RHS Bursaries: Application Guidelines
If this is your first RHS Bursaries application, please contact the RHS Bursaries Co-ordinator
(Tel. 01483 479719) who will advise if your project is eligible and of others who can assist you.
Who can apply?
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Professional & student gardeners/horticulturists
Plant and soil scientists
Botanists
Arboriculturists
Landscapers
 Botanical artists
 Other related professionals
 Serious amateur gardeners
 British & Irish institutions, colleges,
charities and gardens open to the public
Which projects can receive funding?
Projects with a very clear relevance to horticulture. They include, but are not limited to:
 Expeditions for plant exploration & collection
 Traineeship (one year paid) at a UK garden
open to the public
 Study tours to see plants in their native habitat
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Botanical artwork painting/drawing plants in their
 Voluntary Work Placements in leading
natural habitat or exhibiting at an RHS Show
botanic and historic gardens
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Taxonomy, incl. Research & Education
 Conference attendance & participation
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
OR – the UK or Ireland only if you do not meet the criteria above
(Ref. Britain/British encompass: England, Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland, Isle of Man, Jersey, Guernsey and the British Overseas Territories.)
What can funding be used for?
A bursary may be given for:
 Travel, accommodation & food
 Administration (Visa, CITES, collecting permits)
 Other (cost of driver or interpreter)
 Recording collections
 Supporting publication of specialist,
 small circulation horticultural books
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A bursary is NOT given for:
Covering salaries
Paying household expenses (e.g. utility bills)
Infrastructure (e.g. poly tunnels, pergolas)
Commercial enterprises
Courses which lead to qualification or accreditation
How do I apply?
Complete either:
Form A if applying as an individual or on behalf of a group of individuals
Form B if applying on behalf of an organisation
Then email completed application form with accompanying documents to bursaries@rhs.org.uk by closing date.
Closing Date
15 December
31 March
30 June
30 September
Bursaries Committee Meeting
early February
early May
late July
early November
When you will be notified of Committee’s decision
Within a week of RHS Bursaries Committee meeting
being held.
If your application is successful, the bursary will be paid
as soon as possible thereafter.
Projects underway at the time the Bursaries Committee meeting is held will not be eligible for consideration
What are the obligations on accepting a bursary?
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To submit a detailed written report within three months of project completion which includes a final account of how
the bursary has been used. Reports are held in the RHS Wisley Library for public reference. Two report prizes are
awarded annually: £500 for the highest standard of report writing; and £250 to the person viewed to have gained
the most from their project. Failure to provide a report may see you barred from making further applications.
Any unspent bursary funds are returned to the RHS upon completion of the project. If the project is cancelled, or
left uncompleted, you may be required to return all or part of the bursary awarded unless exceptional
circumstances apply as agreed by the RHS Bursaries Committee.
APPPLICATION FORM A – INDIVIDUALS/GROUPS
1. PERSONAL DETAILS – INDIVIDUAL/GROUP REPRESENTATIVE
Surname:
Forenames:
Occupation/Job Title:
Place of Employment/Study:
Nationality:
Email address:
Tel No:
For Group Applications only - Name and Job Title of all participants:
2. DURATION
Start Date:
Completion Date:
3. PROPOSED PROJECT (Brief Summary)
4. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF PROJECT (Bullet Points)
- How will the project assist in your current role/career aspirations/horticultural interest?
- What you will achieve and how you will do this?
- How you will share the knowledge and experience gained from this project?
5. DETAILED ITINERARY and/or DETAILS OF WORK PLACEMENT/CONFERENCE
6. RELEVANT QUALIFICATIONS & HORTICULTURAL EXPERIENCE
(CVs of all Group Applicants to be attached)
7. CONSULTATION
(Name & job title of two experienced persons consulted and evidence of contact with them must be attached)
Name:
Name:
Job Title:
Job Title:
If you are an RHS, RBGK, RBGE or Eden employee please confirm you have discussed your application with the
staff member from your organisation who sits on the RHS Bursaries Committee.
