Key information for Bachelor of Science (Honours) Horticulture

Code: SE528 | Level: 8 | Duration: 4 years | Delivery: Fulltime | Credits: 240

Location for Bachelor of Science (Honours) Horticulture

Location: Kildalton | Campus: Kildalton College

Application Information for Bachelor of Science (Honours) Horticulture

Next Intake: Rolling Intake | Application Status: Open | Fee Information Link: /current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/undergraduate-fees

Study Options for Bachelor of Science (Honours) Horticulture

Work placement options: Available (View details at https://www.setu.ie/engage/access-our-talent)

International Applicants information for Bachelor of Science (Honours) Horticulture

International Application Status: Open | Application Information Link: https://www.setu.ie/global/study-at-setu/applying-to-setu | International Fees Link: https://www.setu.ie/current-students/fees-and-grants/fees/global-fees

What modules are taught in Bachelor of Science (Honours) Horticulture?

Electives are run subject to class sizes and timetable constraints. Some electives require prerequisites. Transfer students who have already undertaken placement as part of their previously completed qualification, will be required to complete 6 other modules.* = elective module | Year 1: Sem 1: Communication Skills and Computer Applications | Sem 2: Chemistry for Land Scientists, Sem 1: Horticulture Skills 1 | Sem 2: Horticulture Building Construction, Sem 1: Plant Biology | Sem 2: Horticultural Mechanisation and Safety, Sem 1: Plant Knowledge 1 | Sem 2: Horticulture Skills 2, Sem 1: Plant Protection | Sem 2: Plant Knowledge 2, Sem 1: Soil and Growing Media | Sem 2: Plant Propagation | Year 2: Sem 3: Biodiversity and Horticulture | Sem 4: Placement, Sem 3: Managing your Business | Sem 4: , Sem 3: Garden Management and Plant Selection | Sem 4: , Sem 3: Choose one of the following electives | Sem 4: , Sem 3: *Sustainable Food Production | Sem 4: , Sem 3: *Landscape Design | Sem 4: , Sem 3: *Nursery Stock Production | Sem 4: , Sem 3: *Sportsturf Science | Sem 4: , Sem 3: *Lab Skills for Plant Micro-Propagation (Waterford Campus Only) | Sem 4: | Year 3: Sem 5: Horticulture Sales and Marketing | Sem 6: Arboriculture, Sem 5: Introduction to Scientific Writing and Data Analysis | Sem 6: Horticulture Project and Seminar, Sem 5: Financial Analysis for your business | Sem 6: Law for Horticulturists, Sem 5: People Management | Sem 6: Tax for Horticulture, Sem 5: Choose one of the following electives (must be different from the choice made in year 2) | Sem 6: Choose one of the following electives, Sem 5: *Sustainable Food Production | Sem 6: *Field Crop Production, Sem 5: *Landscape Design | Sem 6: *Garden Centre Operations, Sem 5: *Nursery Stock Production | Sem 6: *Greenkeeping, Sem 5: *Sportsturf Science | Sem 6: *Landscape Design Advanced, Sem 5: *Lab Skills for Plant Micro-Propagation (Waterford Only) | Sem 6: *Plants and Society, Sem 5: *Computer Aided Design | Sem 6: *Beekeeping and Pollination Studies, Sem 5: *Interior Landscaping and Floristry | Sem 6: *Protected Crop Production, Sem 5: | Sem 6: *Social and Therapeutic Horticulture | Year 4: Sem 7: Land Science Research Methods | Sem 8: Student Project, Sem 7: Project Management | Sem 8: Organisational Behaviour Management, Sem 7: Statistics for Research | Sem 8: Environmental Education, Sem 7: Horticulture Site Management | Sem 8: Choose one of the following electives, Sem 7: Public Relations Management | Sem 8: *Rural Entrepreneurship, Sem 7: Choose one of the following electives | Sem 8: *Biodiversity Management, Sem 7: *MIS & EBusiness | Sem 8: Choose one of the following electives, Sem 7: *Professional Development | Sem 8: *Sustainable & Renewable Energy, Sem 7: | Sem 8: *Integrated Pest Management, Sem 7: | Sem 8: *Sustainable Water Management Systems

What are the entry requirements for Bachelor of Science (Honours) Horticulture?

Advanced and Equivalent Entry for Bachelor of Science (Honours) Horticulture:QQI FET/FETAC EntryAdvanced Entry - Years 2,3,4 or 5Non-EU ApplicantsMature Entry Route

What further study options exist for graduates of Bachelor of Science (Honours) Horticulture?

