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Horticulture (Plant Science and Technology)

SRUC Scotland's Rural College

UCAS Code: DHPS | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

SRUC Scotland's Rural College

UCAS Code: DHPS | Bachelor of Science (with Honours) - BSc (Hons)

Entry requirements

A level

B,C,C

to include a science subject

GCSE/National 4/National 5

Applicants should be able to offer National 5 (A-C) or equivalent pass in English (for literacy) and Maths (for numeracy)

Leaving Certificate - Higher Level (Ireland) (first awarded in 2017)

H3,H3,H4,H4

to include a science subject

Scottish Higher

B,B,C,C

to include a science subject

UCAS Tariff

96-104

We've calculated how many Ucas points you'll need for this course.

About this course

Course option

4years

Full-time | 2025

Subject

Horticulture

This BSc (Hons) in Horticulture (Plant Science and Technology) has been designed specifically to deliver skilled horticultural practitioners who understand the interdisciplinary nature of the sector and their position within it. The programme is unique in that it is the only undergraduate horticulture degree programme to be offered in Scotland.

Having an acute focus on research and development, the ‘plant science and technology’ stream has been designed to solve real-world problems facing the horticulture sector today, and in the future. Students can expect to be immersed in SRUC’s state-of-the-art vertical farm, laboratories and glasshouses; which all add immeasurable value to the student experience by providing hands-on learning throughout the student journey.

The programme takes a blended learning approach, using a variety of learning and teaching activities both on campus and via our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Moodle, as appropriate to the subject and level of study. In years one and two, the focus is on developing underpinning academic skills, practical confidence and peer learning communities. The programme is therefore primarily campus-based theory and practical activities, supported by online live classes and independent studies within the VLE. Classroom learning will support active learning and encourage collaboration. The third and fourth years of the programme focus more on independent learning, allowing for personalised foci on areas that are of interest. A higher proportion of theoretical learning will take place either live online or within the VLE and supported by practical and interactive activities on campus. Classroom activities will include simulation-based and inquiry-based learning, applying theoretical knowledge to real-world challenges.

On successful completion of this programme, you will be able to:
- Advance equality of opportunity and value diversity of ideas, cultures and approaches in horticulture 

- Design and implement horticultural research whilst selecting appropriate frameworks, and collect, analyse and present data to make inference from the study 

- Value the interrelationships between society and plant biodiversity in cultivated and natural landscapes using an interdisciplinary approach 

- Practice ethical professionalism and autonomy in a variety of professional settings, reflecting on own personal and professional development, and adapting

practice as appropriate 
- Formulate solutions to sector challenges by adopting an enterprising mindset

- Instruct others on a range of laboratory protocols and horticultural techniques

At the end of each academic year, students will be invited to attend and participate in the ‘Plant and Soil Sciences Student Conference’. This provides an opportunity for students in years two, three and four of their studies to showcase the range and breadth of research that has been carried out. The academic staff will decide on the keynote speaker, and this will be someone who has demonstrated exceptional dedication to their studies.

Modules

By studying this BSc (Hons) in Horticulture (Plant Science and Technology), you can expect to study the following modules as part of the course:

Horticultural production technologies - This module aims to provide you with a holistic understanding of horticultural production technologies. You will examine a range of inputs used in the horticulture industry to improve crop yield and quality; preparing you to contribute to the advancement of sustainable and efficient horticultural practices.

Innovations in horticultural science - The aim of this module is to provide the opportunity to apply your knowledge of integrated crop management (ICM) in horticulture in relation to national and global sustainability goals (e.g., UN SDG’s) and consider how these link to the practical decisions made by growers.

Urban agriculture - The aim of this module is to equip you with the competencies required to contribute positively to the development of resilient, inclusive and environmentally conscious urban food systems, for the betterment of urban environments and the broader global food system.

Horticultural biotechnologies - The aim of this module is to provide you with a comprehensive understanding of genetics, breeding and micropropagation and its applications for crop enhancement and improved productivity.

Environmental horticulture - The aim of this module is to develop your knowledge of environmental horticulture by analysing plant-based solutions that are crucial for addressing today’s environmental issues. Using critical thinking, you will consider the impact various plant-based technologies have on society, the environment, and the economy to ultimately encourage environmental responsibility and awareness

Agents for change - This module aims to empower you to become an agent of change within your subject’s sector. You will gain knowledge of current legislation that is appropriate to your sector and be able to make recommendations for new policies, programmes and initiatives to bring about positive change in local and/or global contexts.

Assessment methods

The assessment approach for the BSc (Hons) in Horticulture (Plant Science and Technology) has been designed to provide opportunities to develop the competencies required to become skilled horticultural practitioners. It uses a variety of assessment approaches to develop a range of skills, knowledge and professional behaviours and to ensure the inclusivity of different learning approaches. All assessments within the programme are designed to be authentic; incorporating realistic objectives that are reflective of industry activities. The authenticity of the assessments will foster innovation and creativity skills that are necessary to grow and modernise the horticulture sector upon graduation.

Students will develop scientific writing skills by completing assessments that include scientific literature, research activities, case studies, and projects. To complement this, effective communication skills will be developed through group projects, presentations, and multimedia content creation. Students will also develop research and statistical analyses skills using real-life data sets from projects that are embedded into the programme.

