Horticulture

The Foundation Degree (FdSc) in Horticulture is validated by Ulster University. It is an ideal qualification for those wishing to progress their career towards management or technical roles in the horticulture industry. This course can be studied over two years of full-time or four years of part-time study.
Excellent career prospects: A wide range of exciting careers are open to horticulture graduates within the landscape, sports turf, production, retail, environmental and social horticulture sectors with the additional option of self-employment. 90% of CAFRE students gain employment within 6 months. The College receives a steady flow of requests for students from the industry locally and nationally.
First class facilities: The Amenity Horticulture Centre comprises 18 hectares of landscaped grounds which are all used for skills training for students. As each group of students pass through they have the opportunity to leave their mark whether it is a new pergola, shrub bed or stand of trees. The centre includes a large walled garden which has undergone a major redevelopment. The 'Richardson's Walled Garden at Greenmount' with its grand conservatory, maze, rose garden, fruit garden and other ornamental plantings is a showpiece for Northern Ireland horticulture. The amenity centre also has extensive plant collections and has purpose built training facilities for landscape construction skills, machinery operation and maintenance. There is a large sportsturf area which includes golf greens and sports pitches, and a state of the art driving range alongside 3 golf holes. The Horticulture Centre is used as a living classroom for teaching horticultural theory. There is a wide range of facilities for the production of edible and ornamental crops including glasshouses and tunnels. Growing methods used at CAFRE include peat-free production, hydroponics and cell tree production. Technologists and lecturers demonstrate and promote the adoption of the latest technological advances to growers in the industry.
Industry engagement: Businesses and organisations provide a wide range of industry placements, host visits and generously provide bursaries for the FdSc Horticulture students at CAFRE.
Progression opportunities: Students may have the opportunity to apply for entry on to the BSc (Hons) Degree (Top-Up) in Horticulture course at CAFRE.

Year 1: Applied horticultural science, Horticultural business processes and communication, Horticultural principles and practices, Production management - ornamental crops, Technology and mechanisation in horticulture, Turf culture principles and practices.

Year 2: Applied business management, Applied design, Estate management, Production management - edible crops, Professional work placement.

Work placement: The compulsory ten week professional work-based learning placement allows students to develop technical and commercial expertise. This work placement is completed in semester two of the second year of the course