BSc in Horticultural Engineering

BSc in Horticultural Engineering

Last modified: 03. February 2025

The aim of the program is to train horticultural engineers, who are able to control and organize farm-level production processes, as well as to perform the basic tasks of professional administration and counselling in the sector. They are qualified to establish self-sufficient private horticultural farms and economically managing them. They have knowledge of marketing, processing and storing products, and have competent academic knowledge to continue their studies on master level.

Qualification of the degree: 

  • level of degree: Bachelor of Science (BA/BSc/BProf);
  • qualification: Horticultural Engineer.

Length of program: 7 semesters
Work schedule: full-time training (HU, En) or correspondence training (HU)
Financial options: state scholarship or self-financed
Program Leader: Dr. Zsuzsanna Pluhár university professor (Buda Campus) 
Deputy Program Leader: Dr. Gergely Simon (Buda Campus) (trainings over border)

Program Coordinators at the training sites:
-    Dr. Attila Ombódi (Szent István Campus)
-    Dr. Éva Baracsi-Horváth (Georgikon Campus)

Training sites:

  • Budapest (Buda Campus)
  • Gödöllő (Szent István Campus)
  • Keszthely (Georgikon Campus)
  • Beregszász
  • Komárno
  • Zenta

Language of conduction:

  • Budapest: Hungarian and English
  • Gödöllő: Hungarian
  • Keszthely: Hungarian
  • Beregszász (UA): Hungarian
  • Komarno (SK): Hungarian
  • Zenta (SRB): Hungarian

Optional specializations
 

SPECIALIZATIONS RESPONSIBLES FOR SPECIALIZATION WORK SCHEDULE AND LOCATION (WHERE NOT SPECIFIED, AVAILABLE IN ALL TRAINING SITES)
Biodiversity Dr. Viktor Papp associate professor full-time and correspondence training
Floriculture and Woody Plant Nursery Dr. Péter Honfi associate professor full-time and correspondence training
Medicinal Plant Production Dr. Éva Németh-Zámbori university professor full-time and correspondence training
Fruit Growing Dr. László Szalay associate professor full-time and correspondence training
Horticultural Biotechnology and Plant Breeding Dr. István Papp university professor full-time training in Budapest
Environmental Management Dr. Levente Kardos associate professor full-time and correspondence training in Budapest
Organic farming Dr. Péter Pusztai associate professor full-time and correspondence training Buda Campus
Viticulture Dr. Péter Bodor-Pesti Péter associate professor full-time and correspondence training
Vegetable Growing Dr. Anna Szabó senior lecturer full-time and correspondence training

 

Conditions for selecting specialization

From 2021/22 academic year onward in ascending order:

The general criteria for ranking applicants for specializations are the same as for undergraduate courses:

  • the results of at least two, but not more than four, compulsory courses set by the Institute;
  • the results of the optional courses proposed by the institute;
  • professional experience, professional attachment, vocational school leaving certificate;
  • academic average;
  • knowledge of languages.

Applications for a specialization shall be assessed by the person responsible for the specialization concerned or by the teacher(s) appointed by him/her. A ranking list will be drawn up and will be used to decide whether to admit or reject applicants to the specialization. 
Full-time and correspondence students in the undergraduate degree in horticulture choose their specialization in the fourth semester.

Professional practice

The professional practice consists of 15 weeks in full-time and 3 weeks in correspondence work schedule. In bachelor programs, only students who have been admitted to a specialization may undertake a professional practice.

Professional Practice in full-time training
In principle, the practical training can be carried out in the following types of sites:

  • in the work placements offered by the Institute;
  • in the work placements which the student has obtained himself/herself;
  • in the work placements abroad.

Under the MATE Code of Practice, each student shall first consider whether he/she can arrange his/her own placement or whether he/she wishes to use one of the work placements offered by the university.

Assessment of applications

Applications are always assessed by the specialization leader. In the case of individual placements, applications shall be submitted before the deadline in order to allow the student to choose between the work placements offered in the event of a rejection.