Personalised learner journeys are championed by providing opportunities for students to select from a range of topics for an assessment, or by providing different methods of completing assessments. For example, by creating an instructional video of a laboratory skill or by writing a standard operating procedure. Typically, students will be encouraged to select the option that will challenge them the most, rather than defaulting to what seems simplest. Reflective practice is at the forefront of the programme’s ethos and will be fostered through the use of portfolios, reflection tasks based on personal objectives, or by reflecting on the feedback that has been received by the assessor.

We believe that this assessment approach will fulfil the programme learning outcomes and our programme promise: "to provide an immersive learning experience to get you ready today, for the sector tomorrow".

Tuition fees

Select where you currently live to see what you'll pay:

Channel Islands
£9,250
per year
England
£9,250
per year
EU
£16,000
per year
International
£16,000
per year
Northern Ireland
£9,250
per year
Republic of Ireland
£9,250
per year
Scotland
£1,820
per year
Wales
£9,250
per year

The Uni

Course location:

Edinburgh

Department:

Horticulture, Landscaping and Garden Design

Read full university profile

What students say

We've crunched the numbers to see if overall student satisfaction here is high, medium or low compared to students studying this subject(s) at other universities.

68%
Horticulture

How do students rate their degree experience?

The stats below relate to the general subject area/s at this university, not this specific course. We show this where there isn’t enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Agriculture

Teaching and learning

73%
Staff make the subject interesting
79%
Staff are good at explaining things
75%
Ideas and concepts are explored in-depth
63%
Opportunities to apply what I've learned

Assessment and feedback

Feedback on work has been timely
Feedback on work has been helpful
Staff are contactable when needed
Good advice available when making study choices

Resources and organisation

64%
Library resources
68%
IT resources
73%
Course specific equipment and facilities
48%
Course is well organised and has run smoothly

Student voice

Staff value students' opinions
Feel part of a community on my course

Who studies this subject and how do they get on?

96%
UK students
4%
International students
41%
Male students
59%
Female students
40%
2:1 or above
8%
First year drop out rate

Most popular A-Levels studied (and grade achieved)

C
D
B

After graduation

The stats in this section relate to the general subject area/s at this university – not this specific course. We show this where there isn't enough data about the course, or where this is the most detailed info available to us.

Agriculture

What are graduates doing after six months?

This is what graduates told us they were doing (and earning), shortly after completing their course. We've crunched the numbers to show you if these immediate prospects are high, medium or low, compared to those studying this subject/s at other universities.

£22,052
med
Average annual salary
95%
med
Employed or in further education
70%
med
Employed in a role where degree was essential or beneficial

Top job areas of graduates

27%
Elementary agricultural occupations
19%
Agricultural and related trades
11%
Managers and proprietors in agriculture related services

About 70% of the UK's land area is given over to agriculture, so this is a subject representing an important part of the country's economy. Typical starting jobs for graduates in agriculture include agricultural science, farming and farm management, but graduates also go into other areas, such as the horticulture trade, auctioneering and conservation. Agriculture graduates are also in increasing demand for one of the hardest-to-fill jobs in the country - surveying. Jobs for agriculture graduates are often in rural areas - in 2016, areas like Essex, Lincolnshire, Staffordshire, Suffolk, Yorkshire and Kent were all important for agriculture graduates.

What about your long term prospects?

Looking further ahead, below is a rough guide for what graduates went on to earn.

Agriculture

The graph shows median earnings of graduates who achieved a degree in this subject area one, three and five years after graduating from here.

£24k

£24k

£26k

£26k

£27k

£27k

Note: this data only looks at employees (and not those who are self-employed or also studying) and covers a broad sample of graduates and the various paths they've taken, which might not always be a direct result of their degree.

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Course location and department:

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Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF):

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This information comes from the National Student Survey, an annual student survey of final-year students. You can use this to see how satisfied students studying this subject area at this university, are (not the individual course).

This is the percentage of final-year students at this university who were "definitely" or "mostly" satisfied with their course. We've analysed this figure against other universities so you can see whether this is high, medium or low.

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This information is from the Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA), for undergraduate students only.

You can use this to get an idea of who you might share a lecture with and how they progressed in this subject, here. It's also worth comparing typical A-level subjects and grades students achieved with the current course entry requirements; similarities or differences here could indicate how flexible (or not) a university might be.

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Post-six month graduation stats:

This is from the Destinations of Leavers from Higher Education Survey, based on responses from graduates who studied the same subject area here.

It offers a snapshot of what grads went on to do six months later, what they were earning on average, and whether they felt their degree helped them obtain a 'graduate role'. We calculate a mean rating to indicate if this is high, medium or low compared to other universities.

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Graduate field commentary:

The Higher Education Careers Services Unit have provided some further context for all graduates in this subject area, including details that numbers alone might not show

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The Longitudinal Educational Outcomes dataset combines HRMC earnings data with student records from the Higher Education Statistics Agency.

While there are lots of factors at play when it comes to your future earnings, use this as a rough timeline of what graduates in this subject area were earning on average one, three and five years later. Can you see a steady increase in salary, or did grads need some experience under their belt before seeing a nice bump up in their pay packet?

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