Graduates at Level 8 can pursue diverse career paths within horticulture and related fields. Opportunities include working as:Craft Gardener in public parks, private estates, or heritage gardensGreenkeeperNursery Stock ProducerFloristMushroom GrowerFruit and Vegetable Producer. Many graduates establish careers as self-employed Landscapers or Landscape Designers, Garden Maintenance Contractors, or Garden Centre Owners/Managers. Specialist roles are also available as Tree Surgeons/Arboriculturists, Tree and Bedding Plant Producers, Horticultural Therapists, or Horticulture Teachers and Lecturers.

SE528 Kildalton

Bachelor of Science (Honours)

Horticulture

Apply CAO

Programme Overview

The BSc (Honours) in Horticulture is a four-year Level 8 degree delivered through a collaborative partnership between Teagasc, Kildalton College, and South East Technological University. The program is carefully structured to blend scientific principles, practical hands-on experience, and essential business skills, providing a well-rounded foundation across the entire horticultural sector.

Practical Learning

Students engage in hands-on learning across plant production, landscape design, and food crop cultivation. Additionally, a 15-week industry placement allows students to immerse themselves directly in real-world horticultural operations, building critical practical competence and valuable industry contacts while earning official Green Cert status upon completion.

Coursework

The academic coursework spans key scientific, commercial, and creative disciplines within modern natural resource management. Core topics include plant science and production, commercial food crops, landscape design, and sustainable environmental management. Together, these subjects provide a well-rounded foundation in both the technical and business factors shaping today's industry.

Career Opportunities

Graduates earn a recognized qualification suited for those passionate about plants, the environment, and sustainable food production, opening pathways across several professional areas:

Commercial Plant & Food Crop Production
Landscape Design & Management
Agribusiness & Retail
Postgraduate Study & Research

Upon completion of the degree, graduates are fully prepared to enter dynamic professional environments across horticulture, landscaping, and agribusiness, or pursue further specialized studies in related fields.

Electives are run subject to class sizes and timetable constraints. Some electives require prerequisites. Transfer students who have already undertaken placement as part of their previously completed qualification, will be required to complete 6 other modules.

* = elective module

Year 1

Semester 1	Semester 2
Communication Skills and Computer Applications	Chemistry for Land Scientists
Horticulture Skills 1	Horticulture Building Construction
Plant Biology	Horticultural Mechanisation and Safety
Plant Knowledge 1	Horticulture Skills 2
Plant Protection	Plant Knowledge 2
Soil and Growing Media	Plant Propagation

Year 2

Semester 3	Semester 4
Biodiversity and Horticulture	Placement
Managing your Business
Garden Management and Plant Selection
Choose one of the following electives
*Sustainable Food Production
*Landscape Design
*Nursery Stock Production
*Sportsturf Science
*Lab Skills for Plant Micro-Propagation (Waterford Campus Only)

Year 3

Semester 5	Semester 6
Horticulture Sales and Marketing	Arboriculture
Introduction to Scientific Writing and Data Analysis	Horticulture Project and Seminar
Financial Analysis for your business	Law for Horticulturists
People Management	Tax for Horticulture
Choose one of the following electives (must be different from the choice made in year 2)	Choose one of the following electives
*Sustainable Food Production	*Field Crop Production
*Landscape Design	*Garden Centre Operations
*Nursery Stock Production	*Greenkeeping
*Sportsturf Science	*Landscape Design Advanced
*Lab Skills for Plant Micro-Propagation (Waterford Only)	*Plants and Society
*Computer Aided Design	*Beekeeping and Pollination Studies
*Interior Landscaping and Floristry	*Protected Crop Production
	*Social and Therapeutic Horticulture

Year 4

Semester 7	Semester 8
Land Science Research Methods	Student Project
Project Management	Organisational Behaviour Management
Statistics for Research	Environmental Education
Horticulture Site Management	Choose one of the following electives
Public Relations Management	*Rural Entrepreneurship
Choose one of the following electives	*Biodiversity Management
*MIS & EBusiness	Choose one of the following electives
*Professional Development	*Sustainable & Renewable Energy
	*Integrated Pest Management
	*Sustainable Water Management Systems

Advanced and Equivalent Entry for Bachelor of Science (Honours) Horticulture:

Graduates at Level 8 can pursue diverse career paths within horticulture and related fields. Opportunities include working as:

Craft Gardener in public parks, private estates, or heritage gardens
Greenkeeper
Nursery Stock Producer
Florist
Mushroom Grower
Fruit and Vegetable Producer.

Many graduates establish careers as self-employed Landscapers or Landscape Designers, Garden Maintenance Contractors, or Garden Centre Owners/Managers. Specialist roles are also available as Tree Surgeons/Arboriculturists, Tree and Bedding Plant Producers, Horticultural Therapists, or Horticulture Teachers and Lecturers.