BSc (Hons) Horticulture (Plantsmanship)

This programme combines the study of plant cultivation with exploring our botanical world.

Location: Edinburgh
Study mode: Part Time (8 years), Full Time - International Applicants (4 years), Full Time (4 years)
Subject area: Horticulture
Start date: September 2026
Agency code: DHPL

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Course overview

The Horticulture (Plantsmanship) BSc (Hons) degree programme provides a pathway to careers in horticulture by developing skills in plant cultivation and expertise in plant biodiversity. The programme aims to introduce learners to horticultural practices and develop professional skills in plant cultivation based on the latest plant biodiversity research.

You will have the opportunity to study at SRUC and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) and benefit from access to the facilities and expertise at both institutions. You will learn in specialist and enriching environments at the RBGE, a world-leading botanic garden. Experiences will include working alongside professional horticulturists to manage and curate over 13,500 species of plants in the gardens and glasshouses. You will see plants threatened by extinction in the wild safeguarded using innovative horticultural techniques and professional propagation facilities. In the herbarium, you will discover some of the three million pressed plant specimens representing international fieldwork, species discoveries, and historical collections.

Graduates of the course are currently employed in varied and leading roles in the Horticulture sector. Current employers include public gardens, research institutions, plant nurseries and retail. You can see our graduates on popular television shows such as 'Gardeners' World' and 'The Beechgrove Garden'.

Virtual Experience

Take a look around the SRUC Virtual Experience for lots of great student videos and examples of what it’s like to study our courses, along with campus and facility tours.

SRUC holds open days regularly. Visit our listings page for details of our up-coming events.

Entry requirements

Four Highers (BBCC) to include a science subject.

National 5 (A-C) or equivalent pass in English and Maths.

Comparable Qualifications:

3 A-Levels BCC, including a science subject, with GCSE passes in Maths and English.

JCPA plus 4 Irish Leaving Certificate subjects at Higher Level at H3, H3, H3, H3, including a science subject.

What you'll learn

Embark on a fulfilling journey into the captivating realm of plantsmanship with our prestigious BSc (Hons) Horticulture degree, delivered in proud partnership with the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Explore the intricate balance of taxonomy, plant humanities, and public garden leadership under the guidance of our esteemed academic team. Whether your interests lie in nurturing rare botanical species, crafting inspiring landscapes, or curating public gardens, our comprehensive curriculum equips you for success across diverse horticultural fields. With immersive learning experiences, state-of-the-art facilities, and a strong focus on environmental responsibility, this programme not only cultivates plants but also cultivates future leaders in the sector. Join us in shaping a greener, more sustainable world with our BSc (Hons) Horticulture (Plantsmanship) degree.

You'll learn:

: Learn horticultural skills and practices from leading horticulturists at Scotland’s national botanic garden.
: Accurately identifying plants is a vital skill for a horticulturist. You will learn skills in plant identification, how plants are classified and how taxonomy is used to help understand our botanical world.
: An understanding of ecological principles underpins horticultural practices. You will learn how plants adapt and persist in the wild and apply your learning to plant cultivation.
: 40% of plants are threatened by extinction, and horticulturists play a crucial role in safeguarding our rare and vulnerable species. You will learn how cultivation and horticultural techniques can be used to conserve plant biodiversity.
: In gardens and designed landscapes across the UK, you can see our shared horticultural heritage. You will learn about the horticultural practices that help to conserve our historic environments and the history of gardens.
: 'Nothing in biology makes sense except in the light of evolution'.

You will learn how evolutionary processes have shaped the plants we grow today. You will explore the diversity of plants using the RBGE living and herbarium collections and techniques to retrace steps of evolution.

Student experience

Frances Tophill will be a familiar face to gardeners all over the UK. After completing her Horticulture with Plantsmanship degree at SRUC in 2013, she went on to a career as a TV presenter for ITV’s Love Your Garden and the BBC's Gardener's World.

"I was really inspired by my lecturers at SRUC and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh," she said. "Having world-class experts working right in front of me was a huge privilege. I still email them every now and then to get advice on plants."

As well as her TV career, Frances has written two books, appeared at prestigious gardening shows across the UK and supports the RHS campaign for school gardening and various community projects.

I was really inspired by my lecturers at SRUC and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Having world class expert teachers working right in front of me was a huge privilege.

Frances Tophill

Meet the lecturer

Rumana Kapadia

Teaching associate

I am a lecturer on the Horticulture team and a year tutor for HNC students. My passions are in research and discovery in sustainable horticulture and agricultural practices, and sharing this with the wider community. During my Masters and PhD my research focused on plant-microbe interactions for improved crop health and food safety. I built microbial based alternatives to chemical fertiliser and pesticide using genetic, molecular microbiology and statistical analysis approaches. I also have a passion for public engagement and knowledge exchange, using an art and visual thinking approach to communicate scientific concepts and make them accessible to the general public. I was awarded a 'Science for All' award for my efforts at the Dundee Botanic Gardens.

Get in touch

James Douglass

I am a lecturer for Horticulture and Plantsmanship at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, with a particular interest in plant pathology, biosecurity, and horticultural science. I previously worked as a professional horticulturist and nurseryman before completing the BSc (Hons) Horticulture with Plantsmanship degree at RBGE & SRUC myself. During my time as a student, I won the Scotland regional final for Young Horticulturalist of the year in 2023 and 2024, and completed research for Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the British Society for Plant Pathology, and my honours project at Forest Research. As an educator, I seek to share my interest and enthusiasm for botanical horticulture and help train the next generation of horticulturists, conservationists, and plant scientists.

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Laura Cohen

Undergraduate Programmes Manager

I initially studied Ecology and then Soil Science before studying Horticulture with Plantsmanship. I worked as a Horticulture Technician at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) before getting more involved in teaching, including on the HN BSc course, the RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture in the UK and abroad, and the RHS Level 2 and Level 3 courses. The aspects of Horticulture that interest me most are conservation, biodiversity, talking climate challenges, and sustainability, whether in an urban garden, a public park, or a wild landscape.

Get in touch

Fees and funding

Eligible full-time students studying BSc (Hons) Horticulture with Plantsmanship should apply to SAAS for fees and funding. A student loan is also available to help students with living costs.

If you do not apply, you will have to pay your fees yourself and if you have studied at HNC/D/degree level before SAAS may not pay your fees.

More information about funding your course

Find out more about your payment options for this course in our fees and funding section

Fees & funding

Other possible routes to funding

Care experienced bursary: There are a number of bursaries available to care-experienced students studying full time. Find out more from our student funding teams at: registryfunding@SRUC.ac.uk
Discretionary fund
- SAAS student bursary
- Care Experienced Accommodation Grant
- Childcare
- Going further bursary
- RUK bursary (for students from outside Scotland)
- The Gregor Thomas Royan Lamb Bursary for Future Farmers
- Centenary bursary
- Change your path bursary

BSc (Hons) Horticulture (Plantsmanship)

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