The projects enable in-depth research to take place into areas of individual student choice. The material is presented in written form with the opportunity for verbal presentation in seminar sessions. The subjects are normally based at Kew, but allow for comparisons to be made with other organisations. Topics for projects are selected from the general areas of plant propagation and crop protection in the first year, ecology and landscape construction in the second year, and systematic botany, conservation studies, and management in the final year. Outside of the lecture block trimesters, practical work experience is gained in the Living Collections Department at Kew.
Students spend nine months of each year of the course working in the gardens.
The course begins and finishes in early September after three years. Successful students are awarded the Kew Diploma at pass, credit or honours level. Holders of the Kew Diploma may place Dip. The School of Horticulture occupies a large Decimus Burton converted, eighteenth-century, Grade II listed building within the gardens which has recently been converted into a modern educational centre. It now provides fully-equipped lecture rooms, design studio, library, laboratory, computer suite, common room, kitchen, and administrative offices.