The Sibbald Scholarship

The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh is offering one scholarship of £8000 to an eligible offer-holder of MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants for September 2027 entry. Offer holders of the 1-year full-time programme who are nationals from countries defined by the DAC List of ODA Recipients will be considered. 

This scholarship, on behalf of the Heather Fairlie Fund, is intended to aid highly motivated applicants to study on the programme through a one-time stipend payment which will be awarded to the successful applicant upon enrolment on the programme in September 2027 by the RBGE. 

The scholarship will be awarded to one MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants offer holder who has firmly accepted the offer for admission on the programme for September 2027 entry and intends to enrol.

Please only apply for this scholarship if you have already received an offer (conditional or unconditional). The bursary selection panel can only consider your application if you hold an active offer throughout your bursary application process, meaning if your offer is declined at any point up until the bursary decision deadline you will no longer be eligible.

You will not be eligible for this bursary if:

1. you are fully sponsored by your employer;
2. you are already in receipt of a full bursary; or
3. you already hold or will hold a Masters degree or PhD qualification.

Applicants for this scholarship must be nationals from countries defined by the DAC List of ODA Recipients. The scholarship will be awarded broadly based on motivation to study MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants and academic merit.

The scholarship will be awarded broadly on academic merit and motivation to study for the programme as evidenced in your personal statement.

Instructions on how to apply for the scholarship will appear here shortly. Please check back for updates.

The deadline for applying for this scholarship will be 23:59 (UK Time) on 31st March 2027.

Scholarships Systems FAQs for Applicants (231.61 KB / PDF)

The successful applicant of this scholarship will be notified by July 2027. 

Please direct any queries to studentsupport@rbge.org.uk

MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

The University reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend or withdraw any of the advertised scholarships, without further notice.