RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture

The RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture (CPH) is a unique course that focuses on the essential skills required by budding horticulturists. The course is organised into individual modules that cover a broad range of knowledge, skills and techniques:

• Looking at plants - an introduction
• Soil care
• Feeding & watering
• Seed propagation 
• Vegetative propagation
• Growing media & potting
• Planting
• Pruning & training

Please note this is the RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture. Completion of this course does not count towards the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Level 2 Diploma.

You do not need prior knowledge or experience to apply for this course. Enthusiasm and motivation is all that is required! This course complements the RHS Level 2 Theory qualification and can be completed before, alongside or after studying the RHS theory course.

Please note this course does not count towards the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) Level 2 Diploma.

We have three study options for you below. Please note that the dates will only change under exceptional circumstances and we will give you as much notice as possible.

Intensive two-week summer school 2026

Lessons run from 6th July to 18th July, spread over 10 sessions with breaks on 9th, 13th, and 17th July. followed by an exam. This includes weekdays and weekends. The full timetable is shown below:

Lesson 1:  6th July 2026
Lesson 2:  7th July 2026
Lesson 3:  8th July 2026
Lesson 4: 10th July 2026
Lesson 5: 11th July 2026
Lesson 6: 12th July 2026
Lesson 7: 14th July 2026
Lesson 8: 15th July 2026
Lesson 9: 16th July 2026
Lesson 10: 18th July 2026 (Exam day)

Applications are now closed.

Weekend 2026-27

This option delivers the course monthly with the option to attend on a Saturday or a Sunday. This course starts August and finishes in June.

Lesson 1: 29th/30th August  2026
Lesson 2: 26th/27th September 2026 
Lesson 3:  24th/25th October2026
Lesson 4:  14th/15th November
Exam 1:  5th/6th December
Lesson 5: 6th/7th February 2027
Lesson 6: 13th/14th March 2027
Lesson 7: 24th/25th April 2027
Lesson 8: 15th/16th May 2027
Exam 2:  5th/6th June 2027

Applications are now closed. We are accepting late applications that will be waitlisted. To apply for the wait list please fill in the application form.

Weekly 2027

This option delivers the course weekly on Fridays. This course starts February and finishes in April.

Lesson 1: 12th February 2027
Lesson 2: 26th February 2027 
Lesson 3:  5th March 2027
Lesson 4:  12th March 2027
Exam 1:  19th March 2027
Lesson 5: 23rd April 2027
Lesson 6: 30th April 2027
Lesson 7: 7th May 2027
Lesson 8: 14th May 2027
Exam 2:  21st April 2027

Applications open Monday 20th July at 9:00am and will close on Sunday 6th Dec, 11:00pm

To apply for the wait list please fill in the application form.

Students who attend all ten days and pass the assessment are awarded the RBGE Certificate in Practical Horticulture. The course is assessed through a practical exam (80% of grade) and online quizzes (20% of grade).

Full attendance is required to complete the course.

The course fees are £895. Full payment for the course is required on acceptance of a place.

This is a practical course so each module will involve indoor and physical outdoor work. Each week you will need to bring:

• Appropriate outdoor clothes (even indoor workstations can be cold)
• Safety toe-capped boots (steel or composite)
• Bypass secateurs
• Packed lunch

After you are accepted on the course, we can advise you about what to buy and where to buy these items.

Intensive two-week summer school 2026

Applications are now closed.

Weekend 2026-27

Applications are now closed. We are accepting late applications that will be waitlisted. To apply for the wait list please fill in the application form.

Weekly 2027

Applications open Monday 20th July at 9:00am and will close on Sunday 6th Dec, 11:00pm

To apply for the wait list please fill in the application form.

Future courses

If you would like to receive details of the next course when they become available, please complete the enquiry form.

As well as being delivered at The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, this course is being taught in partner organisations in the UK: Glasgow Botanic Gardens and Norfolk School of Gardening 

To ensure that quality and standards are maintained, The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh administers the assessment and qualification.

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) reserves the right to cancel this course. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh cannot be liable for additional costs incurred in the event of cancellation.

If the course does not proceed, any money paid to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh would be refunded in full.

Fees will not be refundable should you not complete or pass the course.

You will receive a full refund minus a £50 administration fee if you withdraw from the course more than two weeks before the course begins. If you wish to withdraw from the course, you must inform us of your decision by email. Cancellation by email is effective from the date on which you send us your message. 

We will be unable to offer a refund within two weeks of the course starting or after the start of the course.

If you are unable to complete the course due to an unavoidable absence you may be able to join another cohort/class subject to the availability of space. Fees may apply.

"The CPH has pushed me in a number of ways. There are lots of different career paths within horticulture and it's definitely helped me figure out where I want to be in this sector. It gave me confidence to apply to be a WRAGS trainee."

Grace, 2025 student