Featured


Courses

SETU Waterford offers a broad range of academic programmes from levels 6 to 10 on the national framework of qualifications across Business, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science and Computing.

Courses Landing page

Study at SETU Waterford

Discover the routes into studying at SETU Waterford for school leavers, adult learners, further education students, graduates and people who have already started studies elsewhere as well as options for those interested in online courses.

Study at SETU Waterford landing Page

Students

Discover the routes into studying at SETU Waterford for school leavers, adult learners, further education students, graduates and people who have already started studies elsewhere as well as options for those interested in online courses.

Students Landing Page

Schools

SETU Waterford offers a broad range of academic programmes from levels 6 to 10 on the national framework of qualifications across Business, Education, Engineering, Health Sciences, Humanities, Science and Computing.

Schools Landing Page

International

The Office for International Relations co-ordinates the admission, administration and support for international students throughout the course of their studies at SETU Waterford.

International Landing Page

Research

SETU Waterfordis recognised as the leading research performer in the institute of technology sector with research activities that are internationally benchmarked, strategic, and economically relevant. Find out about the amazing multi disciplinary research under way

Research Landing Page

About

Discover the routes into studying at SETU Waterford for school leavers, adult learners, further education students, graduates and people who have already started studies elsewhere as well as options for those interested in online courses.

About Landing Page

News

Uncover the research discoveries, student and staff achievements, human stories, community spirit, global links and external engagement news at SETU Waterford

News Landing Page

Events

From virtual events to conferences, talks, public lectures and happenings in on-campus venues SETU Waterford is a hub of activity. Stay up to date with our calendar of upcoming events.

Events Landing Page
Code
SE506
Delivery
Fulltime
Cao points
🛈226 -498
Level
7
Campus
Cork Road
Duration
3 years
Credits
180 ECTS
Placements
Available
Study Abroad
Yes
International Applications
Accepted
arrow-down

Video: Why study horticulture at SETU Waterford

BSc in Hort Student Handbook 2023-2024 (Kildalton College)

What is Horticulture?

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. Equally, a year-round sustainable supply of fruit, vegetables and flowers is only achieved because Hort scientists and producers make it so. There’s a role for our hort graduates along every step of the way.  Horticulture is a diverse industry and career opportunities are wide-ranging from producing plants for garden centres, working on golf courses, or landscaping, right through to fruit and vegetable production.

What is the BSc in Horticulture course?

The SETU Waterford BSc. in Horticulture course is a full-time, 3-year course designed to train professional horticulturists. Our students study STEM-rich horticulture modules, undertake work placement, gain business acumen, and graduate from the course having specialised in two major streams of hort study. We place great importance on experiencing the industry and making contacts; our students learn about their industry throughout the whole 3 years by taking frequent field trips to the best horticulture businesses. We recognise that Horticulture students especially enjoy the hands-on work involved in horticulture therefore we ensure that classroom and lab work is balanced with plenty of practical work to practise the skills learned during the course.

The Hort course is run in conjunction with Teagasc. Students can choose to study in one of two locations. Please note, that separate CAO codes are used for the two locations.

  • Location 1: Study in Waterford, at SETU Waterford and in Teagasc, Kildalton College. Course code for the Kildalton course is SE506.

  • Location 2: Study in Dublin, at the Teagasc College in the National Botanic Gardens. Course code for the Botanics course is SE507.   

Kildalton College - course code SE506

Students on the SE506 course study both at SETU Waterford and at Kildalton College, Piltown, Co. Kilkenny. Our collaboration with Kildalton College, Piltown ensures students benefit from the skills and expertise of Teagasc staff. The dual-campus course facilitates study of laboratory-based scientific modules and business modules on SETU Waterford's main campus in Waterford City, while Hort-based modules are delivered in Kildalton College where you have access to extensive glasshouses, orchards, grounds and Hort machinery. A free bus service operates between Kildalton and SETU Waterford.

BSc in Horticulture placement

One of the unique features of the BSc. in Horticulture in SETU Waterford is that semester 2 of year 2 is spent on paid work experience with a registered employer in Ireland, or abroad. This 15-week work placement is an opportunity for students to practise the key horticultural skills learned in college and to also to work as part of a team in a busy horticultural business.

