Careers in Horticulture Courses

Horticulture Courses

The Horticulture is an increasingly sophisticated industry, with a strong demand for graduates with knowledge of modern food production techniques, scientific knowledge, the latest technology, logistics and business organisation and management skills. The horticulture courses on offer at ITB include modules on organic production, sustainability and ecology and biodiversity.

A career in this area should be considered by anybody who enjoys working with plants and green spaces, or has a general interest in the quality of our environment.

ITB’s location in North West Dublin is right beside one of the largest concentrations of production of fruit and vegetables in Ireland.

The decision to follow a career in horticulture will allow an individual to follow many routes from forestry to floristry and everything horticultural in between. Currently there are many interesting occupations available working with plants in a creative, imaginative and rewarding way, with options for the qualified horticulturalist many and diverse.

The horticulture sector in Ireland has grown significantly over the last few years, and there are now a variety of careers available for those with an interest in this wide-ranging subject.

Graduates will find careers in commercial horticulture and may work in:

Sales & Marketing
Food Science and Technology
Food Crop or Ornamental Crop Production
Organic crop production

Alternatively they may decide to follow a career in:

Amenity Horticulture
Golf and Sports Turf Construction
Horticultural therapy
Arboriculture & Tree Surgery
Landscape Design or Maintenance
Interior Landscaping
Floristry
Garden Centre Operation
Sport Turf Management
Parks, Recreation and Estate Management

Other career areas are in

Education
Research
Media and Journalism

Some Graduates decide to work for themselves in various sectors of the horticulture industry. A few Bachelors of Science in Horticulture are currently working as Gardener, Green keeper, Farm Manager, Landscaper or Landscape Controller. They are employed in such a great places like: Killen Castle Golf Resort or Kylemore Abbey. One of them is the Head Gardener/Horticulturist in Leopardstown Racecourse. Some Graduates decided tocomplete MSc in Sustainable Development at DIT, study Landscape Architecture or to obtain a Degree in Natural Sciences at TrinityCollege.

Our Graduates; Bachelors of Science in Horticulture; about these courses:

‘The course is practical as well... In the mornings we are out working away using machinery and in the afternoons we go into the classroom and learn about how it works (...) In the library there is a section on Horticulture (…) The course gives you the knowledge to set up a business…we’re doing law, communication, accountancy, it’s all there.’

‘The course covers general horticulture practice, driving machinery, it’s varied, it’s not just sitting in a lab all day… they have everything really.’

‘I did landscaping garden management part time and took a decision to do the full time course. The lecturers are very approachable… and there’s a good atmosphere…’

As part of ITB’s commitments to working in partnership with other education providers as well as the community and industry, we run Bachelor of Science in Horticulture courses with the Salesian College of Horticulture in Warrenstown and the College of Amenity Horticulture in the National Botanic Gardens[1].

[1] For more details please visit: or