Carnegie-Morgan Scholarships

Developed in partnership between the Carnegie Education Fund (CEF) and the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE), up to three eligible offer holders of the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants programme will be awarded the Carnegie-Morgan Scholarship in the 2027-2028 academic year. Offer holders of the 1-year full-time programme or both 2-year part-time programme options will be considered.

These scholarships aim to widen participation in postgraduate study while furthering Scotland’s development of a suitably equipped workforce to support the transition to net zero and reverse or redress biodiversity decline.

These scholarships will cover the full cost of tuition fees. Up to £1200 will also be awarded to support living costs in Edinburgh.

The scholarships are intended to allow highly skilled and motivated applicants to study with us who might otherwise not be able to afford the opportunity. 


To be eligible for the scholarship, you need to meet all the Carnegie Education Fund's criteria. 

The 2027 entry criteria are as follows (please note this may change slightly for 2028 entry):

  • Hold an offer on a place (conditional or unconditional) of study on MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants for the 2027-2028 academic year and have accepted or intend to accept the offer.
  • Reside in a low-income household based on the income thresholds below:
DependentsSingle person householdCouple
No children£30,000£35,000
1 child£35,000£40,000
2 children£40,000£45,000
3 children£45,000£50,000
Per additional child£5,000£5,000

  • Be ordinarily a resident in Scotland (by which we mean you must have made your permanent home in Scotland intending to stay and live here).
  • Be able to demonstrate that you have either:
    - Completed at least two years of secondary schooling or full-time college education in Scotland, OR 
    - A substantive connection with Scotland on the basis of residency (excluding time spent at university), education (excluding university), family or working life. 
  • Be entitled to remain indefinitely in the UK.
  • Be able to demonstrate how you will cover the cost-of-living while studying.
  • Not be eligible for public grant funding towards the cost of the course.
  • Not have already obtained a postgraduate degree, for example a Masters (taught or research), MPhil or PhD.

The Carnegie Education Fund will confirm eligibility against their scholarship criteria and will recommend candidates to the RBGE to be awarded the scholarship.


You must have applied for and have an offer (conditional or unconditional) for the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants programme by 31st May 2027. 

You should note in your personal statement within your programme application form that you wish to be considered for the Carnegie-Morgan Scholarship.


Successful applicants of this scholarship will be notified by the Carnegie Education Fund. 


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


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