During this two-year program, you will collaborate with faculty experts while you study renovation, construction, irrigation, design and water management.
Develop your skills through hands-on learning creating bunker and irrigation construction on our unique campus that acts as a living lab, complete with computer controlled greenhouses and a 12,000 square foot Landscape Pavilion.
Upon successful completion of this program, graduates will receive a diploma in Turfgrass Management from Olds College of Agriculture & Technology.
As part of the Turfgrass Management diploma program, you will complete three Field Schools (six months in total) and three paid internships (six months in total), where you will have the opportunity to put your skills and knowledge in practice, while gaining valuable hands-on work experience in the turfgrass industry.
Upon completion, graduates of the Turfgrass Management Diploma are prepared to attempt the Alberta Pesticide Assistant Certification.
Out of Province Applicants: Please refer to the Provincial Equivalency Chart for course equivalencies.
International Applicants: Olds College welcomes applications from International Applicants and those who have completed their high school education outside of Canada. Please note, it is still necessary to meet all of the noted admission requirements, including English Language Proficiency.
Alternate Admission status may be offered to applicants who have not or will not complete one of the academic admission requirements. To be considered under Alternate Admission Status, applicants will be asked to provide the following:
*Submitting Alternate Admission material does not guarantee admission*
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology has developed agreements with other educational institutions to allow for transition to Olds College, or to another institution to continue your education. Articulations & Agreements
| Year | Tuition | Fees | Books & Supplies | Estimated Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $5,000.00 | $1,300.00 | $400.00 | $6,700.00 |
| Year 2 | $5,000.00 | $1,300.00 | $400.00 | $6,700.00 |
Olds College offers two residence options — Centennial Village and College Courts. Students living on campus are required to choose a meal plan. Housing and meal plan costs are based on the full academic year (September to April), but students in single-term programs will only pay for the corresponding term.
For more details, visit Dining at Olds College and Campus Housing.
For course descriptions and requisites, view the Academic Calendar.
Academic Calendar: Turfgrass Management
Olds College of Agriculture & Technologyhas a solid reputation working with employers in the industry! This directly translates into jobs for our graduates. Opportunities include, but are not limited to:
Visit ALIS - Occupational Profiles to discover current wages, industry trends, and more about your future job.
There are many options to help you fund your education. Our Financial Aid Officer on campus will be available to assist you prepare student loan documentation, provide confirmation of enrolment to release RESP's or obtain private loans, and help you find funding.
Olds College of Agriculture & Technology offers over 475 awards, valued at $1.5million in scholarships, bursaries and prizes. Thanks to our industry partners, alumni, and friends of Olds College we are fortunate to offer a generous student awards program to students.
Entrance awards range from $250 - $1,500 for students applying for the upcoming academic year and have paid the tuition deposit by the deadline.
Awards are selected randomly from those that have applied and qualify based on the criteria.
Award will be applied as a tuition credit to the student's account after the add/drop course deadline, confirming full-time attendance.
Find out when your term start and end dates are, so that you know when you are expected to be in attendance. For more information, please review the Program Dates & Fee Schedule.
You will be registered into your classes automatically. This will happen approximately 1 month prior to the start-date for your program. You will be notified once you have been timetabled into your courses. You will be able to see your class schedule in your My Olds College account. If you need to make any changes to your class registration, please contact the Office of the Registrar.
It is strongly recommended that you come to Olds College of Agriculture & Technology with the following technology:
As part of your student accounts, all students have access to Office 365 for the duration of their time with Olds College. To access this you just need to follow these steps:
This will give you access to the full Office suite on your computer, for both Windows and Mac based platforms.
The following items are required to be purchased before the program starts:
Information on required textbooks and any further supplies will be provided as you attend each class. All books and supplies will be available during the first few weeks of classes in the College Campus Store.
Time Requirements: Students are typically in class or on field trips for up to 3-6 hours a day Monday through Friday, with normal in-class hours running from 9 am to noon. Occasionally, overnight trips may be necessary. You will also be expected to complete numerous assignments outside of regularly scheduled classes that will vary in terms of their demands upon your time. This amount of time will vary with each course that you take, but a reasonable estimate would be 50 hours per week of effort inclusive of class time.
Student Clubs: It is recommended to join the Turf Club and become a CGSA member (if you have not already done so). There are also a number of college sports teams, some of which participate at the inter-collegiate level while others are purely recreational.
Additional Skills: Basic computer skills are recommended for all and it is certainly beneficial to have some prior experience with computers before you arrive at the College. A familiarity and comfort in use of Google Docs, word processing, spreadsheet and e-mailing software will be a definite asset.
Lockers: All you need to do during your first few days at Olds is to select one without a lock and it’s yours for the duration. I strongly recommend that you select a locker in the first week of classes because of high demand. You are required to provide your own lock.
Dress Code: Most students prefer to wear casual clothing to class, but it is recommended you bring semi-formal clothing with you so that you are prepared for employment interviews and other industry opportunities that may present themselves.
Connect directly with the recruitment team at Olds College to get personalized support as you explore your pathway to post-secondary study. Whether you have questions about programs, admission requirements, campus life or next steps in your application journey, our recruitment specialists are here to help you make informed decisions and plan with confidence.
The program includes three field schools (six months total) and three paid internships (six months total), giving students hands‑on experience in turfgrass management, irrigation, construction, and facility maintenance.
Yes. Upon completion, graduates are prepared to attempt the Alberta Pesticide Assistant Certification.
Graduates are eligible for roles such as golf‑course superintendent or assistant, sports turf technician, municipal parks foreperson, landscape maintenance manager, or turf equipment and irrigation specialist.
Applications for 2027-28 open Oct. 1, 2026, 9 a.m.
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