer to linked courses through the Higher Education Links Scheme (HELS)

The course consists of 28 weeks course work at a horticultural college and a four- week practical learning period with an approved horticultural unit. Course work concentrates on scientific and economic principles underlying horticulture and the application of these principles to particular enterprises.

The four-week practical training period may be in garden centres, nurseries, amenity parks, golf courses or fruit and vegetable production units.

Horticulture plays a central role in creating, maintaining, and enhancing the landscapes we live in. Trained Horticulturists play a key role in creating beautiful places for recreation and relaxation. Parks, golf courses, public and private gardens would not be possible without skilled people to design, build and care for them. Even fresh fruit and vegetables, key to a healthy lifestyle, are produced by horticulturists.

Horticulture is a diverse industry with wide-ranging career opportunities, from producing plants for garden centres, working on golf courses, or landscaping, right through to fruit and vegetable production.

This course is a fulltime, one year advanced course for students wishing to progress into careers in the horticultural sector. It provides education and training for people who wish to pursue a career in commercial or amenity horticulture. It is delivered over a 32 week period, consisting of either 24 or 16 weeks of College based course work, and 8 or 16 weeks of a practical learning period (PLP) depending on the chosen stream.

The course, which is a progression from the Level 5 Certificate in Horticulture, is accredited by QQI. This course provides students with the opportunity to acquire management knowledge and skills to effectively manage and carry out day-to-day tasks and long-term management of commercial horticultural enterprises.

The course is suitable for those:

• Seeking employment as surpervisors, technicians, unit managers
• Seeking employment in the horticultural business service sector
• Transferring to Year 2 of the BSc Horticulture offered by Waterford IT

The course will be offered in four main streams of learning: Food Production, Nursery Production, Landscaping and Sports Turf depending on student demand. Students complete one of the four streams.

Students will spend 16 weeks of practical learning on approved horticultural units within the industry directly linked to their chosen learning stream. This will enable students to learn the management and manual skills associated with their chosen specialism.

Sixteen weeks are also spent at the College. The emphasis during this course is both on the development of business and management skills and also on developing proficiency in a range of skills associated their chosen stream of learning.

Students who successfully complete this programme are awarded the QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture. This meets the training requirements for Stamp Duty Exemption and DAFM Schemes.

The purpose of this award is to enable the learner to acquire the knowledge, skill and competence to supervise work in a range of horticultural areas using specialised skills. The course is a fulltime, one year advanced course for students wishing to progress into careers in the horticultural sector. It provides education and training for people who wish to pursue a career in commercial or amenity horticulture.

The practical element of the course will take place in the gardens of Birr Castle Demesne.

This course is a fulltime, one year advanced course for students wishing to progress into careers in the horticultural sector. It provides education and training for people who wish to pursue a career in commercial or amenity horticulture. It is delivered over a 32 week period, consisting of either 24 or 16 weeks of College based course work, and 8 or 16 weeks of a practical learning period (PLP) depending on the chosen stream.

The course, which is a progression from the Level 5 Certificate in Horticulture, is accredited by QQI. This course provides students with the opportunity to acquire management knowledge and skills to effectively manage and carry out day-to-day tasks and long-term management of commercial horticultural enterprises.

The course is suitable for those:

• Seeking employment as surpervisors, technicians, unit managers
• Seeking employment in the horticultural business service sector
• Transferring to Year 2 of the BSc Horticulture offered by Waterford IT

The course will be offered in four main streams of learning: Food Production, Nursery Production, Landscaping and Sports Turf depending on student demand. Students complete one of the four streams.

Students will spend 16 weeks of practical learning on approved horticultural units within the industry directly linked to their chosen learning stream. This will enable students to learn the management and manual skills associated with their chosen specialism.

Sixteen weeks are also spent at the College. The emphasis during this course is both on the development of business and management skills and also on developing proficiency in a range of skills associated their chosen stream of learning.

Students who successfully complete this programme are awarded the QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture. This meets the training requirements for Stamp Duty Exemption and DAFM Schemes.

This course is a fulltime, one year advanced course for students wishing to progress into careers in the horticultural sector. It provides education and training for people who wish to pursue a career in commercial or amenity horticulture. It is delivered over a 32 week period, consisting of either 24 or 16 weeks of College based course work, and 8 or 16 weeks of a practical learning period (PLP) depending on the chosen stream.

The course is suitable for those:

• Seeking employment as surpervisors, technicians, unit managers
• Seeking employment in the horticultural business service sector
• Transferring to Year 2 of the BSc Horticulture offered by Waterford IT

The course will be offered in four main streams of learning: Food Production, Nursery Production, Landscaping and Sports Turf depending on student demand. Students complete one of the four streams.

Students will spend 16 weeks of practical learning on approved horticultural units within the industry directly linked to their chosen learning stream. This will enable students to learn the management and manual skills associated with their chosen specialism.

Sixteen weeks are also spent at the College. The emphasis during this course is both on the development of business and management skills and also on developing proficiency in a range of skills associated their chosen stream of learning.

Students who successfully complete this programme are awarded the QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture. This meets the training requirements for Stamp Duty Exemption and DAFM Schemes.

This course is a fulltime, one year advanced course for students wishing to progress into careers in the horticultural sector. It provides education and training for people who wish to pursue a career in commercial or amenity horticulture. It is delivered over a 32 week period, consisting of either 24 or 16 weeks of College based course work, and 8 or 16 weeks of a practical learning period (PLP) depending on the chosen stream.

The course is suitable for those:

• Seeking employment as surpervisors, technicians, unit managers
• Seeking employment in the horticultural business service sector
• Transferring to Year 2 of the BSc Horticulture offered by Waterford IT

The course will be offered in four main streams of learning: Food Production, Nursery Production, Landscaping and Sports Turf depending on student demand. Students complete one of the four streams.

Students will spend 16 weeks of practical learning on approved horticultural units within the industry directly linked to their chosen learning stream. This will enable students to learn the management and manual skills associated with their chosen specialism.

Sixteen weeks are also spent at the College. The emphasis during this course is both on the development of business and management skills and also on developing proficiency in a range of skills associated their chosen stream of learning.

Students who successfully complete this programme are awarded the QQI Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture. This meets the training requirements for Stamp Duty Exemption and DAFM Schemes.

Horticulture plays a central role in creating, maintaining, and enhancing the landscapes we live in. Pretty, pollinator-friendly floral displays are the backdrop in our thriving tourist towns. The pristine golf courses and pitches we compete on, and the beautiful parks, gardens, and urban landscapes we relax in would not be possible without the skills and knowledge of Ireland’s trained horticulturists. 

With a focus on environmentally friendly practices and innovative technologies, this degree equips you with the knowledge and skills to become a competent and confident leader in the horticulture community. By studying core science subjects and specialist horticulture and environment modules, you will gain an understanding of sustainable management of food and ornamental plant production, knowledge of protecting and enhancing biodiversity and habitats, designing and managing landscapes, and the benefits of horticultural therapy.

This is a QQI level 4 course and is also available to VTOS applicants if eligible. It provides students with a general all-round knowledge in key aspects of horticulture. Students are offered a good balance of practical and theory-based skills including: growing vegetables, horticultural practice, plant care and identification. This course will enable you to gain an understanding of the fundamentals of horticulture with real hands-on experience.