Cambridge University Botanic Garden is dedicated to the provision of botanical education, offering rich opportunities for university students, researchers and professionals to engage directly with one of the most diverse living plant collections in the UK. Through taught workshops, courses and qualifications, we support learners in building deep botanical knowledge and hands-on skills. Our programme for colleges and universities connects students with plant diversity, conservation and cutting-edge plant science, fostering the next generation of plant thinkers and practitioners.
Group Workshops
We offer free, bespoke group visits for college and university students to enrich your course or student experience.
Each session is tailored to your needs and led by our education team. Topics we regularly cover include botany, plant science, biodiversity skills and plant evolution. Sessions are typically held outdoors and begin with a short introduction to the Botanic Garden. Students will benefit from hands-on learning, exclusive access to our living collections and insights from our staff and researchers.
Sessions are open to any further or higher education group, whether that’s a course cohort, student society or subject-specific club.
Planning your visit
To book a facilitated session, please contact the Higher Education Coordinator at education@botanic.cam.ac.uk to discuss your requirements. You can then book a visit using the relevant college or university booking form. College and university educators are also welcome to arrange self-guided educational visits for student groups, free of charge, using the same form.
Botany Hour
Enhance your study by taking the Botany Hour class at the Botanic Garden to learn botany, plant systematics and comparative morphology.
This weekly course offers a deep dive into the evolutionary relationships and structure of plants. You’ll begin with an overview of plant systematics and land plant groups such as mosses, ferns and conifers, before focusing on flowering plant diversity through the Tree of Life, including ANA-grade, Magnoliids, Eudicots and Monocots. Over 60 plant families are covered in detail.
Each session includes:
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A structured approach to comparing plant lineages through morphology, ecology and uses
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Illustrated slides and curated reading lists
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A short weekly quiz to reinforce learning
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Access to live plant material from the Garden’s collections
Key details
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When: Thursdays, 8:30–9:30am; 35 sessions; Late September 2025 – Early July 2026
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Where: Cambridge University Botanic Garden (Garden Room) or online
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Cost: Free but attendance at a minimum of 25 sessions is required
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Eligibility: Open to anyone affiliated with a higher education or research institution
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Taught by: Dr Ángela Cano (Deputy Curator) and guest speakers
Applications for 2025-2026 are now closed. Applications for 2026-2027 will open beginning August 2026.
Certificate in Botany
The Cambridge University Botanic Garden Certificate in Botany is a month-long residency designed for upper level undergraduates, postgraduates, researchers and professionals who are seeking a deep, first-hand knowledge of plant diversity. In response to the decline of botany in undergraduate university curricula, this immersive programme brings participants into the Garden to study plants in depth, building the skills needed to identify and describe plants from across the diversity of the plant kingdom.
Read full details on the course and how to apply.
Volunteering and Work Placements
We also welcome enquiries from college and university students seeking educational work placements or looking to volunteer at the Garden. Our Plant Explainer programme offers students the chance to volunteer at Garden events and drop-in sessions. If you’re passionate about plants and interested in gaining experience in science communication, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact the Higher Education Coordinator at education@botanic.cam.ac.uk to find out more.
