UCR - University Centre Reaseheath
University Centre Reaseheath

(NDSF) Level 5 Master Diploma in Professional Floristry

If you aspire to be the best of the best in the commercial floristry industry, this challenging course will equip you with the skills needed to become an innovative floral designer working to the highest standards of professional floristry. 

The intrinsic approach of this course will help you to tailor the development of your floral design skills towards your own personal style, enabling you to blaze your own trail. You will also research current and cultural trends adapting design styles to meet the increasingly diverse requirements of the floristry industry. 

Floristy 02

Course Overview

You will perfect your floral design skills and develop your own personal style, while researching current and cultural trends and adapting design styles to meet the increasingly diverse requirements of the floristry industry. 

Employing eco-friendly working practices is in our nature and will ensure that you are in an excellent position to drive forward the rise in sustainable ways to create stunning floral displays. 

Course Features

  • Workshops from industry professionals  
  • Explore the latest trends and innovations 
  • Showcase your creations at BFA Fleurex, Manchester Flower Festival and RHS Tatton Flower Show 
pink and red floral display

Career Options

  • Bespoke floral designer 
  • Wedding and event specialist 
  • Sustainable, artisan florist 
  • Demonstrator 
  • Lecturer 

Course Information

The course is made up of 6 modules (or units).

  • Applied Botanical Concepts and Practices for Floristry
  • International Studies for Floristry
  • Floral Event Management
  • Business Management for Floristry
  • Marketing and Promotion Management for Floristry
  • Professional Floristry Skills- Tied designs

  • Professional Floristry Skills- Wired and Glued Designs 

  • Professional Floristry Skills- Designs in Mediums 

  • Professional Floristry Skills – Design Innovations

All modules are compulsory.

Delivery is primarily through practical workshops to support development in professional floristry skills. Lectures will take place regarding theory work.

Students are supported by a robust tutorial system.

Class size is approx. 10-15 students.

Assessment

The course runs over two years. All units will need to be completed in a timely manner according to assessment schedule and before sitting theory and practical exams at end of course.

Assignments can only be submitted once. No resubmissions are allowed to increase grade except in the case of a referral where the resubmission can only be awarded a pass.

The practical activities are assessed by an integrated assignment and by an externally set and marked practical examination. The underpinning knowledge is assessed by integrated assignments and an externally set and marked written examination. Both exams are in July.

Meticulous standards of workmanship are expected throughout. Commercial speed is expected.

Feedback

83 % of assessment is coursework whilst 17% is assessed through examination.

Assessment of each assignment occurs at each hand in date; 10 assignments to be completed over 2 years.

Work is to be handed in on paper, not digitally, as external moderators require easy access on the day of the practical exam.

Comprehensive feedback is given to candidates using City and Guilds feedback sheets, directly linked to marking criteria outlined in the assignment guide. Candidates will be clearly informed on how to improve their work.

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

Level 4 Higher Diploma in Floristry

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.