- Degree
- Bachelor of Science (B. Sc.)
- Admission restriction
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No
- Contact
- Application deadline
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29 April – 15 July 2024
What characterises the Horticulture degree programme
In the Bachelor's degree programme in Horticulture at the Weihenstephan campus, you will get to know a fascinating science - in the truest sense of the word: The degree programme is part of the Agricultural Science subject area and covers horticultural production as well as the trade in horticultural products and the horticultural service sector.
These three factors in particular speak in favour of studying Horticulture at Weihenstephan:
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Wide range of specialisation options
Depending on your own interests, you can put together your own study programme from the 4th semester onwards. The Horticulture module programme at Weihenstephan provides good coverage of all areas of the industry. You are therefore free to decide whether you want to spend more time in the Weihenstephan Gardens, grow lettuce in our indoor farm or carry out experiments in our fruit store.
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Diverse practical relevance
Things also get exciting in our simulation games, for example when you get to manage a virtual supermarket with your fellow students. While you might be working on programming our FarmBot, your staff might be working on the "in vitro" propagation of orchids in the laboratory, analysing the plant population in the field using drone technology or doing project work at our Schlachters research station for pomiculture on Lake Constance.
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Personalised support
The courses take place in manageable group sizes so that you can benefit from individual and intensive support.
You can find more videos about the degree programme on our YouTube channel
Study contents of the Horticulture degree programme
From the 1st to 3rd semester, you will be taught the scientific basics you need for Horticulture. Mathematical and physical knowledge is required if you want to calculate the size of a heating system, for example. You will need knowledge of chemistry, for example, when it comes to the miscibility of liquid fertilisers. From the 1st semester onwards, you will also gain an insight into the practice-orientated areas of Horticulture: tree nursery, vegetable growing, fruit growing, perennial gardening and ornamental plant cultivation.
From the 4th semester onwards, you can pursue your individual interests and career goals. You therefore have two study programmes to choose from.
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Production horticulture
Would you like to work with plants and/or healthy fruit and vegetables, plant nutrition, sustainable plant protection, breeding, etc. in your future career? You don't just want to sit at a desk, but also work on cultivated areas and in horticultural production or processing companies?
Then the "Production Horticulture" degree programme is just right for you!
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Trade & services in Horticulture
Are you interested in management, marketing or trade? Are you enthusiastic about the flavourful products of Horticulture? In your future career, would you like to apply your knowledge in international or regional entrepreneurship, ensure the best goods in quality management or use your sales talent in trade and services?
Then the "Trade and Services in Horticulture" degree programme is just right for you!
You can choose different, individually preferred modules within these fields of study. The profile programme is supplemented by the practical semester (6th semester).
Franco-German study programme: Double degree in Horticulture
Together with the Agrocampus Ouest-Centre d'Angers, the department offers a study extension for the Horticulture - Production, Trade, Services degree programme: the Franco-German double degree. This gives you the opportunity to obtain a Bachelor of Science degree from HSWT and an „Ingénieur Grade Master“ degree from the Agrocampus.
Structure of the Horticulture degree programme
The Study and Examination Regulations (SPO) stipulate compulsory modules for all students on the Bachelor's degree programme in Horticulture. You can also sharpen your profile by taking required elective modules: Both your interests and your personal goals play a role here in order to deepen your industry or task expertise.
