Certificate in Botany

The new training programme at Cambridge University Botanic Garden is specifically developed for students and professionals seeking a rigorous grounding in plant morphology and comparative systematics.

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.

Dedicated undergraduate botany degrees no longer exist in the UK, and many plant science programmes offer 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 fluency with plant form and diversity that cannot be gained through short courses or online learning alone. 

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: 

• Plant morphology and structural diversity 
• Comparative systematics and evolutionary relationships 
• Plant identification using morphological, phylogenetic and floristic frameworks 
• Linking whole-organism biology with molecular and genetic approaches 

Specialist seminars, guided study sessions and excursions complement core teaching, providing insight into living collections and their role in research, conservation and education.

By the end of the programme, participants will have developed: 

• Fluency in botanical and morphological terminology 
• Confidence in describing, comparing and identifying plants 
• The ability to interpret plant diversity within evolutionary and ecological frameworks 
• The conceptual tools to frame research questions in the context of plant diversity 
• The knowledge to sample appropriate taxa and work beyond model organisms 

In addition to technical skills, participants will gain privileged access to the living and archival collections of the Botanic Garden. These include both the University Herbarium and Garden 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 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 

Applicants should have a solid foundation in plant science or a closely related subject. 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, ensuring intensive teaching and close engagement with staff and collections. 

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. 

The Certificate in Botany will run from 6 July – 1 August 2026. 

Participants requiring accommodation will be housed at Queens’ College, Cambridge, within walking distance of the Botanic Garden. A reduced course fee is available for those who do not require accommodation. 

Applications will be made via an online form and will include: 

• A short letter of motivation 
• A CV 
• The name and contact details of a referee 

Further details on fees, funding support and the application process will be released in February 2026. 

Register your interest to ensure you are notified when applications open by filling in this expression of interest form.