We ensure all our placements are student-focused; we endeavour to place students in thriving and busy work placements where they will grow in confidence, and develop a wide skills base to enhance their employment prospects upon graduation. Teagasc has links with Ohio State Horticulture Internship Programme, and every year some of SETU Waterford’s Hort students travel abroad on work placements in the UK, Europe and the USA. Many students who complete their work placements abroad are employed beyond the 15-week minimum period therefore spend the summer working with their hosts and usually earn the standard industry wage for that position. In recent years, Summerhill Landscapes in New York has been one such employer who kindly sponsored our students to extend their working visas in the USA. In practical terms, this means that such students are in college from September to December of year 2, but spent the following January to late August with their work placement hosts.

Horticulture for Small Holders, the ‘Green Cert’, and Spraying Certification with DAFM.

As well as horticultural knowledge, graduates of the course are deemed to have achieved the equivalent of the Green Cert for Stamp Duty exemption for land transfer for young farmers. ‘Green Cert’ status is incredibly useful when our students realise the potential returns when they have access to a few acres, and the key horticultural and business knowledge required to capitalise on that smallholding. In addition, graduates of the course are eligible to apply for ‘Professional User/Sprayer Operators’ Certification (with the DAFM) which is a necessity for use of plant protection products. 

 

Follow us on social media:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Linkedin

Youtube

What will I study during the course?

Many horticulturists are managers or self-employed therefore need business acumen as well as horticultural skills; we have designed the course with this in mind.

 BSc in Hort Student Handbook 2023-2024 (Kildalton College)

Year 1

Introduces you to the diverse world of horticulture where the focus is on learning core horticultural skills and the science which underpins them. Our students are provided with training in plant cultivation and knowledge and they learn about the influence of the many environmental conditions required to grow plants. You will learn how to germinate and grow seedlings, take cuttings and propagate them, and also learn a range of horticultural skills such as pruning, training and planting of trees, shrubs, perennials, bulbs, and bedding plants. Study of soil science ensures a good understanding of the role and importance of growing substrates, and you will also learn about plant pests, diseases, and weeds. In addition, you will receive instruction and get plenty of practice time on many types of horticulture machinery and tools. Learning how to work safely with this machinery, troubleshoot, and carry out preventative maintenance are important work skills. You also will learn about laws regulating the use of chemicals in the environment including how to calibrate knapsack equipment, apply sprays correctly, and how to handle, store and dispose of plant protection products to ensure that the environment is protected. 

Year 2 

Along with a semester-long work placement, you will specialise in a specific area of horticulture by selecting one major elective from the following list:  Landscape Design, Nursery Stock Production, Sustainable Food Production, Sportsturf Science, and Lab Skills for Plant Micropropagation. You will also learn how to maintain and enhance biodiversity in horticultural settings, and further the plant knowledge gained in year 1 to a stage where you can confidently select the right plant, for the right place.

Year 3

You will research a horticulture subject of personal interest using our extensive research facilities and expertise, while our hort-themed business modules ensure you have the entrepreneurial knowledge to further enhance your employment prospects. You can revisit the major module list from year 2 and choose an additional major stream of study. In the final semester, you complete your research project and an Arboriculture module will teach you to care for amenity trees. In the last semester, you can choose two minor electives from a comprehensive list which includes: Garden Centre Operation and Management, Greenkeeping, Fruit Production, Social and Therapeutic Horticulture, Computer Aided Design, Floristry, and Beekeeping and Pollination Studies.

Year 1
Semester 1Semester 2
Communication Skills and Computer ApplicationsChemistry for Land Scientists
Horticulture Skills 1Horticulture Building Construction
Plant BiologyHorticultural Mechanisation and Safety
Plant Knowledge 1Horticulture Skills 2
Plant ProtectionPlant Knowledge 2
Soil and Growing MediaPlant Propagation
Year 2
Semester 3Semester 4
Biodiversity and Horticulture Placement
Managaing your Business
Garden Management and Plant Selection
Choose one of the following Major electives:
*Sustainable Food Production
*Landscape Design
*Nursery Stock Production
*Sportsturf Science
*Lab Skills for Plant Micro-Propagation (Waterford Only)
* = elective module
Electives are run subject to class sizes and timetable constraints. Some electives require prerequisitesTransfer students who have already undertaken placement as part of their previously completed qualification, will be required to complete 6 other modules.
Year 3
Semester 5Semester 6
Horticulture Sales and Marketing Arboriculture
Introduction to Scientific Writing and Data Analysis Horticulture Project and Seminar
Financial Analysis for your businessLaw for Horticulturists
People ManagementTax for Horticulture
Choose one of the following electives (must be different from the choice made in year 2):*Field Crop Prodution
*Sustainable Food Production*Garden Centre Operations
*Landscape Design*Greenkeeping
*Nursery Stock Production*Landscape Design Advanced
*Sportsturf Science*Plants and Society
*Lab Skills for Plant Micro-Propagation (Waterford Only)*Beekeeping and Pollination Studies
*Computer Aided Design
*Interior Landscaping and Floristry
* = elective module*Protected Crop Production
Electives are run subject to class sizes and timetable constraints. Some electives require prerequisites*Social and Therapeutic Horticulture

