Institute of Gardening

How long does it usually take to complete the course?

The course can take 18 months to complete. But you can do it as quickly or slowly as you want. That's the great advantage of distance learning.

Do I need to finish the course within a certain time?

You can take as long as you want. Unlike other organizations, we don't set any time limits.

How much is the course?

You can find the cost of the course by clicking here.

Does the cost for the course include everything I need? Or are there any extra fees?

There are no other costs or fees.

Can I spread the cost of the courses over a period of time?

Yes. You can pay over five months. this costs 20% more. you can find the costs of paying by installments by clicking here.

How could I get my money back if I don't like the course?

Just return the course in good condition within 30 days of receiving it, and we'll send you a full refund.

And if, after seeking work at the end of the course, you don't earn at least the cost of your fees within three months, we'll also refund your fees.

Can I start the course at any time?

Yes. You can start today. Or whenever you want. We don't have fixed starting dates.

Is the course all from home, or do I have to go to a test centre?
It's all from home, but if you want to sit the RHS exam, you have to go to a centre near you. See our RHS exam page: click here

I live in the USA, UK, Ireland, Australia, Canada etc. Is the course suitable for me?
Yes. The course teaches you the principles of horticulture - about the selection, propagation and management of plants. These matters hold true wherever you live. The course will develop your horticultural skills So no matter what your climate zone, you'll benefit from this course.

If you live outside the UK, and you want to sit the RHS exam, click here.

How can I contact my tutor or the Institute?

There have two types of people you can contact - your tutor and a course advisor.

The tutor marks your work, and helps you with any problems. You can fax, email or post assignments to your tutor, whenever you want.

We don't give out the tutor's phone number, because a few people would spend all day talking to their tutors, who would never get any work done.

But sometimes students get stuck, or have an urgent query. If so, you can phone a course advisor at the Institute at any time during work hours. If you leave a message out of work hours we'll ring you back the next day. You can contact course advisors as often as you want, and about anything to do with horticulture.

Is the course accredited? And by whom?

Yes, we're accredited by the Open and Distance Learning Quality Council. You can find them at www.odlqc.org.uk. We're listed under Learning Institute, our parent organization. We're also accredited by Public Eye.

We haven't sought accreditation from other organizations. But if you have one in mind please let us know.

We are also registered with the Department for Education and Skills on its Register of Education and Training Providers. The Register is a list of genuine education and training providers in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. The Register does not quality assure or accredit in any way the learning provision of any registered provider.

You can find us on the register by clicking here. We are registered under our corporate trading name of 'Home Study Courses Limited'.

Will the course give me credits towards a degree or some other study?
No. But it will increase your horticultural knowledge. And we encourage all students to continue their studies after completing the course.

What qualifications will my tutor have?

All tutors hold the RHS Level 2 qualification. That means they are experienced gardeners who will be able to help you.

Can horticulture be taught, just like accountancy or the law?

Yes. Only it's a lot more fun!

Will the Diploma help me get a job

The course primarily aims to teach you about plants and gardening. In addition, we supply a booklet called 'How to get a job in Horticulture'.

Also, the qualification you get is an ideal way to demonstrate your knowledge. And the RHS (level 2) Certificate in Horticulture is the world's foremost qualification for people in the horticultural industry.

Is there a final exam?

If you want, you can sit the RHS (level 2) Certificate exam at a college near you. But everyone who completes the course gets our Diploma, without having to sit an exam. That's because the assignments provide continuous assessment of your progress. Click here to find out more about the RHS exam.

What happens if I fail an assignment?

You do the work again! 80% of students complete the course without ever failing an assignment. But you might misunderstand the question, or produce an insufficiently detailed answer. So the tutor will explain the problem and ask you to send in the assignment again. When you do this, your work will be much better.

Can I submit hand-written assignments?

Yes. That's no problem.

Can I submit assignments by E-mail?

Yes. That's no problem.

Can I join the course without prior experience?

Yes. We make no assumptions about people's prior knowledge. But it really helps if you love gardening and have some knowledge of gardening.

Can I tackle the topics in any order I choose?

Yes, you can. So, if you want to tackle a particular topic, you can go straight to that module. This is useful if you have a job or a client that requires you to know about a particular subject. You might note that some other organizations supply only one or two modules at a time.

I haven't studied for years. The thought of returning to study makes me nervous.
Don't worry. We sympathize. But this course is nothing like your memories of being stuck inside a stuffy classroom on a summer's day with an old-style teacher droning on.

For a start, this is a subject that interests you (or you wouldn't have got this far).

And getting this deep into the website shows that you can absorb information and concentrate for long periods of time.

Also, you'll see that we write clearly and simply. And that's how we've written the course materials. It's true that some organizations write long and boring pages that make your eyes glaze over. We promise you that our course is nothing like that. You'll find this course is informative and enjoyable. In fact, many students are almost upset at finishing the course.

Do I get the whole course or individual modules at a time?

We send you the whole course when you enroll. This means you can study any topic you want to. You can also see what topics are coming up. Getting everything in one package makes it easier for you to get an overview of the course. As we mentioned above, some other organizations supply only one or two modules at a time.

How does this course compare with others?

We think this is the best course in the world. Bar none. But please examine other courses before making a decision. Consider these points:

1. Is the course comprehensive?

2. Will your studies be supported by a tutor? Research shows that people succeed much better on courses that include a personal tutor.

3. Is it interactive? That is, do the course materials regularly make you stop and think, and do exercises? Too many courses consist of page after page of boring lecture notes.

4. Is it accredited?

5. Can you get a refund if you don't like the course?

So, how can I find out about other courses?

1. See if any courses are available at your local college or nearby university.

2. Scour the internet. But beware: the are lots of courses of variable quality out there.

Any other questions?

If you have a question, why not email us now? We could add it to our list of FAQs.

How are we different to other providers?

When you start comparing us with other course providers you might notice that:

• Some colleges limit the amount of time you have to complete the course. Many course providers only allow you 12 months to complete the course. And after those 12 months are up they may require you to pay a fee to continue. With our course you can take as long as you need, without paying additional fees.

• Some colleges will only give you 7 days to return your course if it’s not right for you. If our course is not what you expected and you want a full refund we allow you 30 days to return it and claim your money back.

• Some colleges will charge you an administration fee to return the course. We refund all of your fees.