The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE) is offering one Sibbald Scholarship worth £8,000 to an eligible offer holder for the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants, with the award due for September 2027 entry. The scholarship is limited to one recipient and is supported on behalf of the Heather Fairlie Fund.
Key facts
- One scholarship award is available.
- The value of the award is £8,000.
- It is for an offer holder on the one-year full-time MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants.
- Applicants must be nationals from countries on the DAC List of ODA Recipients.
- The application deadline is 23:59 UK time on 31 March 2027.
What does the scholarship mean for students?
For prospective students who already hold an offer for the September 2027 intake, the scholarship can reduce the cost of studying the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants at RBGE. The award is paid as a one-time stipend after enrolment, so it is meant to support the successful applicant once they start the programme.
Eligibility is narrow. Applicants must have firmly accepted an offer for the programme, hold that offer throughout the bursary process, and be nationals of a country defined by the DAC List of ODA Recipients. Students are not eligible if they are fully sponsored by an employer, already receiving a full bursary, or already hold — or will hold — a Masters degree or PhD qualification.
- Apply only if you already have a conditional or unconditional offer.
- Keep the offer active until the bursary decision deadline.
- Plan to enrol in September 2027.
- Expect notification by July 2027 if successful.
Who can apply for the Sibbald Scholarship?
The scholarship is for one eligible offer holder on the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants who is also a national of a DAC List of ODA Recipients country. RBGE says selection will be based broadly on academic merit and motivation for the programme, with the personal statement used as part of that assessment.
Applicants must already have an offer in place before applying. The bursary panel can only consider an application while the offer remains active, so any decline of the offer before the decision deadline removes eligibility.
How and when should applicants apply?
RBGE says instructions on how to apply will be published later. The deadline for submitting an application is 23:59 UK time on 31 March 2027. The successful applicant is due to be notified by July 2027.
Any queries should be directed to studentsupport@rbge.org.uk. RBGE also says the University reserves the right to amend or withdraw advertised scholarships without further notice.
Frequently asked questions
When is the deadline for the Sibbald Scholarship?
The application deadline is 23:59 UK time on 31 March 2027.
Who is eligible for the scholarship?
Eligible applicants are offer holders for the MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants who are nationals of countries on the DAC List of ODA Recipients and who are not fully sponsored, already receiving a full bursary, or already holding or due to hold a Masters degree or PhD.
