Higher National Technical Diploma in Horticulture

Do you love working with the land, its produce and nature? The Higher National Technical Diploma in Plant Industries: Food Production, Ornamentals and the Environment, enables you to work in nurseries, greenhouses, fields and orchards, and become a specialist in plant production (flowers and plants, trees and shrubs, seeds, aromatic and medicinal plants, fruit and vegetables, etc.).

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Nature : Qualification-leading course
Lenght of training: 2 year
Terms and conditions: Work-study programme
Status: Holder of a Level 4 qualification: A-levels (general, technological or vocational) or equivalent

Overview

Objectives

Choosing this Higher National Technical Diploma means:

Understanding how crop production systems function within their environment
Diagnosing the strengths and weaknesses of production systems
Supporting the development of systems in a context of sustainability and agricultural transition
Assessing the economic performance of production systems

The course covers a comparative analysis of the major horticultural sectors (floriculture, nursery production, vegetable growing and arboriculture) in all their diversity: from conventional production systems to organic production; from long-chain marketing systems to direct sales.

You will be trained in:

The management of specialised crop systems
The management of growing environments in specialised crop systems
The organisation of work within the production system
The strategic management of the production system
Change management

You will be trained to:

Help implement and monitor production processes: from planting crops through to harvest.
Discovering and using a variety of agricultural machinery safely.
Transitioning from a hands-on role to working independently within the farm.
Managing a variety of tasks: organisation, implementation and team leadership.
Analysing the company’s strategic production and marketing decisions.

ESA also offers:

A Project courses: The Power of Our Plate: A project focusing on sustainable food
A week-long group trip, in France or elsewhere in Europe

Our training indicators

Further studies

After completing the HND, you can continue your studies. ESA offers three main career pathways and four diploma levels (two-year/three-year/four-year/ five-year degrees):

Agrotechnical studies :

Professional Bachelor’s Degree in Agronomy (Bac+3)

Agrobusiness studies :

Agrotechnical & agrobusiness studies :

What courses can you take at ESA with your degree?

Key figures

95%

success rate in 2025

86%

are satisfied with the training in 2025

57%

will be in employment (six months after completing their training) in 2025

Programme

60% of the time spent at the host organisation
40% of the time at ESA

Engaging with today’s world
Developing your personal and professional career plan
Communicating in a variety of situations and contexts

Managing specialised cultivation systems
Managing the environments of specialised cultivation systems
Organising work within the production system
Proposing strategic management of the production system

Project courses: The Power of Our Plate: A project focusing on sustainable food

Discover the full programme

Work-study programme

Typical schedule: 2 to 3 weeks in a company and 2 to 3 weeks at the CFA (APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING CENTRE IN FRANCE).
Number of training hours: 700 hours per year, or 1,400 hours over 2 years.
Lectures, tutorials, case studies, company visits.
Group work and individual projects.
Written, oral and practical assessments.
A locally-led course: ‘The power of our plate: towards sustainable food’

Key advantages

Group trip in France or abroad.
Support throughout the course from a teaching and administrative team.
Access to a web platform with resources (course materials, exercises, etc.) as well as communication tools and the ESA’s digital library (19,000 titles listed in a computerised catalogue, an e-book platform, ScholarVox, and access to databases).
Apprentices have access to our Language Resource Centre. This centre focuses on self-directed learning and interaction to make language learning more engaging in a welcoming environment: various rooms such as reading rooms, individual study rooms, a creativity room with a theatre stage…
Each student has a personalised online learning booklet enabling them to track their progress and the acquisition of the skills required to qualify for the diploma.
ESA offers you access to symposia and conferences, inaugural lectures, an international outlook, and the opportunity to take part in competitions and projects.

Graduation requirements

The Higher National Technical Diploma in Horticulture is awarded by the Ministry of Agriculture, Agri-Food and Food Sovereignty.

The HND is divided in semesters: the 27 skills in the curriculum, organised into 8 blocks, are assessed at the training centre through certification tests over the course of the 4 semesters of the programme.

