UCR - University Centre Reaseheath
University Centre Reaseheath

(ICSF) Level 4 Higher Diploma Floristry

If you want to develop your creative skills and learn essential business acumen to prepare for success in the floristry industry, this is the course for you.   

Applying a comprehensive range of techniques to challenging portfolio briefs, your design skills will evolve throughout your course so that your signature style and personal brand will set you apart from the competition in the industry. 

COURSE PAGE - Floristry 01

Course Overview

Our floristry department is recognised as one of the most successful providers of floristry training in the UK. Taught by highly experienced staff with commercial backgrounds, you will improve your craft and learn to produce designs to excellent standards of professional workmanship.  

Self-exploration will increase your independence and develop your confidence, so you will be able to deal with the changing nature of commercial floristry, both in design style and rapidly developing marketing techniques. 

Course Features

  • Workshops from industry professionals
  • The latest trends and innovations
  • Opportunities to showcase your creations at BFA Fleurex, Manchester Flower Festival and RHS Tatton Flower Show 

Career Options

  • Florist shop owner 
  • Bespoke floral design 
  • Floral display 
  • Freelance florist 
  • Demonstrator 
  • Teacher

Level 5 Master Diploma in Professional Floristry

Course Information

The course is made up of 10 modules (or units).

  • Botanical Concepts and Practices for Floristry
  • Business Practices for Floristry
  • Design Concepts for Floristry
  • Floral Event Practices
  • Historical Studies for Floristry
  • Marketing and Promotion Practices for Floristry
  • Technical Floristry Skills –Designs in Mediums
  • Technical Floristry Skills – Design Trends
  • Technical Floristry Skills –Tied Designs
  • Technical Floristry Skills –Wired and Glued Designs

The course is assessed through a combination of integrated assignments, written and practical examination.

Students will be able to access course timetables for the academic year in September.

Students will attend 25 days per year in blocks.

Tuition Fees

As a student at UCR, you will have two main costs to meet; your tuition fees and living costs.

The tuition fee for this course is £3417 and can be paid in full, or via advanced learner loan or termly/monthly payments.

You may be eligible for an Advanced Learner Loan to cover the cost of your tuition fees.

Additional Costs

Costing has been worked out to include registration, exam fees and certificate issue. Flowers for the practical exam are an additional cost at approximately £150.

Students will supply their own flowers, foliage, sundries and accessories. A comprehensive range of foliage is available in the Reaseheath grounds.

If students are representing the institution whilst working on a project off-site, a Reaseheath apron must be worn. Students supply their own tools and equipment.

Recommended books

  • The Professional Manual for Florists
  • Dr Hessayon, The House Plant Expert
  • Books by leading floral designers in the industry, for example; Wally Klett, Daniel Ost, Moniek Vanden Berghe, Gregor Lersch, Claire Cowling, Wendy Andrade. UCR does hold stocks of many relevant books in the library. 

Publications by leading floral designers

  • Fusion Flowers magazine
  • A range of appropriate literature is available in the University Centre Reaseheath library

Equipment Costs

  • A windows compatible laptop (£300-£500)
  • Digital camera (from £40) or a phone with a camera (from £9/month rental, approx. £150 refurbished to own and from £100 SIM unlocked to own)
  • Digital photobook to present portfolio (£30-£50) or scrapbook (approx. £15 plus cost of photos printed off)
  • USB memory stick (£5-£10) or hard drive (£26-£50) or cloud based digital storage space (usually on laptop)
  • Boots/shoes that are covered/not open (from £20)
  • Floristry toolbox essentials: knife, scissors, secateurs, oasis fix, bullion wire, stemtex/parafilm, pot tape, wires of a range of gauges purchasable from the online store (£110)
  • A willingness to source a variety of mediums and decorative sundries to explore different design styles (approx. £10 per week)
  • Reaseheath apron, purchasable from the online store (£17)
  • Supply of own flowers for designs each week (approx. £15- £40 per week, though foliage can be sourced from the grounds)
  • Folding boot cart to transport materials from car to classroom (approx. £20)

Prices of equipment are subject to change dependent on retailer.

Apply directly through Reaseheath

Merit at City and Guilds Level 3 Diploma in Floristry or Advanced Technical Diploma in Floristry

5 GCSEs grade 4 or above, including English

September 2023
September 2024

Part-time: 2 years

25 days per year in blocks

Useful Information

Here you will find useful information about the services and support available at University Centre Reaseheath. Click to expand each item:

University Centre Reaseheath is committed to providing additional financial support to those who need it. To find out about the bursary schemes available visit our additional financial support page.

For students to get the best out of their time at University Centre Reaseheath, we must both recognise that we owe obligations to each other. These obligations are set out in our UCR Student Contract. Before you accept an offer of a place at University Centre Reaseheath, it is important that you read these contract conditions. If you are going to be living in Halls of Residence, you will also need to read the Student Accommodation Licence Conditions. Both of these contracts can be found here.

Click here to view the University Centre Reaseheath Student Protection Plan.

All UCR students are given the opportunity to apply for residential accommodation. First year students are guaranteed accommodation and this offer is made to all applicants who live more than a reasonable daily travelling distance from Reaseheath (providing you have applied before the UCAS equal considerations deadline. For full details on our halls of residence visit our accommodation page.

We have a team of dedicated professionals on hand to offer you support. These include our Student Services Team, Inclusive Learning Team, Library and Learning Resources Team and the Reaseheath Careers Service. You can find more information on the support provided at Reaseheath on our support page.

University Centre Reaseheath is proud to welcome international students. For more information, please visit our international students page.