IAS
Programme Title

Bachelor of Science (Honours) in Horticulture

Course Code

AG6-W02-23
Programme Includes:(Apprenticeship/ Placement or Internship)

Placement/Internship
MQF Level

Level 6
Type(refer to Appendix 1 for Parameters)

Qualification
Accreditation Status(Note: If the Type is Award or Qualification, therefore by default, the Accreditation Status should be Accredited)

Accredited via MCAST’s Self Accreditation Process (MCAST holds Self-Accrediting Status as per 1st schedule of Legal Notice 296/2012)
Mode of Delivery

Face to Face
Duration (hours or years)

3 Years
Total Number of Credits

180
Total Learning Hours(25 Total Learning Hours for each ECTS)

4500 hours
Target Audience

Ages 16 – 65
Target Group(the type of learners that the educational institution anticipates joining this programme)
Programme Fees

€19,500.00 (Applicable for Non-EU and Non-EEA Countries) – the fee mentioned here is indicative.  Please refer to www.mcast.edu.mt, as well as to MCAST’s MG2I International Section for any updated fees as well as terms of payments.
Date of Next Student Intake

2024-10-01
Language of Instruction

The official language of instruction at MCAST is English. All notes and textbooks are in English (except for language courses, which will be in the respective language being instructed). International candidates will be requested to meet English language certification requirements for access to the course.
Application Method

Applications to full-time courses are received online via the College Management Information System. Applicants can log-in using Maltese Electronic ID (eID) in order to access the MCAST Admissions Portal directly and create one’s own student account with the identity being verified electronically via this secure service. Non-EID applicants need to request account creation though an online form after that they confirm that their local Identification Document does not come with an EID entitlement. . Once the identity is verified and the account is created on behalf of the applicant, one may proceed with the online application according to the same instructions applicable to all other applicants. For more information about how to apply online for a course at MCAST, please visit: https://mcast.edu.mt/how-to-apply-online-2/
Information for Non-EU Citizens

Non-EU candidates require a study visa in order to travel to Malta and join the course applied for. For further information re study-visa please access https://www.identitymalta.com/unit/central-visa-unit/.
Address where the Programme will be Delivered

MCAST has four campuses as follows: MCAST Main Campus Triq Kordin, Paola, Malta All courses except for courses delivered by the Institute for the Creative Arts, the Centre of Agriculture, Aquatics and Animal Sciences and the Gozo Campus are offered at the Main Campus address (above). Courses delivered by the Institute for the Creative Arts, the Centre of Agriculture, Aquatics and Animal Sciences, or the Gozo Campus, are offered in one of the following addresses as applicable:Institute for the Creative Arts Mosta Campus Misraħ Għonoq Tarġa Gap, Mosta Institute of Applied SciencesCentre of Agriculture, Aquatics and Animal Sciences, Luqa Road, Qormi Gozo CampusJ.F. De Chambray Street MCAST, Għajnsielem GozoIn the case of courses delivered via Online Learning, students will be following the programme from their preferred location/address. Programmes delivered via Blended Learning, and which therefore contain both an online and a face to face component shall be delivered as follows:Face to Face components – as per above address instructionsOnline components – from the student’s preferred address.
Course Description/Deskrizzjoni tal-Kors

English

This programme gives learners skills in the latest horticultural practices with the use of modern technology. Learners will have the opportunity to study and practise different aspects related to their main area of study, with the aim of seeking employment at management level in private enterprise, in research and development and/or in regulatory services both locally and internationally. This programme offers the required knowledge and competences related to crop production, pest management, landscaping, viticulture and many others. Furthermore, learners will undertake a research project whereby they will be expected to select a topic for investigation following an established methodology.


Malti

Dan il-programm jagħti lill-istudenti ħiliet fil-prattiċi ortikulturali l-aktar riċenti bl-użu ta’ teknoloġija moderna. L-istudenti jkollhom l-opportunità li jistudjaw u jipprattikaw aspetti differenti relatati mal-qasam prinċipali tal-istudju tagħhom, bil-għan li jsibu impjieg fil-livell maniġerjali fl-intrapriża privata, fir-riċerka u l-iżvilupp u/jew fis-servizzi regolatorji, kemm lokalment kif ukoll barra mill-pajjiż. Dan il-programm joffri l-għarfien u l-kompetenzi meħtieġa relatati mal-produzzjoni tal-għelejjel, ġestjoni ta’ pesti, disinn ta’ ġonna/pajsaġġ, vitikultura u ħafna oħrajn. Matul dan il-kors l-istudenti jkunu meħtieġa li jaħdmu fuq proġett ta’ riċerka fejn jagħżlu suġġett sabiex jinvestigawh, u jagħmlu riċerka skont metodoloġija stabbilita.
Career Opportunities