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1st semester
Module
ECTS
Botany I 5 Physical & agrometeorological basics
5 Chemical Basics 5 Bio- & Business Mathematics 5
Technical Fundamentals 5 Fundamentals of plant production 5 -
2nd semester
Module
ECTS
Botany II
5 Fundamentals of Experimental Design
5 Operation & Market
5 Fundamentals of scientific communication
5 Soil science
5 Fundamentals of fruit growing & tree nursery production
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3rd semester
Module
ECTS
Plant Protection I
5 Marketing & Trade Management
5 Technology in Horticulture
5 Fundamentals of plant nutrition
5 Basics of digitalisation
2 Basics of ornamental plants & vegetables
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4th semester
Specialisation in Production Horticulture
Compulsory modules "Plant Protection II" (5 EC) and "Production Management" (5 EC), one further optional compulsory module (5 EC) and three specialised compulsory elective modules (15 EC in total)
Selectable compulsory modules:
- Nursery crops
- Vegetables from protected cultivation
- Production methods in fruit growing
- Ornamental plant cultivation
Trade and Services specialisation
Compulsory modules "Plant Protection II" (5 EC) and "Business Management in Trade and Services" (5 EC), a further optional compulsory module (5 EC) and three compulsory elective modules in specialised sciences (15 EC in total)
Optional compulsory modules:
- Perennial plants
- Landscaping
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5th semester
Specialisation in Production Horticulture
Compulsory module "Fertiliser strategies and growing media" (5 EC), a further optional compulsory module (5 EC) and four compulsory elective modules in the subject area (20 EC in total)
Optional compulsory modules:
- Specialised nursery science
- Outdoor vegetable growing
- Specialised fruit growing
- Specialised ornamental plant cultivation
Specialisation in Trade and Services
Compulsory module "Procurement" (5 EC), a further optional compulsory module (5 EC) and four compulsory elective modules in specialised sciences (20 EC in total)
Optional compulsory modules:
- Wood science
- Garden design
- Logistics and supply chain management
- Storage and processing of Horticulture products
- Marketing
- quality management
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6th semester
Module
ECTS
Practical semester with accompanying courses 30 -
7th semester
Module
ECTS
Four compulsory elective modules (5 EC each)
20 Bachelor's thesis 10 -
Specialised elective modules
You will find further compulsory elective modules below. This list will be updated at the beginning of the semester.
- Agricultural Informatics
- Vocational & Labour Pedagogy (in Horticulture)
- Farm & business development
- Experimental work
- Cemetery Gardening
- Fruit & vegetable technology
- Herbs, spices & mushrooms
- Human resources and labour management
- Procurement
- Special aspects of plant nutrition
- Specialised plant propagation: plant in vitro cultures & seed cultivation
- Specialised plant protection
- Greenhouse technology
- Consultancy & public relations
- Horticultural plant breeding & basics of plant biotechnology
- Design & Creation
- Basics of business management
- Organic Horticulture & Environmental Protection
- Sustainability in Horticulture
- Tropical Horticulture
- Process Engineering Outdoor
All "Optional compulsory modules" can also be taken as compulsory elective modules in both fields of study.
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English-language study programme
Project Work in Horticulture Research
This involves working on a part of an ongoing research project and preparing a report in English (the number of working hours and thus the ECTS points achievable will be agreed individually).
English-language module offer
- Sustainability in Horticulture and Food Technology (summer semester)
- Technical English for Horticulturists (winter semester)
- Selection of further modules from other degree programmes at the University of applied sciences
Career prospects after your Horticulture degree programme
When you graduate from the Horticulture - Production, Trade, Services degree programme, you will have qualified as a responsible manager.
Potential career opportunities include
- Production companies in all areas of horticulture (tree nurseries, vegetable growing, fruit growing, perennial nurseries and ornamental plant cultivation)
- Trading companies, garden centres & marketing facilities
- Private & public advisory organisations
- Teaching/testing centres and research institutes
- Fruit & vegetable processing companies & the food industry
- Companies in the supply industry (fertilisers, soils, packaging)
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What could your tasks be after completing your Bachelor's degree in Horticulture?
- Production & plant management
- Crop technology & plant production
- Employee management & work organisation
- Management functions in horticultural wholesale & retail
- Purchasing, marketing & sales
- quality management
- Public administration (district offices, offices for nutrition, Agriculture & Forestry, state institutes)
- Consultancy work (public service, associations, product consulting)
- Teaching & research activities
- Expert & appraisal work
- development aid
- breeding
What do our Horticulture alumni do?
The results from the nationwide survey of graduates in Horticulture provide information on how they find their career entry, in which areas they work and how they assess their studies in retrospect: Horticulture career field analysis 2016/17
"Career opportunities in Horticulture" film on the YouTube video portal
Dual study models
Are you thinking about a practical alternative to studying or can't decide whether to start a vocational qualification or a degree programme? Would you like to increase the practical part of your degree programme and slowly grow into a company? Then our dual study programmes are just right for you!
Study including vocational qualification (work-study programme in the form of combined studies)
In a total of just 4.5 years, you can obtain a Bachelor of Science degree and a vocational qualification as a gardener specialising in production horticulture.
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How does the work-study programme in the form of combined studies work?
One difference to the pure Bachelor's degree in Horticulture in the work-study programme is that the course is preceded by a 15-month training period. You start your vocational qualification on 1 July, for example, and begin your studies the following year in the winter semester with the regular courses. Further training periods take place in blocks during the semester breaks and as part of the practical semester. In addition, the subject-specific inter-company training courses must be completed in accordance with regular vocational qualifications. The vocational college can be attended regionally during the periods of in-company training.
