Practical Horticulture RHS – Certificate – Level 2
Course Status
Course intakes are now closed for the current 25/26 academic year.
Course dates and fees for the 26/27 academic year will be released when our new part-time prospectus is published in the summer term.
Please email parttimecourses@sparsholt.ac.uk to register your interest for new course intake information. We will be in touch once these are available.
What will I learn?
Delivered one day a week for 26 weeks (see below), taught on the Horticulture Department at Sparsholt College.
The course leads to the RHS Certificate Level 2 in Practical Horticulture.
Following the RHS syllabus, the qualification consists of eight core units covering the following subject areas:
To complete the qualification learners will be required to sit a summative short answer theory assessment, plant identification assessments and a series of formative practical competence assessments.
Further information on the new syllabus can be found on the RHS website: www.rhs.org.uk/qualifications
Where will it lead me?
Learners can enrol onto the RHS Level 2 in the Principles of Horticulture following completion of this Practical Course. Alternatively, they may move on to the Level 3 RHS Practical Course.
Entry Requirements
Please note RHS assessments – it is intended that students undertake the assessments for RHS in the academic year of registration, this allows for the best chance of success as assessments are taken while the syllabus knowledge is fresh.
There are no pre-requisites for this course just a passion for Horticulture.
Entry Requirements Age
Applicants must be 19+ on 31/8 in the academic year of the course start date in order to apply/enrol on the course.
Further Information
Learners will be required to carry out revision for assessments outside of their college attendance.
Please note: formal assessments will commence in February/March through to the end of June, some assessments will be scheduled after the course has finished.
Steel toe capped boots or very sturdy walking boots/approach shoes are essential for the participation of this course.
Fee Details 2
Due to funding restrictions, anyone who doesn’t live in England, isn’t a UK resident^ or who lives in the local authority areas^ of:
Cambridge and Peterborough (CPCA)
Greater London (London)
Greater Manchester (GMCA)
Liverpool City Region (LCRCA)
North of Tyne (NTCA)
North East (NEMCA)
South Yorkshire (SYMCA)
Tees Valley (TVCA)
West of England (WECA)
West Midlands (WMCA)
West Yorkshire (WYCA)
Note: for all courses with a start date on or after 1/8/25, the following local authority areas have been added to the list above.
Cornwall (new for 25/26) (Cornwall)
East Midlands (new for 25/26) (EMCCA)
York and North Yorkshire (new for 25/26) (YNCA)
Will be unable to apply for fee remission and may be subject to higher course fees than those published.
^go to this page on our website to check if your postcode is in a Devolved Funding Area or to check eligibility if you are a non-UK resident https://www.andover.ac.uk/fees-and-funding/ or https://www.sparsholt.ac.uk/the-college/fees-and-funding/
If you don’t live in England or are not a UK resident or live in any of the above local authority areas and wish to enrol on the course, please contact us for information on tuition fees.
Fee Code
C
Fee Remission
Free if aged 19+ and unemployed or have a gross salary income (excl benefits) below £25,750*
*19+ on 31/8 in academic year course starts. Includes those who are employed or self-employed.
Please contact the College for further information on gross salary income (excl benefits) below £25,750 funding eligibility.
For further information on fee remission details linked to the above Fee Code – refer to our PT Application form on our website.
All fee remission is subject to availability of Government funding at the start date of a course and eligibility criteria.
Please Note
All fees are correct at the current time and may be subject to change.
Any fee remission information quoted is correct at the current time but is dependent on government legislation and is subject to change.
Due to funding restrictions this course is not available to:
· Existing full time Sparsholt College/Andover College students aged 16, 17 or 18 (or 19-24 with an EHCP) on the 31/8 in the year they started/start their course
· Learners aged 19-24 with an EHCP
· Anyone undertaking an Apprenticeship