​Leaving Cert: Minimum entry requirements for BSc in Horticulture:

5 subjects: O6/H7
English or Irish: O6/H7
Mathematics: O6/H7

  • Entry to Year 2 of the SETU BSc in Horticulture requires a full Level 5 award in Horticulture (The Certificate in Horticulture with the course code 5M2586), and also a full Level 6 Award in Horticulture (The Advanced Certificate in Horticulture with the course code 6M4334). One of these awards must have been at merit level overall for entry to the degree. Entry is also subject to applicants completing a short bridging studies component.
  • Students who have completed the old National Diploma or Certificate in Horticulture under the aegis of the Department of Agriculture, ACOT or Teagasc can apply to transfer into Year 3.

Advanced and Equivalent Entry for BSc in Horticulture:

What jobs are available to horticulture graduates? 

The Horticulture industry is diverse and vibrant and demands a constant supply of trained, skilled, and knowledgeable Horticulturists. In a 2016 survey of our graduates of the previous 5 years, 88% of respondents secured full-time employment within 3 months of finishing the BSc. in Horticulture. Having graduated with more than two major streams of study, many of our graduates have multi-stream businesses of their own. For instance, some of our graduate entrepreneurs run businesses which have a nursery and garden centre on site, while they also provide landscape design and floristry services providing income streams in all seasons, and true variety in their working life.

The following are just a few positions in which our graduates are currently employed:

Follow on study for BSc in Horticulture graduates:

Driving licence:
Although not essential, prospective students should obtain at least a learner driver permit, or driving licence for Class B or W vehicles before starting the course. This will allow students gain greater experience on a wider range of the excellent suite of machinery available in Kildalton College.

Equipment:
Students need to obtain the following equipment before starting the course. 

  • A sturdy pair of work boots or shoes with steel toecaps. 
  • Rain gear, work trousers with pockets, and a warm hat and gloves. 
  • A good quality pair of gardening gloves.
  • A high visibility coat, or a high visibility singlet for over a coat is also required.  

Health and Wellbeing:
By their nature, horticulture-related activities can often lead to scratches from thorns, etc. If worried about this, it is recommended that you consult with your medical practitioner regarding any health risks that might arise and precautions you should take (e.g. tetanus risk).

Showcase your growing journey with SETU’s #WeLoveHort video competition

Showcase your growing journey with SETU’s #WeLoveHort video competition

Read more
Deserving winner of the inaugural SETU Vicky Phelan Equality, Diversity & Inclusion award announced  

Deserving winner of the inaugural SETU Vicky Phelan Equality, Diversity & Inclusion award announced  

Read more
Youth group participants explore careers in forestry and horticulture at SETU’s experience days

Youth group participants explore careers in forestry and horticulture at SETU’s experience days

Read more
Ferns native wins SETU horticulture bursary and spends two months in the Scilly Isles ‘cultivating’ her skills

Ferns native wins SETU horticulture bursary and spends two months in the Scilly Isles ‘cultivating’ her skills

Read more
Louth student wins SETU travel bursary, travelling to California to complete his work placement

Louth student wins SETU travel bursary, travelling to California to complete his work placement

Read more
SETU Celebrates Women in Land Sciences on International Women’s Day

SETU Celebrates Women in Land Sciences on International Women’s Day

Read more
Horticulture student Pedro Roche awarded 2022 Una McDermott Travel Bursary

Horticulture student Pedro Roche awarded 2022 Una McDermott Travel Bursary

Read more
Inaugural SETU Science and Land Science Awards

Inaugural SETU Science and Land Science Awards

Read more
Horticulture students off to San Francisco and South of France thanks to bursary win

Horticulture students off to San Francisco and South of France thanks to bursary win

Read more
How SETU Horticulture graduate Eddie turned his hobby into a budding career

