Up to three eligible offer holders on the University of Edinburgh’s MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants will be awarded Carnegie-Morgan Scholarships in the 2027-2028 academic year, with the award covering full tuition fees and up to £1,200 for living costs in Edinburgh. The funding is aimed at widening participation in postgraduate study while supporting Scotland’s workforce for net zero and efforts to reverse biodiversity decline.
Key facts
- Up to three scholarships are available for the 2027-2028 academic year.
- The award is for offer holders on the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants programme.
- The scholarship covers the full cost of tuition fees and includes up to £1,200 for living costs in Edinburgh.
- Applicants must meet Carnegie Education Fund criteria, including residency, income, and immigration requirements.
- The application deadline for the programme offer is 31 May 2027.
What does this mean for students applying to the MSc?
For prospective students, the scholarship can remove the main tuition barrier for a specialised postgraduate degree at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. It is aimed at applicants who meet the Carnegie Education Fund’s criteria and who have an offer, conditional or unconditional, for the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants for 2027-2028.
Eligible applicants must also be ordinarily resident in Scotland, live in a low-income household, be entitled to remain indefinitely in the UK, and not already hold a postgraduate degree. The award also requires evidence of either at least two years of secondary or full-time college education in Scotland, or a substantive connection with Scotland through residency, education, family or working life.
- Apply for the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants by 31 May 2027.
- State in the personal statement that you want to be considered for the Carnegie-Morgan Scholarship.
- Check that household income, residency and prior-study status fit the criteria.
Who can be considered for the scholarship?
Only offer holders for the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants are considered, including those applying for the 1-year full-time option or either of the 2-year part-time options. The Carnegie Education Fund confirms eligibility against its criteria and recommends candidates to the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh for award.
The 2027 entry income thresholds vary by household type and dependents, beginning at £30,000 for a single-person household with no children and £35,000 for a couple with no children, and rising with additional dependents. Applicants must also show how they will cover living costs while studying and must not be eligible for public grant funding toward the course.
Why is the scholarship being offered?
The scholarships are designed to widen participation in postgraduate study and to support Scotland’s transition to net zero by helping train a workforce with biodiversity expertise. The programme focus on plant biodiversity and taxonomy aligns with those aims by preparing students for work connected to biodiversity decline and conservation needs.
What should applicants do next?
Prospective applicants should secure an offer for the programme before the deadline, then flag scholarship interest in their programme personal statement. Successful applicants will be notified by the Carnegie Education Fund, and queries can be directed to studentsupport@rbge.org.uk.
