Print this page Online Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design

The Online Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design course provides a thorough training in garden design. It forms Part I of Inchbald’s Master of Arts Degree in Garden Design. In order to achieve the MA with us, you must achieve the Postgraduate Diploma and then successfully complete Part II, the dissertation.

The Online Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design is validated and awarded by the federal University of Wales.

The Postgraduate Diploma is a three-year intensive professional programme which enables students to investigate in depth the impetus and consequences of their design decisions, preparing them for the more investigative demands of this competitive profession. It is for serious career-oriented students who wish to enter garden design at a professional level.

As a student you will be encouraged to critically analyse design in your own terms and explore the philosophical background to the subject. You will learn to approach problem solving professionally with the Survey, Analysis, Design method and will be encouraged to explore conceptual design method and practice. You will develop core skills and understanding through comprehensive exploration of design, design analysis, construction, planting, graphics and business. You will be introduced to contemporary visualisation skills, both manual and computer based, and will develop these throughout the programme, enabling you to leave with a comprehensive portfolio and a clear understanding of practical and professional issues.

Further explanation and exploration, through lectures, workshops and site specific projects, cover aesthetic and practical issues and form the basis for self-directed study and student-led discussion in preparation for possible entry to Part II, the MA programme.

Successful graduates earn a Postgraduate Diploma qualification that is equal to the intensive in-house Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design.

Studying online for the Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design

The Online Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design course offers the following:

• You study part-time, following an achievable but dynamic programme structure. The Online Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design requires you to undertake approximately 12 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 programme 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 Postgraduate 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 Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design – course contents

The course is structured around modules – each leading to a design project.

Online Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design: Year 1

Module 1 looks at the role of the garden designer and the creative concepts that underpin garden design. Emotional responses are a major part of this process and although it is difficult to define beauty and aesthetic excellence, this module explains a number of generally accepted principles that can be used. You will develop your creative skills and your critical faculties and will present a report analysing a garden in depth.

Module 2 explores visual communication skills. You will learn technical drawing, learning to draw plans to scale as well as elevations and cross sections. You will also look at free-hand drawing and sketching. You will start to keep a sketchbook, recording your design ideas, garden and museum visits, plants and hard landscaping elements that interest you.

Module 3 looks at planting design and how to design and present a planting plan for a garden. You will consider the structure, form, texture and colour of plants and how to put them together in groups. You will start to assemble a Plant Portfolio which will record individual plants in detail and their design potential for a garden designer.

Module 4 is concerned with plant knowledge and planting design. You will gain a basic understanding of plant science, soil science and horticultural knowledge. This will equip you to choose the right plant for the right place when designing. You will also learn about fruit and vegetable gardening and complete a design and planting plan for a walled vegetable garden.

Module 5 is concerned with design implementation. You will create a client brief for a design project that will require a scale plan, a planting plan, plant lists, a concept board, and a model.

Online Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design: Year 2

Module 6 introduces more advanced technical drawing skills. You will learn how to draw an axonometric three dimensional drawing to scale, how to create one point perspective drawings, how to render your plans in colour and how to draw up setting out plans.

Module 7 explains surveying and drawing up a survey to scale. You will complete a design project that you have surveyed yourself.

Module 8 explores planting styles and plant knowledge in more depth. You will consider how to create different gardens for different site requirements such as water and bog gardens, hot and dry gardens, lawns and meadows, seaside gardens, roof gardens and vertical wall gardens. You will also learn about the practicalities of pests and diseases, weed control, pruning and propagation.

Module 9 is concerned with hard landscaping elements such as steps and levels, walls, paving, pergolas, boundaries, water features etc. You will look at each element in depth and consider its aesthetic potential and structural requirements. You will create a hard landscaping Portfolio as a reference tool for future use and learn about construction drawing.

Module 10 looks at sustainability and its relevance to garden designers. You will undertake the designs for a sustainable wildlife garden and will be required to produce a rendered plan, planting plans, plant lists, concept boards and sketches.

Online Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design: Year 3

Module 11 considers the history of gardens. You will learn about the historical background to gardens and garden making from the ancient Egyptians to the present day.

Module 12 is a short design module. You will create several sketch designs.

Module 13 looks at drawing up specifications for landscapers and maintenance schedules for clients.

Module 14 is the final design project of the course and requires you to find your own garden to design. You will create a full design package for this garden to include client brief, survey, a rendered master plan, planting plans, plant lists, concept boards, sketches, construction drawings, setting out plans and an axonometric drawing.

Module 15 gives advice on setting up and running a garden design practice. You will consider insurance, marketing, charging, putting together a portfolio, and the correct procedure for a designer when dealing with a client.

The MA in Garden Design

On successfully completing the Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design to the required standard (Part I of the MA) you may proceed to Part II – which is a thesis or dissertation – to achieve the MA Degree.

Entry requirements for the Online Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design

Entry requirements are as follows: first degree, generally at a first or upper second level which could be in a non-design subject; or with relevant experience, to be assessed by Accreditation of Prior and Experiential Learning (APEL).

We will invite all shortlisted applicants for interview and to submit a portfolio of work. We can make alternative arrangements for international students based overseas.

Portfolio requirements

These are the ways you can submit your portfolio prior to interview so we can consider your application.

• Send us a link to your website. You can email us the link if you have your work already uploaded to a website.
• Email us with your portfolio attached. You can email us with your portfolio attachment in the following formats – pdf, jpeg, Word or PowerPoint (no CAD files). You will need to keep the file size below 10mb.  As a school we use both PC and Apple Mac.
• Send us a disc by post. Post your portfolio on a CD. Please note CDs cannot be returned.

What to include in your portfolio

Carefully select and edit your images to produce an exciting, creative and representative document which informs us about your skills, interests and ambitions.

This could include:

• a selection of your student work
• a selection of your professional work
• a brief, illustrated explanation of any research you have undertaken
• examples of other creative work (e.g. images from your sketchbooks).

Note: Images can be of work in progress not just finished work.

Remember:

• Maximum 15–20 images
• Keep file sizes small – 72dpi is sufficient for most images (this is normal screen resolution)
• 10mb is the maximum total file size
• Format must be compatible with Microsoft systems so we can open it (remember we do not accept CAD files including AutoCAD and Vector Works).

For more information about the Online Postgraduate Diploma in Garden Design course, please contact the Course Administrator.