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Possible specialisations
You can choose the following specialisations for your vocational qualification:
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Application procedure
In general, the same admission requirements apply for the dual models as for the regular Horticulture degree programme at HSWT. However, additional application documents are required and other deadlines must be met.
- You organise a cooperating, recognised training company in commercial horticulture yourself and apply to us online with the following documents:
- Vocational training contract (copy), confirmed by the responsible office
- Higher education entrance qualification
- Cooperation agreement in duplicate
- The letters of admission will be sent out in August. As you will first complete 15 months of your vocational qualification, you do not need to enrol initially. It is important that you keep the admission letter in a good place so that you can present it again the following year!
- Between 1 May and 1 July of the following year, you must submit another short application and present last year's letter of admission. Your place at university is then guaranteed.
- Enrolment then takes place in September. You will need proof from your training company that the vocational qualification will be continued. Otherwise you will forfeit your place.
- You organise a cooperating, recognised training company in commercial horticulture yourself and apply to us online with the following documents:
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Certificate
At the end of the successfully completed degree programme, you can apply for a certificate of dual study. It certifies that you have completed the Bachelor's degree programme and the corresponding vocational qualification at the same time or at an interlinked time or a course with intensive practical work.
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Find training companies
In general, all recognised training companies in Germany can be selected for the dual education pathway, i.e. recognition as a training company is decisive for cooperation with Weihenstephan-Triesdorf University of Applied Sciences.
Consequently, you can apply to any recognised training company and ask whether they would like to support you in your dual studies!
Databases of all training companies in Bavaria:
Bavarian State Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Forestry
We are happy to help you find a suitable training company!
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Previous and interested training companies
Tree nursery
Baumgartner | 84378 Nöham
Bruns | 26160 Bad Zwischenahn
Eberhardt | 86753 Möttingen
Haage | 89340 Leipheim
Haid | 88433 Schemmerhofen
Plattner | 94501 Aldersbach
Rall | 72800 Eningen
Scheerer | 88339 Bad Waldsee
Wörlein | 86911 Dießen am Ammersee
Wörner | 86356 NeusäßVegetable growing
Boß | 90427 Nuremberg
Böck | 85646 Neufahrn
DLR Rheinpfalz | 67105 Schifferstadt
Hecker | 82140 Olching
Höfler Gemüse | 90425 Nuremberg
Klostergärtnerei | 83671 Benediktbeuern
LWG | 96050 Bamberg
Marienhof | 31860 Emmerthal
Naderer | 85414 Kirchdorf
Regens Wagner Holzhausen | 86859 Igling-Holzhausen
Scherzer | 90427 Nuremberg
Schneider | 90427 Nuremberg
Stiftung Attl | 83512 Wasserburg a. InnFruit growing
Bezirk Niederbayern | 84166 Adlkofen
Fahr | 88048 Friedrichshafen
HSWT | 88138 Sigmarszell
KOB | 88213 Ravensburg-Bavendorf
Ludwig | 63911 Klingenberg am Main
LVWO | 74189 Weinsberg
LWG | 97209 Veitshöchheim
WINO | 74336 BrackenheimCemetery nursery
Ausbildungsgenossenschaft für Dienstleistungsgärtner Baden | 76227 Karlsruhe
Berchtenbreiter |81549 München
Hartmann | 86157 Augsburg
Otto | 68167 Mannheim
Radloff | 90427 NürnbergPerennial nursery
Gartenreich | 90518 Oberrieden
Gaißmayer | 89257 Illertissen
Hokema | 73527 Schwäbisch Gmünd
Staudengärtnerei Strasser | 82296 Schöngeising
Strobel | 80995 München
Tangermann | 31171 NordstemmenOrnamental plant cultivation
Baumer | 92526 Oberviechtach
Bayerische Blumen Zentrale | 85599 Parsdorf
Beck | 82024 Taufkirchen
Berchtenbreiter | 81549 München
Dauchenbeck | 90768 Fürth
Flora Mediterranea | 84072 Au/Hallertau
Gauster | 84405 Dorfen
Haberler | 92318 Neumarkt i. d. Oberpfalz
Hägele | 73760 Ostfildern
Häntsche | 87719 Mindelheim
Hartmann | 86157 Augsburg
Hauner | 93059 Regensburg
Herb | 87439 Kempten
Inntal-Gärtnerei | 94152 Neuhaus a. Inn
Kölle | 81247 Munich
Mühlbachgärtnerei | 85368 Moosburg
Ohlwerter | 90543 Eckental
Stadtgärtnerei Bamberg | 96052 Bamberg
Strobel | 80995 Munich
Wörner | 86356 Neusäß
Zwickel | 87775 Salgen - Hausen
Contact persons for joint degree programmes
course with intensive practical work
You can apply to our cooperation partners for admission to the course with intensive practical work from the Horticulture degree programme. At least 10 months of practical experience must be completed during the semester breaks and in the practical semester. In most cases, the Bachelor's thesis is also completed at the partner company.
