Two students and a lecturer in the middle of a brightly-lit field of grass, collecting and examining specimens
BSc (Hons)

Horticulture

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.

ARU in Writtle has an established reputation as an educator of horticulturists, and our degree is endorsed by the Chartered Institute of Horticulture – the organisation that represents the horticulture profession.

As a graduate, you’ll have a good range of practical horticultural and business skills and be ready to make a start on your career.

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Key facts

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Entry requirements

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Fees and paying for university

Facilities

Study a horticultural degree at ARU in Writtle and enjoy:

  • access to an extensive plant collection on campus
  • visits to enterprises, parks and gardens
  • experience of commercial trial work
  • research and tropical glasshouses
  • our 150-hectare campus with its mixed working farm, which is home to crop fields, sheep, pigs and cattle
  • undertaking research in our new Superlabs on our Lordship campus.

A day in the life of a Horticulture student: take a guided tour.

Accreditation

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.

Chartered Institute of Horticulture logo

Lecturers

Read profiles of teaching and research staff on this course.

Careers

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.

Graduation doesn't have to be the end of your time with us. You might decide to at ARU and study for a Masters, such as our MSc Horticulture or MSc Crop Production (Horticulture).

Apply for Horticulture

UK students

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International students

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Part-time courses

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Aerial view of campus buildings and grounds in Writtle

Life in Writtle

Close to major cities, ARU Writtle is located on a picturesque 150-hectare campus in the heart of the Essex countryside.

Explore the Writtle campus