Learn about your Programme

Key information about your programme, including programme structure and content

Postgraduate taught degrees in the School of Biological Sciences

Most of our postgraduate taught degrees consist of two semesters of taught courses, followed by a research project/dissertation to complete the masters.

Degree Structure

Our Degree Programme Tables (DPTs) give you a more in-depth insight into compulsory courses and optional courses you could take in Biological Sciences. Find out about a particular course, including

  • the syllabus
  • methods of assessment
  • modes of feedback
  • learning outcomes

DPTs are updated each year, so if you are studying part time details may change for future years of your programme. The 2025-26 Degree Finder will be published in Spring 2025, there may be changes to the programme structure from 2024-25.

Detailed degree information on the 2024-25 Degree Programme Table - Biological Sciences programmes

Where you will study

The University's King's Buildings Campus is the main base of the School of Biological Sciences and most of our students will spend time here. For Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants students you will usually spend most of your time at the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh (RBGE). The King's Buildings campus has over 100 years of scientific history and is the centre of the College of Science and Engineering. There are a number of key buildings you might use during your studies including the traditional style Ashworth Building, the more modern Nucleus Building and the largest building on campus the James Clerk Maxwell Building (JCMB).

An aerial view of the King's Buildings campus with the city and Arthur's Seat in the background.
King's Building's Campus with Arthur's Seat behind.

There are a variety of different teaching spaces in these buildings including:

  • interactive lecture theatres
  • tutorial rooms
  • well-equipped teaching laboratories
  • modern group workshop and study spaces
  • computer laboratories

Our King's Buildings Virtual Visit gives you the chance to discover our buildings, libraries and other points of interest around campus. It's a great way to get a feel for what it is like to study and live in Edinburgh.

Explore the School of Biological Sciences using our Virtual Visit | King's Buildings Campus  

MSc Biodiversity and Taxonomy of Plants Programme Website | Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh

Research Projects

Your dissertation or research project is a defining part of your MSc programme. Taking what you have learned in the first two semesters you will apply your knowledge to an independent 3 month research project. Project work usually begins immediately following any semester two exams or assessments, some programmes also have a project proposal course. Usually we ask students to choose their top five choices from our project database and then staff work to match students with projects as best they can.

Research Project | School of Biological Sciences

In the below video you can hear from Vasilios Raptis, Quantitative Genetics Programme (2020-21) on the work he completed for his project.

Recording of Vasilios Raptis MSc Project presentation 2021

Where could your degree take you?

Explore your future career options and meet our alumni

This article was published on