Candidates therefore no longer sit national final examinations.

The requirements for obtaining the HND are as follows:

The marks for the 27 competencies are linked to the 8 skill blocks
The overall average for the 8 blocks must be at least 10/20
The average for the 5 professional blocks must be at least 10/20
The average mark obtained in each of the 5 professional blocks must be at least 6/20

3 good reasons to choose the Higher Technical Qualification

01.

Vocational training

specialised training in crop management, combining theory and practical fieldwork.

02.

A solid grounding in operational management

Learning about technical and financial management with a view to becoming an employee or setting up your own business.

03.

Skills tailored to today’s challenges

Skills sought in agroecology and agricultural transition, facilitating entry into the labour market.

Advantages of the Higher Technical Qualification

International outlook

To gain a better understanding of the world, enhance your CV and gain a unique personal experience, the HND offers:

A one-week group trip in in a horticultural region in France or Europe.

Key advantages

Close and strong links with a network of businesses
Support for further study: bridges to ESA programmes from bachelor’s to master’s level.
A student-centred education with personalised support and teaching methods rooted in real-world experience and focused on cultural openness.
A modern and attractive campus: the resources to learn and develop.
Living and studying in Angers, a major university city and European horticultural hub, at the heart of France’s leading agri-food region…
Gaining agricultural qualifications and the Certiphyto certification
Benefiting from the proximity and richness of the local professional network.
Exploring future employment opportunities.
Receive support in developing your career plan and finding apprenticeship placements by making use of the ESA network.

Campus life

The ESA is a friendly place to live, open to the city and full of life!

Joining our school means:

to have a rewarding and life-changing experience that will shape your future
thrive through involvement in student societies (over 20 active societies, around a hundred committed students…)
to meet and share experiences in a multicultural environment
building a network…

Angers, an attractive city

Angers, the ‘capital of plants’ since the 19th century, a region with a ‘nature’ label… a new way to experience the city! The 18th largest city in France, at the heart of an urban area with over 300,000 inhabitants, including 47,000 students. A green and cultural city, Angers is a dynamic, ‘human-scale’ city renowned for its relaxed atmosphere and quality of life. It offers a unique living environment with landscapes listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Find out more about life in Angers

And after ?

An Alumni network

Take advantage of the services of the AAESA (ESA Alumni Association) from the moment you enroll and throughout your professional journey: directory, testimonials, company visits, sponsorship, mentoring, events, job opportunities…

The association is a true career booster, maintaining connections with the school and fostering links between students and professionals.

Join us!

BTS Métiers du végétal : Alimentation, ornement et environnement (ex : Production Horticole) formation ESA

TUITION FESS AND FUNDING

Tuition fees

Training is free for apprentices or participants on a professionalization contract.

The annual cost of the program is €. 9 700. For companies established in France, the cost may be covered by an OPCO (French skills and apprenticeship funding body).

For an apprenticeship contract, the coverage level is specified by France Compétences or the OPCO (French skills and apprenticeship funding body)

If the training cost exceeds the OPCO coverage level, the remaining balance will be charged to the company
(remaining balance = training cost – OPCO coverage level).

It is necessary to consult your OPCO to determine the coverage level for the training.

A training agreement is established between Groupe ESA and the employer alongside the contract, specifying the qualification pursued, resources provided, training cost, and any remaining balance.

Additional fees:

Student Union (BDE) membership fee: €20
Group trip (first year only): €400

*Price applicable for the 2026–2027 academic year, for information purposes only

Funding

Full-time programme

Income-based grant: use the grant calculator at simulateur.lescrous.fr
Grants and student accommodation: complete your Student Social File (DSE)
ESA is here to help – find all our advice on completing your DSE

Bank Loans

A student loan of up to €15,000 is guaranteed by the French government, with no income requirements.
A youth loan is available under the same financial conditions as the student loan, but repayment of the principal starts immediately (not after graduation).