Horticultural bursaries

Our bursaries scheme supports a passion for horticulture by providing financial support for a wide range of projects

Important notice

Applications must be submitted three months before projects are due to take place and application deadlines are set out below:

Application closing date
 
31 December
31 March
30 June
30 September

Application considered by
RHS Bursaries Committee
February
May
June
November

Which projects can receive funding?

Projects with a very clear relevance to horticulture. They include, but are not limited to:

  • Study tours, which may include seeing plants in their native habitat, visits to gardens, plant nurseries and horticultural institutions
  • Voluntary work placements (short-term or spread over a longer period) in leading botanic and historic gardens
  • Conference attendance and participation

  • Taxonomy where this has direct relevance to horticultural nomenclature 
  • Research where the project involves gathering data that are of direct relevance to an important horticultural question (funding to cover travel and consumables only, excluding course fees, equipment and publication costs)

Applying for an RHS Bursary

Download and complete one of the application forms below:

Submitting applications

  • Completed application forms must be submitted by email with required accompanying documents to [email protected] taking account of the deadlines mentioned above
  • If your application is successful, you will be allocated funding from one of the many bursary funds that have been kindly donated to the RHS

What can a bursary be used for?

Funding can be used to cover, or contribute towards the costs of:

  • Travel, including visas and insurance
  • Accommodation
  • Food
  • Conference fees
  • High quality plant labelling and recording collections
Funding cannot be given for the following:
  • To cover salaries 
  • Paying of household expenses (e.g. utility bills)
  • Infrastructure (e.g. polytunnels, pergolas, buildings)
  • Commercial enterprises
  • Course fees 
  • Costs related to undertaking a course (e.g. purchasing of books and materials)
Who can apply?
  • Professional and student gardeners/horticulturists
  • Plant and soil scientists
  • Botanists
  • Arboriculturists
  • Growers/Nurseries
  • Landscapers
  • Botanical artists
  • Other related professionals
  • Serious amateur gardeners
  • Higher/further education establishments, British and Irish institutions, charities and gardens open to the public 
Where can the project take place?

Anywhere in the world if you are:

  • A British or Irish citizen (i.e. holder of either a British or Irish passport)
  • Other passport holder resident or in employment in Britain or Ireland for minimum of 2 years
  • Students enrolled on a British horticulture course of a minimum 2-year duration
  • A British or Irish institution, charity or garden open to the public
UK or Ireland only if you do not meet the criteria above.


Please note: The reference to Britain/British encompasses: England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey and the British Overseas Territories.

How are RHS Bursaries funded?
Our bursaries are possible thanks to charitable donations and bequests from benefactors wishing to further the interests of horticultural education.
How do I donate to the RHS Bursaries fund?
If you would like to support these funds please contact:

Write: RHS Bursaries Co-ordinator, RHS Garden Wisley, Woking, Surrey GU23 6QB 
Telephone: 01483 479719 
Email: [email protected]


Got a question for the Bursaries team?

Get in touch with our dedicated team and they’ll help get you started:
Call: 01483 479719
Email: [email protected]
 

Past Bursaries reports

Past Bursaries reports

Careers in horticulture

RHS/CGA Interchange Fellowship

RHS/CGA Interchange Fellowship

Get involved

The Royal Horticultural Society is the UK’s leading gardening charity. We aim to enrich everyone’s life through plants, and make the UK a greener and more beautiful place.