Looking for a creative career in garden design? New Zealand’s premier garden design programme gives you a comprehensive grounding in plant selection, design and site planning – skills that are essential for your future career in landscape design.

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Diploma in Landscape Design

[DipLDesign]

LevelAn indication of the intellectual demand and complexity of skills required to successfully complete a programme, starting at level 1 and progressing up to level 10.

5, 240

creditsThe basic measure used to record the successful completion by a student of a course. To receive a qualification the total number of credits stated must be gained. A year-long, full-time programme of study is equivalent to 120 credits.

Full-time for two years or part-time options available

Starts February or July

80 places

Applications will be considered in the date order received. First round interviews will be held in November

Programme codeCode used to identify the programme. You may need to know this when applying for a student allowance or loan.

CA2368

Mt Albert campus

Indicative fee

NZ$ 4540

International fees

Programme summary
Career opportunities
Courses and timetables
Admission requirements
Portfolio requirements

Programme summary

Are you looking for a creative career in landscape garden design? Develop a solid grounding in plant selection, garden design and site planning. Learn from landscape design experts, and tailor the programme to suit your ultimate career goals.

Have you always dreamt of a creative career in garden design? The Diploma in Landscape Design is New Zealand’s premier garden design programme and gives you a solid grounding in site investigation, plant selection and garden design – skills that are essential for your future career in landscape design.

The diploma’s strong focus on design and drawing skills sets it apart from other landscape design qualifications. In the first year, you gain an understanding of site, place, ecology, garden history, design, technical and creative drawing, plant selection and landscape construction. In Year Two, you choose from a variety of course options – including advanced design, management of projects and contracts, plant design and business – allowing you to tailor the diploma to suit your ultimate career goals.

Our fully equipped drawing studios and computer labs give you a chance to improve your technical and creative drawing skills, as well as your understanding of CAD and Photoshop.

Real-world learning
Thanks to industry sponsorships, our landscape design students exhibit their work at the Ellerslie International Flower Show and the Auckland Flower Show, where they consistently win top awards.

Enjoy and learn from Unitec's park-like Mt Albert campus, which is a great environment for plant identification exercises.

Experienced lecturers
Learn from landscape design experts, many of whom hold executive positions in industry organisations such as the Garden Design Society of New Zealand, the Landscape Industries Association of New Zealand and the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.

Flexible study options
To help you combine study with the other demands of your life, you can also study this programme on a part-time basis.

Exit award: Students who complete the first year of the diploma may exit the programme with a Certificate in Home Garden Design.

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Career opportunities

Garden centre design consultant
Garden journalist
Landscape designer
Landscape draftsperson
Landscape maintenance manager
Landscaper
Park, botanic or heritage garden manager
Garden centre design consultant
Plant consultant

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Courses and timetables

To view the list of courses and timetables for this programme for 2010, please click here.

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Admission requirements

To be eligible for admission, applicants must meet the general, discretionary or special admission requirements. Applicants must also meet the English language requirements.

General admission

Applicants must:

Be at least 16 years of age when the programme begins (or provide a completed Early Release Exemption form, which you can obtain from your local Ministry of Education office); and
Have a total of 48 NCEA credits in their best four subjects at level 2, or equivalent; or
Have a maximum total of 20 in their best four New Zealand Sixth Form Certificate subjects, or equivalent; or
Have an appropriate qualification at level 3 or above.

Discretionary admission (for applicants aged under 20)

Applicants who do not meet the general admission requirements and who are less than 20 years of age when the programme begins may be considered for discretionary admission if they can demonstrate aptitude for study at the required level.

Special admission (for applicants aged 20 and over)

Applicants who do not meet the general admission requirements and who are at least 20 years of age when the programme begins may be considered for special admission if they can provide evidence of aptitude or appropriate work or other experience.

English language

Applicants must:

Have a minimum of 12 NCEA credits in English at level 1, or equivalent; or
Have successfully completed studies at level 5 or higher in an English medium; or
Have a grade of C or better in New Zealand School Certificate English, or equivalent; or
Have an overall IELTS band score (Academic) of no less than 6.0 (with no band score lower than 5.0), or a TOEFL score of no less than 550, or equivalent; or
Have an appropriate Unitec English language qualification, such as the Certificate in English (Academic), or equivalent.

Applicants may be interviewed.

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Portfolio requirements

If you do not meet the general admission requirement for the programme, you may be asked to attend an interview.

Relevant work experience and a portfolio demonstrating visual, spatial and graphic ability may provide evidence of your suitability for the programme.