Programme overview
Turn your creativity and love of plants into a fulfilling career in landscape design. In this diploma, you’ll develop the essential skills to design green spaces that are beautiful and functional.
A career in landscape design includes creating gardens and landscapes that bring joy to people’s lives. It blends creativity, horticulture, technology and business acumen to design and construct gardens for a range of clients, uses and settings, always with a strong focus on sustainability and enhancement of ecological value. This is a career choice that can feed your passion for design, plants and creating outdoor environments to be enjoyed by all. You can work in the sunshine, surrounded by greenery, doing something you’re really passionate about.
What you’ll learn:
- How to present your design vision and ideas clearly using various methods – like hand-drawing, computer-aided design (CAD) software and other graphic and visual communication techniques.
- Build your knowledge of plants and materials – so you can confidently create combinations for a range of environmental conditions.
- How to prepare planting plans for implementation and ongoing maintenance.
- How to design and draw constructed elements.
- Develop project and relationship management skills – communicate with clients professionally and work effectively with contractors and design colleagues.
Highlights
- Nationally recognised qualification with input from the Garden Design Society of New Zealand. This means that the skills you’re developing are what employers in the industry are looking for.
- Learn in a park-like campus – a great environment for plant identification and studying landscape conditions.
- Access to our high-tech CAD facilities for technical plans and models.
- Industry-connected teaching team – learn from and work with highly-regarded lecturers who are involved with key industry organisations.
- Cross-credit into further study – once you’ve graduated, you can move straight into work or apply to study at a higher level for the Bachelor of Landscape Architecture.
- Flexible study - part time options available.
Admission requirements
What you will need to study this programme.
Domestic students
International students
Academic requirements
As a part of this requirement, you must be at least 16 years of age and meet the below;
- All applicants must be at least 16 years of age when they begin their studies, and they should meet the country-specific admission requirement;
And English entry requirements;
If English is not your first language, you will also need at least one of the following qualifications:
- Evidence of an IELTS (Academic) band score of at least 5.5 with no band score lower than 5
- University Entrance Literacy: 8 credits at Level 2 or above in English or Māori (4 in Reading, 4 in Writing); or
- Evidence of English language proficiency as outlined in the NZQA Rules on the Unitec English Language Requirements for International Students Web-page.
Don’t meet these Academic requirements?
- If you don’t meet the academic criteria, our Bridging Education Programmes can help you qualify. Apply online, and we’ll discuss your next steps.
- If you don’t meet the above criteria, special or discretionary admission may apply; your eligibility will be determined at the interview.
For more information, download the programme regulations (PDF 268 KB)
Courses and timetables
For more details on the courses, please click on the course names below. Please note that our systems are updating with new course timetable information for 2025; please check back again soon.
| Courses | Credits | Aim |
|---|---|---|
| Landscape Graphics (HORT5401TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop graphic techniques and convey design ideas clearly in line with convention. |
| Planting Design (HORT5402TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop akonga knowledge of planting design. |
| Landscapes in Context (HORT5403TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to enable akonga to recognize the influence of the history of garden making on contemporary Aotearoa New Zealand Garden design. |
| Design Studio (HORT5404TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to develop skill in creating and presenting landscape designs. |
| Planting Plans and Documentation (HORT5405TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to enable akonga to prepare planting plans and associated documentation for use onsite. |
| Construction Plans and Documentation (HORT5406TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to enable akonga to prepare landscape construction plans and documentation for onsite implementation. |
| Advanced Design Studio (HORT5407TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to enable akonga to create a landscape design project to a professional standard. |
| Landscape Professional Practice (HORT5408TP) | 15.0 credits (0.125 EFTS) | The aim of this course is to enable akonga to develop leadership and relationship management skills for practice in the landscape profession, and to communicate landscape design proposals to a professional standard. |
