Print this page Online Diploma in Garden Design

The Online Diploma in Garden Design is a three-year part-time course and provides a thorough training in garden design. It is for serious career-oriented students who wish to enter garden design at a professional level. Successful graduates earn a Diploma qualification that is equal to the Diploma in Garden Design award from the intensive in-house Diploma Garden Design.

The Online Diploma in Garden Design course offers the following:

• You study the course part-time, following an achievable but dynamic programme structure. The Online Diploma in Garden Design requires you to undertake a notional 10 hours of formal learning per week. However, you should expect to spend more time than this on assignments and garden design projects.
• You study in your own home or base, where you are encouraged to set up a small garden design studio.
• You can access your bespoke course website at any time and can study online or download and print course materials for offline study.
• You join a group of fellow Inchbald students who are studying the same course programme, so you can benefit from sharing, conferring and presenting your own ideas to fellow students using the online discussion forums and informal chatroom. Many garden designers work with a team, so co-operating with others and exchanging ideas gives valuable experience.
• You receive a high level of individual tutorial support from your tutors. The Online Diploma in Garden Design course includes frequent assignments, which you complete and submit to your tutor for constructive comments and advice that is tailored to your needs. In addition, you receive informal support from tutors online.
• You practise and develop your garden design skills by carrying out a series of practical design projects – with the support and guidance of your tutors – for assessment.
• At three key points during the Online Diploma in Garden Design course you attend in-house short study schools with your fellow students, first for induction at the beginning of the course, and then for intensive skills development.

Online Diploma in Garden Design – course contents

The three-year course is structured around 15 modules each typically comprising a series of sessions that require you to read and study, complete activities, participate in discussions and submit assignments for tutor feedback. Each module leads to a design project.

Online Diploma in Garden Design course: Year 1

At the start of the course you will explore the role of the garden designer and the creative concepts and principles of garden design. You will develop observation and visual communication skills, including sketching and technical drawing. You will build plant and horticultural knowledge and learn to design and present planting plans for gardens. You will consider the use and application of hard landscaping elements. With frequent opportunities to practise you will develop your skills so that by the end of the year you can complete a project to create and communicate a garden design.

Online Diploma in Garden Design course: Year 2

In the second year of the course you will further develop your knowledge, understanding and skills in garden design with assignment and project work. You will learn advanced drawing skills and surveying and how to use hard landscaping elements in gardens. You will broaden your understanding of planting styles, exploring how to design different gardens for conditions such as hot and dry gardens, water and bog gardens, roof and wall gardens, and create designs for a sustainable wildlife garden.

Online Diploma in Garden Design course: Year 3

The final year of the Online Diploma in Garden Design starts with an exploration of the history of gardens, but the focus of the year is on consolidating your design skills by creating quick garden designs and a major garden design project of your choice. You will also consider the practicalities of running a garden design project.
Detailed course content

Diploma Garden Design – course entry requirements

There are no formal entry requirements to the course, although you will need to show a commitment to the heavy workload and the maturity to contribute to the course group. If you are uncertain about making this commitment, you may be interested in taking the shorter Online Diploma in Principles and Practices of Garden Design course, from which you can convert to the full Diploma.
As this is an online course you will be communicating with your tutor and fellow students online and via email. You will need to be a confident computer user, able to contribute to online discussions, create illustrated documents, add attachments and so on. If you feel you lack these skills we recommend you develop them before the course start date.
For more information about the Online Diploma in Garden Design course, please contact the Course Administrator.