MSc in Biodiversity & Taxonomy of Plants
The University of Edinburgh - School of Biological Sciences
Key Information
Campus location
Edinburgh, United Kingdom
Languages
English
Study format
On-Campus
Duration
1 - 2 year
Pace
Full time, Part time
Tuition fees
GBP 38,500 / per year *
Application deadline
Request info
Earliest start date
Request info
* full time international/EU: £38,500 - full time Scotland/rest of UK £19,100
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Introduction
The understanding of 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 upon detailed knowledge of plants and their habitats.
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 four sites, amounting to five per cent of known world species), a herbarium of three million preserved specimens and one of the UK’s most comprehensive botanical libraries.
RBGE offers collections-based biodiversity research opportunities across a wide spectrum of organisms and geographical regions. This diversity, coupled with the RBGE’s world-leading research, provides an unrivalled masters programme in plant biodiversity.
Admissions
Curriculum
Programme structure
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.
Part-time study
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.
Career Opportunities
The programme is good preparation for roles in taxonomy, while many graduates have also continued to PhD studies. Past students have entered a wide variety of jobs at research institutions, conservation agencies and elsewhere.