The Masterclass in Horticultural Business course was developed under the Hort Frontiers Leadership Fund and is aimed at fostering new innovators and leaders for the Australian horticulture industry.

Best described as a ‘mini MBA’, the Masterclass is a nine-month course where participants develop their business skills and build their own business plans for the future. The course is delivered predominantly online, with several face-to-face sessions and field trips to some of Australia’s savviest horticulture outfits.

Levies from both strawberry & Rubus funds have been co-invested into the Masterclass investment to support scholarships for industry levy-payers however paid enrolment places are available to all relevant applicants.

The Masterclass in Horticultural Business was launched in 2017 by The University of Tasmania, in partnership with some of the world’s leading names in horticulture, including Lincoln University (NZ), the Wageningen Research Academy (Netherlands) and Hort Innovation.

Offered through flexible online delivery and face to face workshops, the Masterclass is designed to give anyone already working or studying in Australian horticulture a pathway to leadership through the development of business and management skills, a comprehensive industry understanding, and invaluable networks with some of the field’s savviest growers and industry members from a variety of sectors.

The course has been developed with input from many of Australia’s current industry leaders, providing you with knowledge and skills to grow your horticulture career. Successful completion of this course will provide you with a Graduate Diploma in Agribusiness, specialisation in Horticultural Business.

Who is the masterclass for?

Students come from a variety of horticulture industries, with a range of educational backgrounds, and are working at different professional levels. Successful applications are granted based on professional experience and aptitude. To see if the Masterclass is right for you, potential applicants are encouraged to talk directly to The University of Tasmania or reach out to Hort Innovation’s Research & Development Manager, Bianca Carins.

What will you learn?

The Masterclass focuses on the development of a personal business plan, each unit in the course will provide you with knowledge and skills across a wide range of study areas including Financial Management and Law,  Horticulture Management, People and Culture, Value Chain Management and Logistics, Horticulture Marketing and Communication, Global Trends and International Business, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, and Business Development and Strategy.

Visit the Graduate Diploma in Agribusiness (Specialisation) course page for more information on course structure and learning outcomes.

Flexible study options

The course can be completed full-time in 18 months, part-time over 24 months or fast-tracked over 12 months, through flexible study options. Meaning you can learn where you want when you want so that you can maintain your professional life while completing the course. It is delivered predominantly online by some of Australia’s best horticulture educators via a range of engaging and interactive learning methods. Two-day in-person workshops will also be held three times during the course at various locations across Australia providing a unique opportunity to network with others in the industry.

How do I pay for the course?

The Masterclass has commonwealth-supported places available. For information on fees, please view the fee section on the course page.

Ready to take your horticulture career further?

Applications are now open for February 2022 enrolments. To find out more, please email hort.bus@utas.edu.au or visit this site.