Horticulture

The MSc Horticulture caters for early career graduates working or intending to work in the global dynamic horticulture production and supply industry. It is designed for students who wish to acquire greater expertise in horticulture, mature students and career changers, and draws on the academic expertise available in the UCD School of Agriculture and Food Science.



Today the supply of horticulture goods and services involves a global network of producers, distributors and retailers. While labour is currently a significant part of the cost basis for horticulture enterprises, innovations in technology, logistics and management is disrupting the traditional labour intensive model of horticulture businesses.



With ever increasing demands from the market place to reduce costs, future horticulture enterprises will require highly educated and skilled individuals who can interpret and apply sound scientific knowledge and utilise modern innovative technologies and management systems to provide sustainable globally relevant horticulture products and services.



The minor thesis component offers a very broad choice of research topics that allows a candidate to focus on a specific subject area. Students are assigned an academic supervisor with research interests and expertise in the thesis subject area.



What Will I Learn?

• Apply learned skills and competencies in horticultural production of food and/or non-food plants.

• Combine the use of core laboratory, field and IT skills in scientific study and evaluation.

• Devise and interpret horticultural studies/evaluations involving the collection, appropriate analysis and reporting of resulting observations.

• Interpret and evaluate the wider sustainability issues and challenges of plant based food and non-food production.

• Contribute to and appreciate the objectives of related national, EU and international policy.

• Integrate scientific understanding in sustainable horticulture production and policy approaches

• Combine, interpret and apply new scientific, technological & business knowledge to their horticultural practice.

• Plan and realise sustainable management of biological, human, financial, and social resources, to ensure the success of commercial and non-commercial horticulture enterprises.

Module/Trimester/Credits



Stage 1 Core Modules

AERD40180 Enterprise Development Autumn 5

HORT40110 Food Production: Vegetable Crops Autumn 5

HORT40120 Food Production: Protected Crops Autumn 5

HORT40130 Fruit & Postharvest Physiology Autumn 5

HORT40140 Biodiversity and Environmental Horticulture Autumn 5

FDSC20110 Food Diet and Health II - Making Healthy Food Choices Autumn and Spring (separate) 5

AESC30230 Climate, Carbon and Soil Spring 5

AESC40180 Data Analysis for Biologists Spring 5

HNUT40110 Food Quality and Safety (O/L) Spring 5

HORT30020 Elements of Landscape Design Spring 5

HORT40090 Nursery Production & Management Spring 5

HORT40100 Minor Thesis Summer 30



Stage 1 Options - A) Min 1 of:

Option Module

HORT30390 Plant Biotechnology & Micropropagation Spring 5

RDEV30060 Professional Communications Spring 5

• Applicants must hold a minimum lower second class honours degree, or international equivalent in a biological, environmental, agricultural or related science degree.

• Mature candidates will be considered on the basis of relevant experience. Prospective candidates are encouraged to contact the Programme Director to discuss their eligibility.

• Applicants whose first language is not English must also demonstrate English language proficiency of IELTS 6.5 (no band less than 6.0 in each element), or equivalent.

• Students meeting the programme’s academic entry requirements but not the English language requirements, may enter the programme upon successful completion of UCD’s Pre-Sessional or International Pre-Master’s Pathway programmes. Please see the following link for further information http://www.ucd.ie/alc/programmes/pathways/ .

• These are the minimum entry requirements – additional criteria may be requested for some programmes.



You may be eligible for Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL), as UCD recognises formal, informal, and/or experiential learning. RPL may be awarded to gain Admission and/or credit exemptions on a programme. Please visit the UCD Registry RPL web page for further information at: https://www.ucd.ie/registry/prospectivestudents/admissions/rpl/ Any exceptions are also listed on this webpage.

Online Application.



Who Should Apply?

Full Time option suitable for:

Domestic(EEA) applicants: Yes

International (Non EU) applicants: Yes

90

1 year full-time. Delivery: On Campus.

MSc Horticulture (D064) Full Time

EU fee per year - € 8875

nonEU fee per year - € 18800


***Fees are subject to change

D064: Master of Science in Horticulture Full-Time

Commencing September 2026

Graduate Taught

Careers & Employability

Wide ranging career opportunities exist in private companies, public organisations and government agencies in the food and non-food sectors of horticulture. This programme also allows graduates to completely change direction putting them on a radically different career path from their primary degree and advancement to PhD level.



Graduate Roles:

• Plant Producers

• Distribution and Retail

• Horticulture Therapists

• Designers

• Technical Advisors

• Scientists

• Business Development

• Entrepreneurial Roles