Bursaries, grants and awards


There are lots of funding opportunities available to horticulturists in Britain and Ireland to help support travel and career development – don’t miss the deadlines! Visit the websites of each to find out whether you qualify. For a full list of bursaries available, visit the Chartered Institute of Horticulture website.

The list below is split into two: grants for students only and then grants for all horticulturists.

If you know of a bursary scheme not listed here, please let us know. Email: office@plantnetwork.org


Bursaries and grants available to current students only:

Please note that these are travel grants or awards available to assist studies rather than full scholarships which fund training: please see PlantNetwork for funded work-based training opportunities or CIH website for scholarships to support college courses or in-garden training e.g. The MacRobert Trust, Helen Kennedy Foundation, Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust and others.

  • RHS and GCA Interchange Fellowship – available to current horticultural or related subject students or graduates from the UK for an internship at Longwood Gardens or to study for one year at an US university. Applications close on 25 October 2019. More information.
  • Three Counties Agricultural Society Bursary – supports up to three years of study with up to £1000 available each year. Closing date 31 August. Download information pack.
  • David Colegrave Foundation – various scholarships, bursaries and awards available to horticultural students. Very much a commercial focus for many of the bursaries. More information.
  • Bursaries with geographic focus e.g. Devon Gardens Trust student bursary, Shropshire Parks and Gardens Trust student bursary, Suffolk Gardens Trust bursary.
  • Diana Aitchison Fund of SRGC provides grants and bursaries to support young people who want to pursue a career in horticulture. More information.
  • Christopher Lloyd Bursary – travel bursary for trainees or young gardeners. Closing dates: 01 April and 01 October. More information.
  • The Online Turf Scholarship – to support students in full-time education. Opens in the spring for applications. More information.
  • Percy Picton Memorial Fund – grants to support students and trainees. No application deadline. More information.
  • The David Miller Travel Bursary Award – aims to give two young plant scientists or horticulturists the opportunity of overseas travel in connection with their horticultural careers. Closing date: 15 April. More information.

Bursaries and grants available to all horticulturists, including students/apprentices:

Please note that each award will have specific application requirements which might be based on age and/or level of experience so please check requirements carefully.

  • RHS Bursaries – projects, expeditions and activities related to horticulture are eligible to be considered for a bursary. Closing dates: 31 March, 30 June, 30 September, 15 December. More information.
  • The Rhododendron, Camellia & Magnolia Group (RHS Group) Bursary Fund – small bursaries to support research and education projects specifically relating to Rhododendrons, Camellias or Magnolias, which further our knowledge of and/or promote these three genera. No deadline – awarded on a first come, first served basis. More information.
  • Alpine Garden Society – The Hendry Fund and AGS Travel Awards. Closing date: 31 January. More information.
  • Bentham-Moxon Trust – grants available that support the work of the Royal Botanic Garden Kew. More information.
  • Bursaries with a geographic focus such as the Devon Gardens Trust (two schemes: student bursary and small grants for gardens/designed landscapes in Devon).
  • Elspeth Thompson Bursary (NGS) – to support community garden projects. Closing date: 31 December. More information.
  • Finnis Scott Foundation – provide grants for any charitable purpose, with a focus on the areas of horticulture and plant sciences as well as fine art and art history. Applications considered quarterly – see website for latest dates.
  • Japanese Garden Society Bursaries – aimed at UK landscapers/ gardeners and those on a gardening-related course of study who wish to acquire or enhance their Japanese garden related skills. Closing dates: 31 March and 30 September. More information.
  • Mediterranean Plants and Gardens Bursaries – provided to attend MPG events or other activities closely aligned to MPG aims and objectives. More information.
  • Nuffield Farming Scholarships – provides opportunities to research topics of interest in either farming, food, horticulture or rural industries including travel anywhere in the world. Applicants must be no older than 45 years of age. Closing date: 31 July. More information for UK or Nuffield Ireland.
  • Professional Gardeners’ Trust – funds training and study for working gardeners. No deadline stated. More information.
  • SRGG Exploration Awards – to help finance projects or trips linked to rock garden plants. Closing date: 15 November. More information.
  • The Kenneth Black Bursary Scheme – for travel, conference attendance and other purposes linked to the growing of hardy herbaceous plants. For students and people who are employed in horticulture. No application deadlines. More information.
  • The Merlin Trust – travel grants for students & young horticulturists (within 5 years of training) including Study Travel Grant, AGS Joint Grants & Schachen Alpine Garden Grant. Closing dates: 15 January & 15 July (Study Travel Grant only). More information.
  • Winston Churchill Memorial Trust – a fellowship opportunity to expand professional and personal horizons by researching an issue of the fellows choosing, with the global leaders in that subject, anywhere in the world. Applications for the following year open in April. More information.


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Bursaries

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