What is special about this course?
These part time courses are a wonderful way to improve your gardening skills. You'll work alongside out full-time students undertaking up to 4 units in each semester.
With a mix of theory and practical work , our part time courses are a perfect start if you are considering a career in horticulture and would like an introduction to basic horticultural skills.
The practical elements of our courses will be delivered face to face in the wonderful surroundings of Struan Lodge Community Garden in Dunoon, and Hermitage Park in Helensburgh depending on your location.
Entry requirements
There are no formal entry requirements, just an enthusiasm for gardening.
Garden Design – Course Fee £86
Starts August for 2 hours per week in our live online classroom. Join from any location.
Comprising 1 SQA unit, you will learn about the principles of design, how to gather a client brief or decide what you really want from your own space, how to carry out a basic site survey, and how to create a design, drawn to scale, for your site.
Garden and Planting Design – Course Fee £258
Starts August for half a day per week in Dunoon or Helensburgh
This course has a mixture of practical and theory activities and incorporates the garden design unit described above, with a further 2 SQA units:
- Soft Landscaping
- Plantsmanship
- Garden Design
Home and Allotment Gardening – Course Fee £344
Starts January for 1 day per week in Dunoon or Helensburgh
Learn how to create beautiful ornamental and vegetable gardens by propagating plants using a wide range of horticultural techniques and planting in the best possible locations. And learn how to maintain the plants in a garden to support them to flourish. This course is mostly practical but you will also carry out some theory and research activities, and produce some written work to evidence your learning.
You'll study 3 SQA units:
- Plant propagation – vegetative methods
- Plant propagation – by seed
- Growing fruit and vegetables
- Planting and maintaining gardens
Equipment
No specialist equipment required but if you have a favourite pair of secateurs you like to use please bring them with you.
Fees
Social Services, Families and Young People. Wednesdays 9.00-4.00pm consists of 3 SQA units and costs £258.
Care of Children Thursdays 9.00-1.00pm consists of 2 SQA units and costs £172
If you are on a low income or in receipt of certain benefits may receive a fee waiver. Please refer to page 2 of our Fees and Funding Guide to see if you are eligible. You can download a FEE WAIVER FORM here. If you would like help or advice on fee waiver, please contact your nearest learning centre.
If you do not qualify for a fee waiver, you may be able to apply for an Individual Training Account (ITA) to cover up to £200 the cost of this course.
This course is not available to students who require a Tier 4 Home Office visa to study in Scotland (international or EU).