If being outdoors and working in the natural environment is your thing, have you considered a career in horticulture or agriculture?
If you are "into animals” we have courses at every level for a range of interests which include practical and theory and even working with zoo animals.
Agriculture, Estates and Horticulture
Our courses in Agriculture and Estates (level 4) and Landscaping with Horticulture (level 5) are aimed at those who want to be working outside, with their hands and getting involved with nature.
Agriculture involves an understanding of the environment and production of food and crops as well as working with machinery, this course is combined with Estate Skills where you will learn some landscaping techniques and maintenance such as fencing and repairs.
Our Landscaping course includes production of plants, garden design and hard landscaping skills such as brick work, slabbing and working with construction materials. We also offer work-based programmes in the form of Modern Apprenticeships.
The aim of our Horticulture and Agriculture programmes is to enable you to progress into the world of employment, though some learners may choose to study at higher levels with other organisations such as SRUC. You can even progress to study HNC Horticulture at UHI through distance learning and come into our Kingsway Campus for support and to carry out your practical work.
Animal Care
In Animal Care, our programmes are available at all levels with our level 3 programmes requiring no previous experience and being very hands-on, all the way up to HND at level 8 which has much more theory-based learning.
You learn about handling, health and welfare and, as you progress through the levels, you’ll begin to study more technical subjects such as anatomy, physiology, nutrition, first aid and applied behaviour.
We even have a level 6 programme in Zoo Studies based at our Kingsway Campus and at Camperdown Wildlife Centre giving you the opportunity to study in a real zoo and work alongside some of their keepers in a work experience unit.
Our Animal Care programmes have a flexible range of jumping on and jumping off points, once you reach your desired level. You can use these qualification to go out into employment or to access Higher Education through our articulation routes with, for example, Aberdeen University. Many learners go on to do further studies in the form of a Veterinary Nursing programme.
The courses cater to a wide range of areas within Animal Care. This means that it can support a wide variety of students whether they want to pursue career such as veterinary nursing or start a self employed business.
My placement really helped me network and make contacts for future jobs.
Lee,
Landscaping & Horticulture
I love how hands on my course is. My dream is to be a vet nurse, so my course is helping me progress towards university to achieve that goal.
Rachel,
Animal Care
I had a working placement at the University of Aberdeen as part of my course. I got great hands-on insight into taking care of the grounds.
Daniel,
Landscaping & Horticulture
I have enjoyed going on work placement at Camperdown Zoo to see what it is like being a zookeeper. But most of all I love learning lots of interesting information about different species there.