How SETU Horticulture graduate Eddie turned his hobby into a budding career

Read more
‘Continuous assessment’ of course choices urged as CAO opens for applications

‘Continuous assessment’ of course choices urged as CAO opens for applications

Read more
New hub to help grow Waterford student entrepreneurial potential launched

New hub to help grow Waterford student entrepreneurial potential launched

Read more
Teen spirit behind new Native Irish Tree Trail for future generations

Teen spirit behind new Native Irish Tree Trail for future generations

Read more
How to use level 6 and level 7 to progress your educational goals

How to use level 6 and level 7 to progress your educational goals

Read more
WIT claim title at 2021 Great Agri-food Debate

WIT claim title at 2021 Great Agri-food Debate

Read more
WIT team to participate in first virtual Great Agri-Food Debate

WIT team to participate in first virtual Great Agri-Food Debate

Read more
WIT Ag Science lecturer publishes new book on field research

WIT Ag Science lecturer publishes new book on field research

Read more
WIT signs up to new five-year plan to keep bees buzzing

WIT signs up to new five-year plan to keep bees buzzing

Read more
A hotel with too many vacancies

A hotel with too many vacancies

Read more
WIT mature student awarded Uversity Scholarship

WIT mature student awarded Uversity Scholarship

Read more
Horticulture student plays part in getting Green Flags for Waterford

Horticulture student plays part in getting Green Flags for Waterford

Read more
Horticulture student Sean discovers rare Bee Orchid at WIT campus

Horticulture student Sean discovers rare Bee Orchid at WIT campus

Read more
WIT signs up to the All Ireland Pollinator Plan

WIT signs up to the All Ireland Pollinator Plan

Read more
Advice from our mature students to others

Advice from our mature students to others

Read more
Student Achievement: Carl Maycock

Student Achievement: Carl Maycock

Read more
From pharma to farming - employers invited to book stands for WIT Science Careers Day

From pharma to farming - employers invited to book stands for WIT Science Careers Day

Read more
Horticulture at SETU fitted with Eoin’s interests and career ambitions

Horticulture at SETU fitted with Eoin’s interests and career ambitions

Read more
Danish Ambassador to Ireland visits WIT

Danish Ambassador to Ireland visits WIT

Read more
Julie returned to college to complete her degree

Julie returned to college to complete her degree

Read more
Horticulture students to get access to one of the great gardens of the world

Horticulture students to get access to one of the great gardens of the world

Read more
Work placement saw Luke help wake garden from its winterish slumber

Work placement saw Luke help wake garden from its winterish slumber

Read more
In the news: the variety and opportunity horticulture offers

In the news: the variety and opportunity horticulture offers

Read more
In the news: Dr Cara Daly writes about routes into horticulture

In the news: Dr Cara Daly writes about routes into horticulture

Read more
Sean explains how interest in positive environmental change led to course choice

Sean explains how interest in positive environmental change led to course choice

Read more
Bealtaine Living Earth Festival breathes a breath of fresh air into May

Bealtaine Living Earth Festival breathes a breath of fresh air into May

Read more
In photos: Science Careers Day 2019 at WIT

In photos: Science Careers Day 2019 at WIT

Read more
Perceptions of Irish Culture discussed at lunch time seminar

Perceptions of Irish Culture discussed at lunch time seminar

Read more
David returned to education to pursue a more practical career

David returned to education to pursue a more practical career

Read more
National Botanic Gardens leads Hui on a new path of Botany study

National Botanic Gardens leads Hui on a new path of Botany study

Read more
Horticulture career focus: The gift of gardening from a craft gardener at Blarney Castle & Gardens

Horticulture career focus: The gift of gardening from a craft gardener at Blarney Castle & Gardens

Read more
Research key to right course choice for student who loves the outdoors

Research key to right course choice for student who loves the outdoors

Read more
Natasha always wanted to work outdoors, with a horticulture degree she can

Natasha always wanted to work outdoors, with a horticulture degree she can

Read more
From Fetac Level 5 to degree in National Botanic Gardens (Dublin)

From Fetac Level 5 to degree in National Botanic Gardens (Dublin)

Read more
Horticulture career focus: Arabian Gulf League stadium and training pitches maintenance

Horticulture career focus: Arabian Gulf League stadium and training pitches maintenance

Read more
WIT celebrates a year of milestones at the National Ploughing Championships

