Applications Being Taken for One of the Leading Garden Design Courses in the World
The postgraduate level Diploma in Residential Garden Design offered by the Oxford
College of Garden Design is widely regarded as one of the leading garden design
courses in the world. Held at St Hugh's College Oxford, which is set in 14 acres
of beautiful landscaped gardens, applications are currently being taken for the
next 1 year fast-track course which starts on 30th September 2010.
What makes the Oxford College of Garden Design different?
The College differs from other garden design colleges in its student selection procedure.
Students are hand-picked via interview and, if thought be beneficial, by being invited
to undertake a unique 4 day taster class. The College vets its students in this
way because it wants to ensure that everyone on the course is capable of successfully
achieving the high standards set. This thorough selection procedure ensures that
students who are not suitable for the course are not taken on and do not therefore
monopolise tutor's time, or set out on a course that is not in their best interests.
Preference is given to those applicants with experience in art, design, architecture
or horticulture based subjects. However, applicants without prior experience may
still be eligible on completion of the 4 day taster class before being finally accepted.
Producing the Top Garden Design Students in the Country
Duncan Heather, Principal of the Oxford College of Garden Design says: "Each year
we aim to produce the top students from any of the garden design colleges. For example,
from last year's course: Sarah Naybour, Melissa Jolly and Olivia Stewart have each
been nominated for leading awards confirming our reputation for producing the country's
top designers. Our students have swept the board this year and their training will
give them the very best head start to their new careers."
Sarah Naybour was named the Society of Garden Designer's Student of the Year 2009.
Melissa Jolly is one of the winners of the Growing Gardens Today competition to
be held at BBC Gardeners' World Live, in association with the RHS, in June at NEC
Birmingham.
Olivia Stewart has been shortlisted for another prestigious award, to be announced
at RHS Chelsea Flower Show in May. Other success stories include former student
Sarah Price who is currently designing the showcase gardens for the main entrance
to the 2012 Olympics with a budget of £5m.
Duncan
Heather continues: "This innovative course is designed to equip students with the
skills necessary to set up and run their own design practices and is backed up after
graduation by an experienced mentor who supports them during their first few years
of business. If they wish to find paid employment, our students are considered to
be the most employable of any graduate course and have been placed with award winning
designers such as Anthony Paul, Luciano Giubbilei, Joe Swift, Charlotte Rowe, Arne
Maynard, and Christopher Bradley-Hole to name but a few."
Course Content
In
addition to attending tutorials and lectures, throughout the course students work
with real clients and gardens, where they are given the opportunity to survey a
site and interview a client, as well as designing a garden. This hands-on approach
offers invaluable real world experience and practical skills. In addition, students
have access to working sites and often assist tutors on private commissions.
This year has seen the College launch the world's first interactive online garden
design course for students studying from home, around the world. The on-line students
follow the course at the same time as the classroom students, which offers both
sets of students the benefit of full online tutorial backup allowing them to revisit
classroom lectures as often as they wish to maximise learning potential.
The full time classroom based course is run over two 20 week semesters with lectures
on Thursdays and Fridays with some occasional lectures and tutorials throughout
the week and evening - full details can be found on the website. The course costs
£10,995.
Oxford College of Garden Design
The
College was set up by Duncan Heather in 1992 and has attracted students from around
the world, including America, New Zealand and Japan, as well as the UK.
Duncan Heather
Duncan Heather is one of Europe's foremost garden designers. Duncan was trained
by Britain's best-loved octogenarian designer and garden writer, John Brookes OBE,
whom many regard as one of the world's top garden designers of the 20th Century.
In a career now spanning over 30 years, Duncan has won five gold medals, one silver,
one bronze and three awards for innovative design.
To find out more visit:
www.garden-design-courses.co.uk or telephone 01491 628950 for further information.