HNC/HND Garden and Landscape Design – Part Time

Course information

More than ever before, the world needs trained horticultural professionals to influence gardens and landscapes to help address the challenges of climate change and the ever-changing demands of urban living. Indeed, as a designer, your career could take you around the world, leading and influencing how future clients and communities engage with global landscape and environmental challenges.

Accredited by the University of Plymouth and located in the unique setting of the world-renowned Eden Project in Cornwall, this programme is designed for those with an emerging passion for greenspace design.

Cornwall College has a long-established reputation for delivering garden and landscape design courses of the highest quality within this creative industry with the added advantage of an ever-increasing core focus on today’s challenges of climate change, sustainability, and health and well-being.

The course integrates the creativity of art and design with a core understanding of horticulture, earth sciences and landscape technology. We recognise the world of garden and landscape design is diverse and your supportive tutors will nurture your individual talents and ensure you have the wide range of skills needed to succeed in the industry including within self-employment.

Through real or ‘live’ projects during the course you will learn how to create stimulating and thought-provoking spaces in a variety of locations – from private gardens to public landscapes - whilst at the same time developing your own unique design identity and philosophy. Clients students have worked with recently include Truro Cathedral, The Pengersick Castle Trust, The Eden Project, The Leonard Cheshire Disability Trust and Potager Garden.

Emphasis is placed upon professional practice, design communication and contemporary user-focussed design in both qualifications with smaller designs and soft-scaping in the HNC moving towards the larger landscape-scale designs and applied hard-scaping techniques in the HND. Throughout you will be encouraged to showcase your skills by entering your work into nationally and internationally renowned design show, exhibitions and competitions. Students under the tutelage of the current course team have won numerous awards including the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Young Designer of the Year Award three times in six years.

You will have access to the c.108 hectares of exceptional gardens and grounds within the Eden Project to include the extensive plant collections within the biomes and the wider green spaces. In addition to this, The Cornwall College Group has land-based campuses throughout Devon and Cornwall further providing you with inspiration and work placement opportunities during your studies with us.

We have a range of excellent quality teaching resources available including our specialist ‘Green Build Hub’ design studio to allow you to practice traditional drawing skills, scale modelling as well as IT facilities for the teaching of computer-based design communication techniques.

Our teaching team includes award-winning garden designers, artists, landscape architects, design historians, ecologists and horticulturalists. Many combine private practice alongside their teaching commitments with all having significant industry experience.

With flexible study options, you can choose to study part-time or full-time – Perfect for those who prefer to work alongside their study. For those looking to plan a Cornish adventure, a dedicated Accommodation Officer can help assist a move to the area for the duration of study.

Cornwall College University Centre at the Eden Project offers a diverse range of higher education courses linked to the natural environment, including Horticulture, Plant Science, Soil Science, Ecology, and Garden and Landscape Design. With expert instruction and degrees awarded by the University of Plymouth, our programmes provide the perfect opportunity to gain both academic knowledge and practical skills.

As part of your studies, you’ll benefit from access to the Eden Project’s unique biomes, where you can apply your learning in tropical and Mediterranean environments, as well as outdoor garden settings. You’ll also work alongside Eden’s specialist horticulturists and gain hands-on experience. In your final year, you'll have the opportunity to conduct original research using these exceptional facilities, exploring industry-relevant topics to enhance your CV.

Want to learn more? Join us at our next open event!

Download HNC/D Garden & Landscape Design Programme Specification (2024-25) at https://www.cornwall.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/HNC-D-Garden-Landscape-Design-Programme-Specification-2024-2025.pdf  

What You Will Learn

Indicative Modules

Year 1
• Garden & Landscape Design 1: Foundations – Space, Place & User
• Design Communication: Tools & Techniques (including Computer Aided Design, InDesign, SketchUp and Photoshop)
• Plant Use in Design
• Horticultural Science
• Practical Horticulture for Designers
• Personal & Employability Skills Development

Year 2
• Garden & Landscape Design 2: Practice – Planning & People
• Contemporary Issues in Garden & Landscape Design
• Garden & Landscape History
• Professional Identity
• Negotiated Project

Modules are subject to change and availability

Entry Requirements

48 UCAS points from AS and A-Levels (at least 32 points must be at A2-level) or relevant level 3 qualification, ie BTEC National Diploma / BTEC Extended Diploma - PPP Grades required (specific unit grades may be requested). Access to HE Diplomas in a relevant subject - 45 credits at level 3 (specific unit grades may be requested). Plus GCSEs at grade C/grade 4 or above in English Language and Mathematics: alternatives at Level 2 may be considered.

Mature applicants with relevant experience but without the stated qualifications will be considered individually and are encouraged to apply.

We accept a variety of qualifications to include equivalent international qualifications.

All applicants are subject to wider entry requirements.

Data Sharing Agreement

As part of our interview process, it is essential that we obtain your formal permission to share aspects of your data with trusted work placement providers in order that reasonable adjustments can be made.

Criminal Convictions

You are not required to complete a DBS (Disclosure and Barring Service) check or provide a Certificate of Good Conduct to study this course.

If you are currently subject to any license condition or monitoring restriction that could affect your ability to successfully complete your studies, you will be required to disclose your criminal record. Conditions include, but are not limited to:

• Access to laboratory facilities including chemicals
• Access to computers or devices that can store images
• Use of internet and communication tools/devices
• Curfews
• Freedom of movement
• Contact with people related to University Centre Eden or The Cornwall College Group

Progression

Top-up to the BSc (Hons) Horticulture (Garden & Landscape Design) also at the Eden Project (Dependant on the standard of individual design portfolio).

Possible Careers
• Garden & Landscape Designer
• Landscape Architect
• Garden & Landscape Consultant
• Horticultural Consultant
• Computer Aided Designer/ Professional Design Communicator
• Landscape & Amenity Manager
• Garden and Landscape Contractor
• Projects and Contracts Manager
• Interior landscape contractor

Cornwall College University Centre at the Eden Project

Cornwall College University Centre at the Eden Project

In partnership with the Eden Project, we’ve created a unique suite of university-level programmes that align with Eden’s mission to make the world a better place. Delivered by expert trainers from Cornwall College, these programmes are taught within Eden’s unique learning environment, offering students not only an academic education but also practical, hands-on experience at this globally renowned visitor attraction and garden. Our degrees, awarded by the University of Plymouth, provide an unparalleled blend of theory and real-world application. Discover more at our upcoming Open Day!

Find out more about studying with us

Events

Open Event

Duchy College Rosewarne

Open Event at Duchy College Rosewarne

• 18 Jan 25
• 15 May 25

Open Event

Bicton College

Open Event at Bicton College

• 18 Jan 25
• 26 Apr 25