WIT celebrates a year of milestones at the National Ploughing Championships

Read more
“A Gardener’s Look” portrait of Una McDermott presented to WIT

“A Gardener’s Look” portrait of Una McDermott presented to WIT

Read more
Horticulture career focus: Maura Clarke, Horticulturist, Glanbia

Horticulture career focus: Maura Clarke, Horticulturist, Glanbia

Read more
WIT hosts the 2018 Third Annual Great Agri-Food Debate

WIT hosts the 2018 Third Annual Great Agri-Food Debate

Read more
40 years a growin’ - Teagasc and WIT reach collaboration milestone

40 years a growin’ - Teagasc and WIT reach collaboration milestone

Read more
Land Science Careers Day will help WIT final year students land jobs

Land Science Careers Day will help WIT final year students land jobs

Read more
In the news: the Irishman ploughing his own furrow at the Club World Cup

In the news: the Irishman ploughing his own furrow at the Club World Cup

Read more
Make a difference to the world we live in with a horticulture degree

Make a difference to the world we live in with a horticulture degree

Read more
Five WIT courses added to CAO’s 2017 ‘available places’ scheme

Five WIT courses added to CAO’s 2017 ‘available places’ scheme

Read more
Bealtaine living earth festival 2017 in pictures

Bealtaine living earth festival 2017 in pictures

Read more
Storify: The Land Sciences Careers Day on Social Media

Storify: The Land Sciences Careers Day on Social Media

Read more
Large demand for Agri-Food graduates in the South East, careers event hears

Large demand for Agri-Food graduates in the South East, careers event hears

Read more
Teagasc staff graduate from WIT

Teagasc staff graduate from WIT

Read more
Video: The “Real” side of a career turfgrass

Video: The “Real” side of a career turfgrass

Read more
Land Sciences lecturing team: Dr Tony Woodcock, course leader BSc Agriculture

Land Sciences lecturing team: Dr Tony Woodcock, course leader BSc Agriculture

Read more
Land Sciences lecturing team: Dr Cara Daly Programme Leader, BSc in Horticulture

Land Sciences lecturing team: Dr Cara Daly Programme Leader, BSc in Horticulture

Read more
Land Sciences lecturing team: Dr Matteo Sottocornola, Assistant lecturer, Forestry

Land Sciences lecturing team: Dr Matteo Sottocornola, Assistant lecturer, Forestry

Read more
Land Sciences lecturing team: Dr Bill Keogh, Lecturer in Agricultural Science

Land Sciences lecturing team: Dr Bill Keogh, Lecturer in Agricultural Science

Read more
Land Sciences lecturing team: Dr Imelda Casey, Agriculture lecturer

Land Sciences lecturing team: Dr Imelda Casey, Agriculture lecturer

Read more
Land Sciences lecturing team: Anne Dunphy lecturer in ICT/computing

Land Sciences lecturing team: Anne Dunphy lecturer in ICT/computing

Read more
10 things to make you fall in love with Waterford

10 things to make you fall in love with Waterford

Read more
Horticulture Graduate Cian Hawes winner of RTE’s super garden

Horticulture Graduate Cian Hawes winner of RTE’s super garden

Read more
Horticulture Graduate wins gold medal in Bloom in the Park

Horticulture Graduate wins gold medal in Bloom in the Park

Read more
Beat 102-103 and WIT team up to reduce CAO final decisions stress

Beat 102-103 and WIT team up to reduce CAO final decisions stress

Read more
WIT Digital Champions build digital literacy capacity

WIT Digital Champions build digital literacy capacity

Read more
In the news: 2015 Horticulture graduate Paul Smyth

In the news: 2015 Horticulture graduate Paul Smyth

Read more
New bursaries for ag and ag science students at WIT

New bursaries for ag and ag science students at WIT

Read more
Women in Science Spring Reception at Áras an Uachtaráin

Women in Science Spring Reception at Áras an Uachtaráin

Read more
Waterford Science Region stand for BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

Waterford Science Region stand for BT Young Scientist & Technology Exhibition

Read more
Primary School students get first hand experience of science

Primary School students get first hand experience of science

Read more
WIT Graduate Takes Top Prize at BLOOM

WIT Graduate Takes Top Prize at BLOOM

Read more
See more

Contact

Course Leader
Cara Daly
Dr. Cara Daly
Lecturer & Programme Leader for the BSc in Horticulture (Kildalton College) & the BSc in Horticulture (National Botanic Gardens)
Tel: 051 302076 [email protected]

Ask a Question

Department Courses