Farm advisory services provider, Farm inspector, Farm manager, Professional landscaper, Garden designer, EU/National regulatory control manager
Entry requirements(Refer to Programme Specification)

MCAST Advanced Diploma in Fish Management OR MCAST Advanced Diploma in Animal Management and Veterinary Nursing OR MCAST Advanced Diploma in Horticulture OR 2 A-Level passes and 2 I-Level passes
Programme Learning Outcomes(Refer to Programme Specification)

At the end of the programme the learner will be able to: 1.Understand and apply research methods to carry out an advanced project study based on scientific research related to specific units within the course’s area of study. 2.Understand and research different entrepreneurial skills required at management level and to plan for a successful business. 3.Undertake practical tasks related to horticultural skills and services including plant nutrition/ fertilisation and agricultural technology. 4.Study and apply principles of sustainability, integrated pest management and rural development.
Teaching, Learning and Assessment Procedures

The programmes offered are vocational in nature and entail both theoretical lectures delivered in classes as well as practical elements that are delivered in laboratories, workshops, salons, simulators as the module requirements dictate. Each module or unit entails a number of in person and/or online contact learning hours that are delivered by the lecturer or tutor directly (See also section ‘Total Learning Hours). Access to all resources is provided to all registered students. These include study resources in paper or electronic format through the Library and Resource Centre as well as tools, software, equipment and machinery that are provided by the respective institutes depending on the requirements of the course or module. Students may however be required to provide consumable material for use during practical sessions and projects unless these are explicitly provided by the College. All Units of study are assessed throughout the academic year through continuous assessment using a variety of assessment tools. Coursework tasks are exclusively based on the Learning Outcomes and Grading Criteria as prescribed in the course specification. The Learning Outcomes and Grading Criteria are communicated to the Student via the coursework documentation. The method of assessment shall reflect the Level, credit points (ECTS) and the schedule of time-tabled/non-timetabled hours of learning of each study unit. A variety of assessment instruments, not solely Time Constrained Assignments/Exams, are used to gather and interpret evidence of Student competence toward pre-established grading criteria that are aligned to the learning outcomes of each unit of the programme of study. Grading criteria are assessed through a number of tasks, each task being assigned a number of marks. The number of grading criteria is included in the respective Programme Specification. The distribution of marks and assessment mode depends on the nature and objectives of the unit in question. Coursework shall normally be completed during the semester in which the Unit is delivered. Time-constrained assignments may be held between 8 am and 8 pm during the delivery period of a Unit, or at the end of the semester in which the Unit is completed. The dates are notified and published on the Institute notice boards or through other means of communication. Certain circumstances (such as but not limited to the Covid-19 pandemic) may lead Institutes and Centres to hold teaching and assessment remotely (online) as per MCAST QA Policy and Standard for Online Teaching, Learning and Assessment (Doc 020) available via link https://www.mcast.edu.mt/college-documents/The Programme Regulations pertaining to this Programme’s MQF/EQF level available at: link https://www.mcast.edu.mt/college-documents/, apply.
Grading System

All MCAST programmes adopt a Learner-centred approach through the focus on Learning Outcomes. The assessment of MCAST programmes is criterion-referenced and thus assessors are required to assess learners’ evidence against a pre-determined set of Learning Outcomes and Assessment Criteria. For a student to be deemed to have successfully passed a unit, a minimum of 50% (grade D) must be achieved. All full time units are individually graded as follows:A* (90-100)A (80-89)B (70-79)C (60-69)D (50-59)Unsatisfactory work is graded as ‘U’.Work-based learning units are graded on a Pass/Fail basis only.Detailed information regarding the grading system may be found in the Programme Regulations pertaining to this programme’s MQF/EQF Level available at: link https://www.mcast.edu.mt/college-documents/
Contact details for Further Learning Opportunities

MCAST Career Guidance Tel: 2398 7135/6 Email: career.guidance@mcast.edu.mt
Regulatory Body/ Competent Authority Contact Details (where applicable – in the case of a programme leading to Regulated Profession)

Last updated: 2024-07-02