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New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Landscape Design)

Are you passionate about creating inspiring, liveable outdoor spaces? This programme will give you the core technical knowledge and skills to turn your passion and flair for garden design into reality.

Level
4
Credits
60 (0.5 EFTS)
Campus
Mt Albert
Start dates
February and July.
Duration
Full-time for six months or part-time options available.

Programme overview

The New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Landscape Design) is for budding landscape designers who want to develop their garden design knowledge and skills.

Learn the design process, including how to carry out a site analysis and select plants to create sustainable, attractive and functional residential garden designs. Gain an excellent foundational knowledge of plants, soils, how to encourage garden biodiversity and green design solutions. You’ll also gain the skills and confidence to draw and represent your design in a professional manner, as well as developing supervision and management skills that will assist with implementation and aftercare. This is the perfect programme for anyone interested in landscape design who wants to begin developing the core skills required.

Once you've successfully completed this programme, you’ll be able to create a garden design, as well as understand planting and aftercare requirements to ensure your design always looks great. You'll also gain some communication and supervisory experience, all of which will help you be ready to start your career in landscape design, creating plans for great garden designs that focus on planting (soft landscaping).

Highlights

  • Fast-Track Your Career: Become qualified in as little as six months and unlock opportunities to create your own garden designs, work in the industry, or transition to further study.

  • Pathway to Further Qualifications: This programme is a direct pathway into the New Zealand Diploma in Landscape (Design)

  • Learn from Industry Experts: You’ll be guided by our experienced teaching team, which includes skilled teachers, designers, and plantspeople. Gain additional insights from expert guest speakers and build valuable industry connections.

  • Hands-On Learning and Inspiration: Get inspired through on-site visits, field trips, and collaborative projects with your peers.

  • Design, Create, and Showcase Your Work: Take on real design projects, from client briefs to final design drawings. Build a professional garden design portfolio that showcases your skills and creativity.

  • Study in a Green Environment: Our park-like Mt Albert campus provides the perfect setting for plant identification exercises and a refreshing study experience.

Workload

  • Full-time study requires approximately 30+ hours per week over the 16-week duration of the course
  • A part-time option of 30 credits is available, requiring approximately 15+ hours per week across 2 semesters

Qualification

Once you've successfully completed this programme you'll receive the qualification New Zealand Certificate in Horticulture Services (Landscape Design) (Level 4).

From here you can seek work in the landscape industry, be self-employed or continue with further study. For example, you can pathway into the New Zealand Diploma in Landscape (Design)

Admission requirements

What you will need to study this programme. 


Domestic students

Academic requirements

You must have completed at least one of the following:

  • All applicants must be at least 16 years of age on the date of the programme’s commencement for the semester in which they wish to enrol (or provide a completed Early Release Exemption form) 
And meet one of the English entry requirements;

Don’t meet these Academic requirements?


International students

This programme is not open to international students. 

 

Courses and timetables

For more details on the courses including timetables, please click on the course names below.

Courses Credits Aim
Design Studio (LAND4113) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) The aim of this course is to introduce the principles and practice of garden design and demonstrate these through real application on a flat or near flat residential site.
Design Representation (LAND4114) 15 credits (0.125 EFTS) The aim of this course is to develop skills in representing designs visually through a combination of technical and non-technical drawing.
Horticulture for Landscape (LAND4443) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) The aim of this course is to introduce principles and practice of plant selection for garden design and horticultural management of residential gardens.
Courses Credits Aim
Designing with Plants (LAND5557) 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) The aim of this course is to develop introductory proficiency in planting design, technical plans and schedules for installing and maintaining garden designs.