HND Horticulture (Plantsmanship)

Location: Edinburgh
Study mode: Part time (2 years), full time (2 years)
Subject area: Horticulture
Start date: September 2025
Agency code: 454D

Course overview

Delivered jointly by SRUC and The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), this course is strongly focused on ‘plantsmanship’ — the area of horticulture that covers knowledge of the diversity of plants and their cultivation.

It also provides a good understanding of other aspects of horticulture and plant science, integrating the management of plant collections with knowledge of plant distribution, classification, diversity, structure, identification, recognition and cultivation.

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.

SRUC holds open days regularly. Visit our listings page for details of our up-coming events.

Entry requirements

Two Highers (CC) including a science subject.

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

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

Mature applicants seeking a change in career will be assessed individually.

What you'll learn

Year one consists of the HNC Horticulture. You'll have your own garden plot, and the opportunity to undertake extensive work experience in a range of garden sections at the Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh.

In year two, you'll choose and work on a specialist project in something that interests you, as well as specialising in subjects relating to the horticulture of botanic gardens.

For a little peak behind the scenes have a look at these videos, where students Anna Ciborowska and Sarah Powell show you some of the things they've learned during their first year on the course.

A week in the Life of a Plantsmanship Student
Potting Bulbs
Plant Recognition
Pressing Plants

Example modules include:

Plant Classification and Systematics
Designing and Managing Plant Collections
Landscape Design History
Ecology and Conservation

Student experience

Cecily Withall had some experience of working in horticulture in Italy, but she wanted to increase her knowledge. She chose to study the HND in Horticulture with Plantsmanship at SRUC.

“In the first year we were given an area within The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh that we had to design and plant using the techniques we were learning," she said. "Everyone put their hearts into it, and the plants really grew because of that.

"Anyone looking to really engage, learn, work harder than they thought possible and get stuck into the world of horticulture — this is the course for you."

You'll work side by side with inspirational horticulturists who are eager to take you under their wing.

Cecily Withall

Fees and funding

Eligible full-time students studying HND Horticulture with Plantsmanship 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 & 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

HND Horticulture (Plantsmanship)

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