MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants Handbook

Welcome to the Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants (BTP) MSc programme at the University of Edinburgh (UoE) and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). 

The BTP programme offers an exciting opportunity to immerse yourself in botanical research. Your training will range from essential approaches to plant identification that all good botanists should know, to the latest developments in conservation management and genomic sequencing. You will learn about the full diversity of plants and fungi, from flowering plants to cryptogams and other major groups. The skills acquired on the programme are an ideal foundation for careers (or further training) in taxonomy, plant science, conservation, ecology, horticulture or genetics. 

Most of your time will be spent at the RBGE (fondly referred to as the Botanics by staff and visitors), where you will make use of the world-leading living and herbarium collections, research facilities and the extensive library. The programme prides itself on delivering teaching in a range of settings: not just in the classroom, but also in the field, including an international trip where you’ll learn tropical plant identification. You will have many opportunities to interact with experts working across a diverse range of botanical research areas. This programme provides an important opportunity to establish informal professional connections alongside undertaking your research training.

As a former PhD student at the Botanics, I know that it is an enjoyable and friendly place to study. It has always been a great pleasure to see each cohort of MSc students getting to know one another, with many former students still in contact with their classmates years (or decades) after completing the programme.

On this website you will find basic information about the structure of the programme, with more details available on the Botanics PropaGate Learning environment that you will use once you arrive.

We hope you will enjoy your time studying with us.

Best wishes,

Alex