Follow in the footsteps of Charles Darwin, a Cambridge graduate who was taught by John Stevens Henslow, the founder of Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Henslow founded the garden as a research and teaching resource for the University of Cambridge. And now, 200 years later, we are launching a new course in botany, which draws on our current living collection, our tradition of teaching excellence and the historic materials that were used to teach Darwin himself. Running 6 July – 1 August 2026, the Certificate in Botany will provide a rigorous grounding in comparative morphology and plant systematics, training the next generation of botanists in one of the world’s largest university-owned botanic gardens.
Find out more about the programme in the sections below.
- Overview
- Botany today
- What does the course cover?
- What will you gain?
- Who is the course for?
- Teaching and location
- Dates, accommodation and fees
- Applications open 6 March – 1 April, but complete an expression of interest form today
Overview
Plant science is advancing at pace. Genomics, metabolomics and computational biology are transforming how we study plants, yet these advances still depend on something increasingly rare: a deep, first-hand knowledge of plants. The ability to recognise, describe and compare plant form remains fundamental to framing research questions, interpreting data and applying plant science meaningfully in the real world. This month-long, immersive course responds directly to that need. Based entirely on site at the Botanic Garden, the programme combines lectures, practical classes and close study of living collections to reconnect modern plant science with its botanical foundations.
Botany today
Many plant science programmes offer only limited training in plant morphology and diversity. As a result, even highly skilled students may graduate with strong molecular or computational expertise but limited confidence in recognising plants, describing phenotypes or situating their work within a broader evolutionary and ecological context.
The Certificate in Botany addresses this gap. It offers sustained, in-person botanical training over a full month – currently unique in the UK – enabling participants to develop a fluency with plant form and diversity that cannot be gained through short courses or online learning alone.
“I attended a month-long botany residency over 25 years ago, and it remains one of the most formative experiences of my career. Studying intensively in a botanic garden deepened my understanding of plant diversity, strengthened my commitment to botany and expanded my professional network. It was a pivotal moment that shaped my scientific perspective and career path. I’m delighted that we can now offer a similar course at Cambridge University Botanic Garden.”
What does the course cover?
This course introduces comparative morphology and plant systematics and applies this information to key temperate and tropical flowering plant families.
During the residency, participants will study more than sixty temperate and tropical plant families in depth. Teaching integrates theory and practice, with daily lectures supported by hands-on examination of living material from across the Garden’s collections. The course focuses on:
- Comparative morphology and plant systematics
- Close study of the Garden’s collections
- Practical identification and botanical keys
- Botanical illustration
- Field botany
Specialist seminars, guided tours and excursions complement core teaching, providing a rich and intensive programme that situates close botanical observation within a systematic and ecological framework.
What will you gain?
Participants will acquire specialist knowledge and biodiversity skills, allowing them to frame their work or research within a broader evolutionary and ecological context.
By the end of the programme, participants will have developed:
- A strong working knowledge of botanical and morphological terminology
- Confidence in describing, comparing and identifying plant species
- The ability to understand plant diversity in an evolutionary and ecological context
- The skills to develop research questions related to plant diversity
- The knowledge to select suitable plant groups for study, including species beyond standard model organisms
In addition to technical skills, participants will gain access to the living and archival collections of the Botanic Garden. These include the Botanic Garden and the Herbarium as well as Cambridge’s wider botanical collections. Participants will also access a professional network spanning botanic gardens, academia and applied plant sciences.
The Certificate in Botany is an independent qualification awarded by Cambridge University Botanic Garden. Although it is taught by University of Cambridge staff and makes use of University collections, it is not a degree, diploma, or other qualification of the University of Cambridge and does not form part of the University’s formal academic programmes.
Who is the course for?
This course is ideal for people interested in plant diversity, morphology and evolutionary relationships, but with little or no formal training in these fields.
The Certificate in Botany is aimed at:
- Undergraduate and postgraduate students in plant sciences, biology or related disciplines
- Academic researchers in plant sciences, biology or related disciplines
- Professionals working in ecology, horticulture, conservation or related fields
Applications are also welcomed from those in adjacent fields who can demonstrate strong motivation to develop their botanical and systematic understanding.
Places are limited to 15 participants.
Teaching and location
All teaching takes place at Cambridge University Botanic Garden and the Herbarium and is delivered by Botanic Garden staff with specialist expertise in botany, plant diversity and living collections, alongside University academics.
The Garden’s temperate and tropical collections form the core teaching resource, allowing participants to work directly with a wide range of living plant material throughout the course.
This course is generously supported by The Finnis Scott Foundation.
Dates, accommodation and fees
The Certificate in Botany will run from 6 July – 1 August 2026.
Participants requiring accommodation will be housed at Queens’ College, Cambridge (subject to availability), within walking distance of the Botanic Garden.
Costs:
- Course fee: £750 (including all teaching materials, field excursions and a formal dinner at Queens’ College)
- Accommodation: £1,000 (including B&B accommodation and all dinners from Sunday 5 July – Sunday 2 August 2026)
Applications
Applications are open from midday 6 March – midday 1 April 2026. Please apply via the online form, including a short letter of motivation (maximum 3,000 characters), and send your CV to education@botanic.cam.ac.uk. The letter of motivation should outline your reasons for wishing to attend the course, any previous experience you have in plant systematics or related fields and how you expect the course to contribute to your development.
Successful applicants will be notified by 10 April 2026 and will be required to pay a 30% deposit within 10 days. Deposits are non-refundable if you cancel, unless we are able to fill your place. If we cancel the course, you will receive a full refund.
The remaining balance must be paid by 8 June 2026.
We reserve the right to make minor changes to the programme if necessary. In the event of circumstances beyond our control, we reserve the right to amend or cancel the course.
