Level 2 in Horticulture
Horticulture > Level 2 in Horticulture
Course Duration
Full-time: 1 year
Full-time: 1 yearFull-time: 1 year
Course Location
Greenmount Campus
Level 2 in Horticulture
This one year, full-time City & Guilds Level 2 Diploma in Practical Horticulture Skills course provides students with a wide range of skills for employment in horticulture. Students are taught mainly through practical tuition in the ornamental gardens, woodlands, glasshouses and sports turf areas on campus.
Course content
Main areas of study are:
- Horticulture production (propagation, caring for horticulture crops, etc)
- Landscape and garden maintenance (plant identification, assessing soils, using machinery, planting and maintaining plants, etc)
- Turf management (using machinery, repairing and laying turf, etc)
In addition to the Level 2 in Practical Horticulture Skills Diploma qualification, CAFRE aims to offer students other short courses such as Health and Safety, PA1 and PA6 training and assessment. Students also have opportunities to make great industry contacts through industry visits, study tours, competitions and college events.
Student success at National level
Greenmount Campus has a well-qualified and experienced horticulture teaching team and CAFRE graduates have established an amazing track record for competition success.
CAFRE students across all levels have been highly involved in WorldSkills UK competitions for over a decade. WorldSkills UK is the Olympics of the skills trades. Each year, students have the opportunity to participate in a local heat, competing for a place in the Skills Live competition held each year in Birmingham. For the past several years, CAFRE Horticulture students have placed highly at Skill Live, making them eligible for the UK squad for Landscape Gardening and on to compete on the European and World stages! Making the most of opportunities has helped our students develop their CVs and secure employment within the industry.
There are no tuition fees and a means tested maintenance grant is available to students studying this programme to help with living expenses. Further details can be found in the Financial Support section.
On campus accommodation is available, with separate facilities for under-18s and over-18s. Applications open in June each year, and early submission is recommended. The campus also offers free car parking students travelling to Greenmount Campus. Additionally, public transport is available from Antrim bus and rail centre with Translink/Ulsterbus.
Course Progression
Most Level 2 graduates take up employment in the industry on completion of the course but some high achieving students may have the opportunity to progress on to the City & Guilds Level 3 Advanced Technical Extended Diploma in Horticulture.
Students can follow career paths in landscape, sports turf, edible or ornamental crop production and retail sectors.
Course Entry Requirements
Normally two GCSE Grade Cs or three Grade Ds, including English Language and Mathematics.
Applicants who are still at school are encouraged to undertake 40 hours of work experience with a horticultural business. CAFRE may be able to help you find a suitable placement in a horticultural sector of your choice.
Students who have not attained a Grade C or above in English Language and Mathematics at GCSE, or an equivalent qualification, have to attend additional classes in English and Mathematics as part of their programme of study.
Greenmount Campus
Greenmount Campus is the centre of all things green – that’s agricultural, horticultural and environmental providing an idyllic rural setting for your land-based studies.
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Course validated by:
Daniel McAllister
Student
“ The Level 2 in Horticulture proved a great course for me. With lots of practical learning I quickly settled into the course and as part of the programme completed Essential Skills. I would recommend the course and enjoyed being at Greenmount so much. I am now progressing on to the Level 3 course.”
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