Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants MSc

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.

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.

• Postgraduate entry requirements for students from China

International qualifications

Check whether your international qualifications meet our general entry requirements:

• Entry requirements by country

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.

Unless you are a national of a majority English speaking country, your English language qualification must be no more than three and a half years old from the start of the month in which the programme you are applying to study begins. If you are using an IELTS, PTE Academic, TOEFL, Trinity ISE, or Oxford ELLT test, it must be no more than two years old on the first of the month in which the programme begins, regardless of your nationality. (Revised 14 January 2025 to include Oxford ELLT.)

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:

• UKVI list of majority English speaking countries

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).

• Approved universities in 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:

• English language requirements

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