The new degree reflects the growing demand for highly skilled graduates across the horticulture sector.
South East Technological University (SETU), in conjunction with Teagasc Kildalton College, is delighted to announce the launch of a new four-year Level 8 BSc (Hons) in Horticulture, available on the CAO for the first time this year.
The new honours degree builds on the long-standing success of horticulture education at SETU and Teagasc Kildalton College and reflects the growing demand for highly skilled graduates across the horticulture sector.
The programme combines practical horticultural training with scientific, business, environmental, and land management expertise. Students will study a broad range of subjects including plant biology, plant propagation, biodiversity and horticulture, arboriculture, and horticulture business management. Furthermore, elective options also include sustainable food production, landscape design, sports turf science, nursery stock production, social and therapeutic horticulture, integrated pest management, protected crop production, and beekeeping.
Professional placement
Students will also complete a 15-week professional placement and research projects, helping them develop both practical industry experience and academic skills.
The horticulture industry in Ireland continues to experience strong growth and offers graduates a wide variety of career opportunities.
Graduates from SETU horticulture programmes have gone on to establish successful landscaping and landscape design businesses, manage nurseries and garden centres, work as craft gardeners in public and private gardens, become turfgrass professionals, and work in education, community, and social and therapeutic horticulture settings. Others progress into protected crop production, nursery stock production, arboriculture, and scientific research roles.
SETU also continues to offer the long-established Level 7 BSc in Horticulture in partnership with both Teagasc Kildalton College, Piltown Co Kilkenny, and The Teagasc College of Amenity Horticulture in the National Botanic Gardens in Dublin. Students completing the Level 7 programme at either location have the opportunity to transfer to SETU to progress to honours degree level.
Horticulture combines science, business, sustainability, creativity, and practical skills in a way that opens many different pathways for students. Graduates may go on to work in landscaping, food production, plant propagation, biodiversity management, sports turf, or public gardens, while many also establish their own successful businesses.
Cara Daly, Programme Director for the Level 8 BSc (Hons) in Horticulture at SETU
Advanced entry
In addition, SETU offers advanced entry pathways into Years 2 and 3 of its horticulture programmes for applicants with prior horticultural qualifications. Graduates holding both the Level 5 Certificate in Horticulture and the Level 6 Advanced Certificate in Horticulture may gain entry into Year 2. Older qualifications, including the Department of Agriculture/ACOT Senior Certificate in Horticulture and the ACOT/Teagasc/FETAC Diploma in Horticulture, are also recognised for advanced entry purposes.
Cara Daly, Programme Director for the Level 8 BSc (Hons) in Horticulture at SETU, said:
“People are often surprised by the sheer diversity of careers available to horticulture graduates. Horticulture combines science, business, sustainability, creativity, and practical skills in a way that opens many different pathways for students. Graduates may go on to work in landscaping, food production, plant propagation, biodiversity management, sports turf, or public gardens, while many also establish their own successful businesses. In many cases, horticulture graduates can take smaller farms or growing enterprises and develop sustainable and profitable businesses from them. We welcome both school leavers and mature students onto the programme each year, and that mix of experience and backgrounds creates a really supportive learning environment.”
Eleanor Kent, Head of the Department of Land Sciences within the Faculty of Science and Computing at SETU, said:
“We are extremely pleased to announce these new Level 8 offerings in horticulture. Alongside the recent development of new Level 8 programmes in forestry and agriculture, this highlights the growing potential and importance of land sciences education in the South East and beyond. Many of our graduates also continue their studies through our Level 9 part time postgraduate opportunities, including the MSc/Postgraduate Diploma in Organic and Biological Horticulture, allowing students to further specialise while continuing to work within the sector.”
For those applicants already in possession of a CAO number for 2026, prospective students are reminded that the CAO Change of Mind deadline closes on 1 July.