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How does the course with intensive practical work work?
You apply to us for a traditional horticultural degree programme - not a dual degree! In the 2nd semester, you can then opt for a course with intensive practical work.
After a short introduction and explanation in a special course during your degree programme, you can apply to our cooperation partners. Regulated by a training contract, you will then spend the lecture-free periods and the practical semester at the respective company. You can also write your Bachelor's thesis at the company.
The level of remuneration and holiday entitlement is based on a comparable training occupation and depends on the respective contract.
You can find a sample educational contract for a course with intensive practical work ( Horticulture dual trade) on the website of hochschule dual - Eine Initiative von University of Applied Sciences Bayern e. V. (in German).
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Our current co-operation partners
Why study Horticulture at Weihenstephan?
At the Weihenstephan campus on the west side of the city of Freising, the Horticulture and Food Technology department offers an ideal environment for Horticulture students. Together with the Technical University of Munich, the State Institute for Agriculture and other institutions, the University of Applied Sciences Weihenstephan-Triesdorf forms the Science and Research Centre Weihenstephan, where these location advantages await you.
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Practical & clear teaching
- Application-oriented courses
- Networking with other institutions on the Weihenstephan campus
- Use of the Weihenstephan Gardens as well as the grounds and facilities of the
- Centre for Research and Knowledge Transfer
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Possibility for a customised study profile
- Specialisation in "Production Horticulture" and "Trade and Services"
- Specialisation according to own interests possible through individual module selection
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Dual study programme
- Study + vocational qualification (work-study programme in the form of combined studies)
- course with intensive practical work
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Proximity to the lecturers
- Small group sizes in the courses
- frequent opportunities for dialogue with the lecturers
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Diverse student life in Freising
- Numerous student events at the Weihenstephan campus
- Freising as a student town with a wide range of cultural, sporting and social activities as well as its proximity to Munich
Our degree programme ambassador
Make it easier for yourself to choose a degree programme and talk to people who are already in the middle of it. Our programme ambassadors will tell you about their experiences at HSWT. Tamara Marx and Benjamin Kramer are degree programme ambassadors for the Horticulture degree programme.
I decided to study Horticulture at HSWT straight after leaving school. I had no connection to Horticulture before I started studying, but I quickly found my passion here. Thanks to the numerous and varied modules and elective options, every student has the chance to gain an insight into the most diverse areas of Horticulture. This allows everyone to pursue their individual interests and find the right path for them. At the HSWT, I really appreciate the practical learning both in the lecture theatres and in the teaching gardens and greenhouses. A wide variety of practical exercises often allow students to directly try out and consolidate what they have learnt. The lecturers impress with their specialist knowledge and are always happy to help with any problems or questions that arise. Thanks to the cosy atmosphere in Freising, you quickly make friends with other students and feel at home after a short time.
If you have any questions about studying or would like to attend a lecture one day, please feel free to contact me by email (tamara.marx@student.hswt.de) or on Instagram (gartenbau.hswt).
Benjamin Kramer
Moving from my home town of Hamburg to Freising was a real change for me at first. But it's a change that I really like. Freising scores with its cosy and manageable old town, where student life is still not neglected. You can get around the whole town in a short time by bike or on foot and you always meet someone you know, both there and on campus. The University of applied sciences is not characterised by anonymity, as is the case at some universities. The small group sizes create a great learning atmosphere in which every question and request is dealt with in detail so that every student is taken on board.
However, if I ever get a hankering for the big city flair again, I can get to Munich quickly and easily.
For more information about the degree programme and student life, you can check out our Instagram channel (gartenbau.hswt). If you have any questions or would like a campus tour, you can also contact me at benjamin.kramer@student.hswt.de.