Obligations during the professional practice

During the professional practice, the student works under the supervision and guidance of the host professionals. Starting and finishing times are governed by the company's working hours, but the student's working week may not exceed 40 hours. The maximum working time of a student is 8 hours per day, 40 hours per week, of which up to 4 hours per week may be reduced only for duly justified reasons. The student shall comply with the company rules in force concerning accidents and health and safety at work. During the professional practice, the student's work shall be supervised by the University's appointed tutor (supervisor).

Assessment and acceptance of the professional practice

At the end of the professional practice, the students will prepare a written report, which will be signed by the employer. In the case of a professional practice abroad, the report shall be written in two languages (Hungarian and a language accepted by the host institution).
In addition to the signature of the written report by the student, the placement supervisor shall certify the completion of the placement by completing and signing the "Certificate of Completion of the Professional practice and Evaluation by the Workplace Supervisor" form. A copy of this form is given to the student on the last day of the professional practice and a copy is sent to the specialization leader.

Professional Practice in the correspondence training

The rules for correspondence training are the same as for full-time training, with the following exceptions: in undergraduate training, the training is 3 weeks, so there is no obligation to pay pursuant to Article 44 (3) a) of Act CCIV of 2011 on National Higher Education;

Prior Work Experience recognition

The professional practice part of the training can be completed with prior work experience credit. The credit for prior work experience shall be requested from the Institute's Academic and Credit Transfer Committee. Work experience may be counted only in the field of the training, provided that the duration of the work is at least as long as the duration of the professional practice in terms of hours worked as specified in the curriculum of the program.
The Institute's Academic and Credit Transfer Committee may request the opinion of the specialization leader in the event of a request for prior work experience to be counted as an professional practice and may also request additional information from the student.

Skills and professional competences acquired on completion of the program

A graduate with a bachelor's degree in Horticultural Engineering will be able to:

  • understand the physical, chemical and biological background of the main processes in horticultural plants;
  • produce and preserve horticultural products of high biological value on the basis of their biological, chemical, physiological, technical and technological knowledge;
  • determine the physiological, technical and economic background of cultivation technologies;
  • identify and effectively control harmful organisms in horticultural production;
  • apply environmental standards in relation to production;
  • set up, operate and control independent horticultural holdings;
  • identify expected trends in horticultural production and marketing and to adapt activities accordingly;
  • formulating, analyzing and evaluating professional problems and carrying out professional and administrative tasks;
  • applying the latest developments in horticultural production;
  • performing advisory tasks.

Conditions of obtaining pre-degree certificate (absolutorium)

  • completion of: all the compulsory subjects of the program, the subjects of the chosen specialization, the required number of optional credits according to the curriculum and the number of credits for the preparation of the thesis, for a total of 180 credits;
  • completion of a 30-credit professional practice.

Final Exam

Condition to attend final exam:

  • obtained pre-degree certificate (absolutorium);
  • submission of thesis and its acceptance by reviewers;
  • the student shall not be in debt to the University.

Parts of final exam:

  • thesis defense;
  • comprehensive complex exam. 

Field of knowledge and subjects of final exam 

From 2021/22 in ascending order:

In the academic year 2021/22 and onwards, students starting their studies in the degree program will take a comprehensive exam in the compulsory horticultural subjects and in the specializations:

  • The total credit value of the subjects of the comprehensive exam ("A" topics) is 18-24 credits, covering the professional core of horticultural production (Floriculture and Woody Plant Nursery; Medicinal Plant Production; Fruit Growing; Viticulture; Vegetable Growing). During the exam, the student draws one topic from the list of topics.
  • Each specialization ("B" topics) is worth 15 credits, from which the student also takes one topic in the final exam.

Evaluation of final exam and qualification of degree from 2020/21 academic year

Accordingly, to chapter 4.3.16 Final exam and chapter 4.3.17. Degree certificate.

Model curriculum of the program