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Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants MSc

Awards: MSc

Study modes: Full-time, Part-time

Funding opportunities

Understanding plant diversity and resources has never been more important. As we face the unprecedented challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, effective environmental surveillance and conservation depend on detailed knowledge of plants and their habitats. Understanding plant diversity also allows us to understand how best to use these incredible organisms for a more sustainable future.

This programme is run jointly by the University and the world-renowned Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). The RBGE is home to one of the world’s best living collections of plants (15,000 species across 4 sites, amounting to 5% of known world species), a herbarium of 3 million preserved specimens and one of the world’s most comprehensive botanical libraries. This diversity, coupled with the RBGE’s world-leading research, provides an unrivalled masters programme in plant biodiversity.

RBGE offers collections-based biodiversity research opportunities across a wide spectrum of organisms and geographical regions. Throughout the MSc, you will develop expertise across fungi, lichens, algae and plants, developing excellent identification and research skills. These skills are invaluable across a great many research areas from ecology to evolutionary genetics, and very much in demand in the commercial and education sectors.

This programme is full time and consists of two semesters of lectures, workshops and investigations, followed by a four-month research project.

The programme can also be taken on a part-time basis over two years. Part-time students can opt either to take 60 credits of taught courses in the first year of study, followed by the remaining 60 credits of taught courses and the four-month research project in the second year of study, or all taught courses in the first year followed by the four-month research project in the second year of study.

The programme is delivered mainly at RBGE but also at the University’s King’s Buildings campus.

Research

Your research project will be chosen in consultation with your supervisor, and will link directly with active research programmes at RBGE or other research institutions.

Find out more about compulsory and optional courses

We link to the latest information available. Please note that this may be for a previous academic year and should be considered indicative.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScBiodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants1 YearFull-timeProgramme structure 2024/25
MScBiodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2024/25
MScBiodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants2 YearsPart-timeProgramme structure 2024/25

During this programme, students will:

  • Develop an understanding of the biodiversity and taxonomy of land plants, algae and fungi.
  • Learn skills to identify important groups of land plants, algae and fungi.
  • Cultivate an understanding and experience of the biodiversity analysis methods which underpin our knowledge of plants and fungi.
  • Acquire and nurture an understanding of the diversity of plants through time and space, and how this influences real life conservation decisions.
  • Increase and hone strong skills in scientific writing and research through a diverse selection of in-course assessments and a final thesis project.

Our graduates can continue their research at PhD-level, or may pursue a career in a range of biological areas including:

  • botany
  • taxonomy
  • ecology
  • conservation
  • education
  • policy

Past students have entered a wide variety of jobs at research institutions such as universities, conservation and government agencies and consultancies or working in industry.

Our Careers Service will support you throughout your time studying with us and for 2 years after your studies finish. They can provide:

  • tailored advice
  • individual guidance and personal assistance
  • internship and networking opportunities (with employers from local organisations to top multinationals)
  • access to the experience of our worldwide alumni network

The programme can also be taken on a part time basis over two years.

Part-time students wishing to take 60 credits of taught courses in the first year of study, followed by the remaining 60 credits of taught courses and the four-month research project in the second year of study should apply for the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants (60/120 credits) - 2 Years (Part-time).

Part-time students wishing to take all taught courses in the first year followed by the four-month research project in the second year of study should apply for the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants (120/60 credits) - 2 Years (Part-time).

Please note that part-time tuition fees vary depending on the number of credits taken per year.

If you are interested in part-time study but unsure which part-time route to apply for, you are encouraged to contact the Programme Director to discuss both options prior to submitting an application. It is possible to transfer between part-time routes prior to the commencement of study.

These entry requirements are for the 2025/26 academic year and requirements for future academic years may differ. Entry requirements for the 2026/27 academic year will be published on 1 Oct 2025.

A UK 2:1 honours degree, or its international equivalent, in biological, horticultural, or environmental science.

Relevant work experience is desirable (for example, any prior activities that would prepare you for the programme, such as: attending workshops or short courses, collecting trips, plant-related previous jobs, publication of papers etc).

Other degrees will be considered on an individual basis, provided that a keen interest in plants can be demonstrated.

Your personal statement should include information that shows how your background and aspirations for the future link together to make a good fit with this programme. Please include the following along with anything else you would like to tell us about in your personal statement:

  • Your motivations for doing this degree rather than others in biology
  • Your passion for plants

Please contact the teaching team at RBGE to discuss the personal statement requirement further:

​​​​​​​* studentsupport@rbge.org.uk

(Revised 06/11/2024 to include information on the personal statement.)

Students from China

This degree is Band C.

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

English language requirements

Regardless of your nationality or country of residence, you must demonstrate a level of English language competency which will enable you to succeed in your studies.

English language tests

We accept the following English language qualifications at the grades specified:

  • IELTS Academic: total 7.0 with at least 6.0 in each component. We do not accept IELTS One Skill Retake to meet our English language requirements.
  • TOEFL-iBT (including Home Edition): total 100 with at least 20 in each component. We do not accept TOEFL MyBest Score to meet our English language requirements.
  • C1 Advanced (CAE) / C2 Proficiency (CPE): total 185 with at least 169 in each component.
  • Trinity ISE: ISE III with passes in all four components.
  • PTE Academic: total 73 with at least 59 in each component. We do not accept PTE Academic Online.
  • Oxford ELLT: 8 overall with at least 6 in each component.

Your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start date of the programme you are applying to study, unless you are using IELTS, TOEFL, Trinity ISE or PTE, in which case it must be no more than two years old.

Degrees taught and assessed in English

We also accept an undergraduate or postgraduate degree that has been taught and assessed in English in a majority English speaking country, as defined by UK Visas and Immigration:

We also accept a degree that has been taught and assessed in English from a university on our list of approved universities in non-majority English speaking countries (non-MESC).

If you are not a national of a majority English speaking country, then your degree must be no more than five years old at the beginning of your programme of study.

Find out more about our language requirements:

Tuition fees

Please note that part-time tuition fees vary depending on the number of credits taken each year.

AwardTitleDurationStudy mode
MScBiodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants1 YearFull-timeTuition fees
MScBiodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees
MScBiodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants2 YearsPart-timeTuition fees

Funding for postgraduate study is different to undergraduate study, and many students need to combine funding sources to pay for their studies.

Most students use a combination of the following funding to pay their tuition fees and living costs:

  • borrowing money
    • taking out a loan
    • family support
  • personal savings
  • income from work
  • employer sponsorship
  • scholarships

Explore sources of funding for postgraduate study

Featured funding

UK government postgraduate loans

If you live in the UK, you may be able to apply for a postgraduate loan from one of the UK’s governments.

The type and amount of financial support you are eligible for will depend on:

  • your programme
  • the duration of your studies
  • your tuition fee status

Programmes studied on a part-time intermittent basis are not eligible.

Other funding opportunities

Search for scholarships and funding opportunities:

  • Biology Teaching Organisation
  • School of Biological Sciences
  • James Clerk Maxwell Building
  • The King's Buildings Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH9 3FD

Demand for places on this programme is extremely high and places are allocated to suitably qualified applicants on a first-come first-served basis.

If you are applying for funding we encourage you to submit your programme application as early as possible because, in most cases, you will need a programme offer before you can make your funding application. Most funding deadlines are no later than June.

You must submit one reference with your application.

Find out more about the general application process for postgraduate programmes:

Further information

  • Biology Teaching Organisation
  • School of Biological Sciences
  • James Clerk Maxwell Building
  • The King's Buildings Campus
  • Edinburgh
  • EH9 3FD