About the course
This course runs term time on a Thursday or Friday 9.30am to 4.30pm. This is an opportunity for those involved in the field of garden and landscape maintenance to apply the principles of horticultural science, seek out best practice, select techniques which are cost effective, embrace sustainability, ensure biosecurity and comply with current legislation whilst developing gardens and landscapes. Horticulturists will apply the skills they developed within the RHS Level 2 qualification, but embrace the concepts of garden management plans, maintenance schedules and garden health plans to enable the management of the many and varied aspects that make up the garden.
Key Information
Location: Liverpool Campus
Course length: One Year (35 weeks)
Start date: August 2025
Interested in taking this course? Click here to apply for this course online
Course Modules
Creating Planted Areas
Ecological and Sustainable Plantings
Landscaping Materials
Maintaining Planted Areas
Plant Health
Plant Knowledge
Productive Growing
Protected Growing
Entry requirements & additional information
18 years old or older (please note funding differs between 18 year olds and 19+)
RHS Level Two Practical Horticulture (or equivalent) is an essential pre-requisite. We strongly recommend that students also hold the Level 2 RHS Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development.
NB: Myerscough hopes to be able to offer the Level 3 RHS Certificate in the Principles of Plant Growth and Development in future years. This will require students to hold the Level 2 Principals qualification. Learners who already hold the L3 Practical course will be unable to step back to study the L2 Principals course and so it is important to take the qualifications in order.
The capacity for self-study.
Basic IT skills and access to an internet enabled computer or tablet.
Students are expected to have demonstrated high levels of commitment on past courses and maintained constantly high attendance to be considered for this programme.
Throughout the course there will be regular assessments to allow you and your tutor to understand the progress you are making. These will range from informal classroom-based or practical activities, short homework assignments through to college checkpoint assessments.
To gain the RHS Level 3 Certificate in Practical Horticulture, you must successfully complete two assessments set and marked externally by the RHS. These are normally completed in June and/or July each year
Fees and funding
The full course cost for anyone living outside of Liverpool City Region or Greater Manchester is �1250 which includes all teaching materials and assessments.
If you are unsure of your postcode area please refer to https://skillspostcodecheck.com/. Liverpool postcodes will be coded 111 and Greater Manchester postcodes 110. If you return any other code, then unfortunately there is no additional funding available for the course and you will be billed �1250
Fees are based on the government adult skills funding allocation for 24/25 and may be reviewed for 25/26. The Level Three Qualification is only funded via Liverpool City Region Devolved Authority. Please note this is different to the Level Two qualification which is funded in most local areas.
Residents of the Liverpool City Region/ Greater Manchester
Please see our adult fees page on the website for more details. Funding is dependent on individual circumstances however this guidance can help you understand what your fees may be. The funding relies on your situation on the first day of the course.
You must be 19+ on or before 31st Aug of your start year.
You must not be completing a government funded course such as an apprenticeship.
You must not be a prisoner or on remand.
You must earn under �33 958.60 per year
OR
Be unemployed and completing this course to support finding paid or voluntary work
If you are a working gardener, this course is eligible for funding by the Professional Gardeners Trust - to find out more please visit their website https://pgtrust.org. For information regarding other possible charitable support please visit the finance pages of our website FE Fees and Finance | Myerscough College.
Careers and Progression
Employment and volunteering in a range of horticultural settings including gardens, parks, private estates, community gardens and commercial settings.
You can choose to continue your studies to gain the RHS Level 3 Diploma in Horticulture. Completion of the full diploma will give you the required knowledge and skills to succeed in higher-level roles within the industry, such as garden supervisor, team leader, and retail manager.
Paid student placements and traineeships e.g. The Historic and Botanic Garden Training Programme and the Professional Gardeners� Guild Traineeship
Your preferred method of taking notes.
Appropriate outdoor work clothes, including steel toe-capped work boots, waterproofs, sun hats and gardening gloves.
A pair of bypass secateurs.
Access to a desktop computer, laptop, or tablet and a reliable internet connection