Higher education

Students undertaking a Bachelor’s degree study a broad range of coherent subjects which prepares them for a professional career in the industry. Bachelor’s degrees generally take 3-4 years to complete full time, although in some cases credit can be awarded for recognition of previous studies. Credit lessens the time it takes to complete the qualification, with a related diploma generally providing a years’ worth of credit.

University of Western Sydney
Bachelor of Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

Charles Sturt University
Bachelor of Horticulture (Online - 3 years full time)

The University of Queensland 
Bachelor of Applied Science (Urban Horticulture or Horticulture major)

University of New England
Bachelor of Agriculture (Plant Production major)

University of Tasmania
Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Horticulture major)

Graduate Certificates and Diplomas take 6 months to a year to complete and are targeted course of study in a specific area. A bachelor’s degree may not be required for entry to a Graduate Certificate program with industry experience instead being taken into account. Both Graduate Certificates and Diplomas may be stand alone or they may form part of an articulated course of study leading to a Master’s degree.

An Honours degree is completed after a bachelor’s degree in the same field and generally consists of an intensive research-based project. Honours degrees can be used as an entry to higher study such as a doctorate and are generally only open to students who have performed to a high standard in their bachelor’s degree

Swinburne University of Technology
Diploma Horticulture

Melbourne Polytechnic
Diploma Horticulture

The University of Melbourne
Graduate Diploma in Urban Horticulture
Associate Degree in Environmental Horticulture

The University of Sydney
Graduate Diploma in Agricultural and Environment

Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture
Masterclass in Horticultural Business

Masters degrees, either research or course based are higher degrees which prepare a student for the application of advanced knowledge in a range of contexts; professional practice, research or as a means to further study. Masters programs generally take 1-2 years to complete full time. In some cases credit may be awarded, based on prior study. Generally, a bachelor’s degree is required for entry into a master’s course and in some cases, this must be in the same discipline area.

The University of Melbourne
Master of Urban Horticulture

The University of Sydney
Master of Agriculture and Environment - Horticulture Technologies

The University of Queensland 
Masters of Agricultural Science Major in Horticulture

A doctorate is the highest academic qualification in the AQF and is available as either a research doctorate (generally a Doctor of Philosophy or PhD) or as a professional doctorate. Research is a core element of both streams with research doctorates requiring a significant and original contribution to knowledge and professional doctorates requiring a significant and original contribution to knowledge in a professional practice context. Entry to a doctoral program requires a bachelor with honour's degree with high grades or a Master’s degree.