Use your mix of creative skills and practical horticultural techniques to find work in areas ranging from public parks and gardens to landscape architecture and urban design

Job options

Jobs directly related to your degree include:

• Amenity horticulturist
• Commercial horticulturist
• Horticultural consultant
• Horticultural therapist
• Landscape architect

Jobs where your degree would be useful include:

• Environmental consultant
• Environmental education officer
• Field trials officer
• Interior and spatial designer
• Nature conservation officer
• Planning and development surveyor
• Plant breeder/geneticist
• Urban designer

Work experience

Universities often have links within the landscape and garden design industry and may be able to help you find a suitable placement opportunity. It may even be possible to complete your placement abroad, if you wish.

Look for student design competitions to enter - these provide the opportunity for you to work on show gardens at high-profile events.

Part-time work and/or voluntary work can help you develop useful skills such as teamworking and effective communication. Try to get relevant work experience, for example working as a landscape assistant. Opportunities exist with commercial nurseries, organic producers, garden centres, public and privately-owned gardens, parks, local community and charitable organisations.

Typical employers

You could work for:

• local authorities
• plant nurseries
• garden centres
• publicly and privately-owned gardens
• commercial landscaping companies
• private landscape architectural practices and consultancies
• government advisory and heritage agencies.

There are also opportunities with voluntary organisations, public sector bodies such as the Forestry Commission, and large engineering and construction firms.

Some graduates go on to set up their own gardening, landscape design or landscape architecture business. After developing your expertise and building a reputation, you may choose to be employed or self-employed as a consultant.

Skills for your CV

As well as fostering and developing your creative design flair, you'll gain knowledge of plants, site analysis and surveying and garden design, as well as an understanding of the theories behind landscape architecture, garden history and conservation. Through your studies, you'll also gain business and management skills to help you set up and run your own business.

In addition, you'll acquire a range of skills that are useful in many job sectors. These include:

• practical knowledge of construction and project management
• media skills, both digital and non-digital methods, used to develop and express ideas
• skills in computer-aided design and graphic design
• problem-solving skills
• communication skills, through written, verbal and visual means to discuss theories, ideas, findings and solutions
• presentation skills, in particular presenting ideas and visions to clients
• self-management, with the ability to manage your time and to carry out personal reflection
• team work, being carried out to achieve a common goal
• attention to detail
• IT skills in data handling, research and presentation of solutions.