Agriculture & Horticulture
Real skills. Real experience. Real opportunities.
From practical farming skills to horticulture and crop science, our Agri & Horti courses combine hands-on experience with the knowledge needed to succeed in a changing land-based industry.
Whether you’re looking to work the land, grow and manage plants, or build specialist skills for further study, you’ll learn in a supportive environment with strong links to local industry and real-world practice.
Study Agriculture in Orkney
Agriculture has long been at the heart of learning in Orkney — and today, UHI Orkney continues that tradition with a modern, career-focused approach.
Build the practical skills and knowledge needed for a career in farming and land-based industries, with courses designed around real-world experience.
Our agriculture offering includes a range of pathways from entry level through to more advanced study, covering areas such as livestock management, mixed farming and agricultural practices. Many courses are delivered in partnership with local employers, combining college learning with on-farm experience through Modern Apprenticeships and work-based training.
You’ll develop essential skills in areas like animal and crop husbandry, health and safety, and the day-to-day management of agricultural operations — preparing you for a wide range of roles across the sector.
Horticulture Pathways
As part of our wider land-based offering, horticulture focuses on plant cultivation, soils and sustainable growing practices.
Develop your knowledge of plants, soils and growing techniques through horticulture pathways within our Agri & Horti offering.
Whether you’re looking to build practical skills alongside agriculture or explore plant-focused study in more depth, our courses provide a strong foundation in areas such as cultivation, sustainability and land-based practices.
Horticulture can be studied as part of our Level 5 offering, with opportunities to focus on plant and soil-based learning, or progressed further through the HNC Horticulture delivered in partnership with UHI, combining online study with local practical experience.
Our Agronomy Institute
Based right here in Orkney, our UHI Agronomy Institute is a highly regarded specialist research centre, leading work in crops, soils and sustainable land use across the Highlands and Islands and beyond.
Through close collaboration with industry, its research plays a vital role in shaping modern agricultural practice and supporting the future of land-based sectors.
While not a teaching area, the Institute brings significant value to our Agri & Horti offering, strengthening the knowledge, insight and real-world relevance of the skills our students develop.