Factsheet

No, as the programme isn’t a taught course, candidates aren’t allocated a personal tutor. Candidates are able to message tutors for each unit via the VLE for additional guidance however.

 Absolutely. The MHort is designed to give you a broad understanding of industry context in year 1, before allowing you to apply the unit concepts to your own sector in year 2. You will learn more about linked sectors, whilst having the time to develop your own specialisms and research useful to your employment. In year 3, you have the opportunity to complete your dissertation on a topic that is particularly relevant to your career.

The MHort team is made up of industry experts and educators from across the sector. The breadth of experience in the team gives you access to a wide range of knowledge and expertise and allows feedback to be given from someone who understands your sector in depth.

Learning support requirements are no barrier to achieving the MHort. We can provide you with a reasonable adjustment arrangement upon receipt of the relevant paperwork. As the MHort is not publicly funded, candidates are not eligible for grants or equipment from the DSA.

If you are ill you may apply for an extension on an assessment. If life becomes busy for any reason and there is not enough time to complete the MHort work, you may defer and pick up the programme again the following year. Candidates are required to complete the Award within five years of acceptance onto the programme.

As the RHS subsidises the cost of the MHort, it is not currently eligible for any grants or funding through the RHS, although candidates are able to apply for funding offered by other organisations. Please note that the MHort is not eligible for government student funding. Many candidates’ employers offer to pay their programme fees. We also offer a monthly payment scheme to help you spread the cost. We are also occasionally awarded scholarships to help fund a candidate’s journey through the MHort. Further information on any scholarships will be included in the application pack when you apply.

The MHort is recognised as a Level 6 Award under the Education Reform Act 1988, which sits at the same level as an undergraduate degree, but it is not a degree, qualification or taught course.

Absolutely! Having candidates from around the world is part of what makes the MHort a dynamic learning programme.

No, there are no days when you need to attend in person, as all assessments are completed electronically. Wherever possible, time-zone differences will be taken into consideration for international candidates.

Yes we do. The MHort is designed for professional horticulturists, so we would expect the majority of your work to consist of paid employment, but we will accept the occasional bit of voluntary work with an organisation towards the four years’ requirement. We also recognise part-time work experience, but this is calculated on a pro-rata basis. For example, working 20 hours a week for two years will equate to one year’s full-time work experience.