RHS Dr Tim Upson, Director of Horticulture
RBGK David Knott, Curator of Living Collections
RBGK, David Barnes, Manager of Horticultural Support
Eden Jane Knight, Landscape Architect
8. REFEREE DETAILS
(Two written references must be attached. One must be from your current employer/tutor and the other from
someone, other than a relative, who has known you for at least two years. Both must be able to provide a
knowledgeable opinion on your project. RHS Bursaries Committee Members cannot act as referees)
Name:
Name:
Job Title:
Job Title:
Email Address:
Email Address:
9. SUMMARY OF COSTS
Air Fare
£
Bus/Train
£
Car hire
£
Mileage: - Own Car- @ 25p per mile Hire Car - cost of fuel
£
Accommodation
£
Food/stores …………..£ ……….. per day for …………days
£
Visa
£
Permits
£
Insurance
£
Other Costs (please specify)
TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS
£
less CONFIRMED OTHER GRANTS/CONTRIBUTIONS
(as recorded in section 11. below)
less PERSONAL CONTRIBUTION
£
£
RHS BURSARY AWARD SOUGHT
(Total estimated cost minus other grants & personal
contribution)
£
for office use only
10. VISAS/PERMITS/INSURANCE
(Careful consideration must be given when travel is to restricted or potentially dangerous areas. Applicants must satisfy the
Committee on the advisability of, and preparation for, travel to such areas)
Is a travel visa required?
Yes
No
Obtained
In process
Are CITES permits needed?
Yes
Do you need a work permit?
Yes
No
Obtained
In process
Will you require health insurance?
Yes
No
Obtained
In process
No
Obtained
In process
Are other collecting permits needed?
Yes
No
Obtained
In process
Do you have the necessary leave of absence?
Yes
No
Obtained
In process
11. GRANTS/FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
(we recommend seeking other sources of funding and not relying solely on RHS Bursaries to cover total costs)
Name of Organisation:
Amount Requested: £
Successful?
Yes
No
Awaiting Response
Successful? Yes
No
Awaiting Response
Successful? Yes
No
Awaiting Response
Name of Organisation:
Amount Requested: £
Name of Organisation:
Amount Requested: £
12. DECLARATION
I confirm that the information given on this form and supporting papers is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true and
accurate. I understand that if I have given misleading information, this will be sufficient grounds for cancelling my application. If
the application is successful, I undertake to fulfil the obligations set out in the ‘Application Guidelines’ accompanying this form.
I agree the RHS may use material contained in my final bursary report for publicity purposes, (including publication on the RHS
website) and also consent to the use of material for publicity purposes by RHS bursary funders.
By submitting this form, you indicate your consent to the RHS using the information provided to process your application and to
the RHS sharing the information with other external grant giving bodies and RHS bursary donors.
The RHS takes your privacy and security seriously and will only process your personal data for the purposes stated in this form
in line with the Data Protection Act 2018. We will never disclose your personal data to any third parties without your prior
consent. Please see the RHS Privacy Policy on our website for more information on how we process your personal data and
your rights
The granting of an RHS Bursary conveys no responsibility for the welfare of a bursary applicant.
Signature:
Date:
Where did you hear about RHS Bursaries?
Are you an RHS Member? Yes
No
Checklist of documents to accompany application form
Two written references
Copy of travel visa
Evidence of consultation with at least two horticultural
experts
Conference/Guided Tour programme
Copy of permits/note of when these will be available
Confirmation of voluntary work placement
Information regarding status of other funding
applications
Any other relevant information/documentation
Confirmation of invitations/meetings with experts/other
individuals
Evidence (receipts/internet printouts) to support costs
APPPLICATION FORM B – ORGANISATIONS
1. APPLICANT ORGANISATION:
Name:
Nature of Business:
2. REPRESENTATIVE MAKING THIS APPLICATION:
Surname:
Forenames:
Email address:
Tel. No.
Position held within the Organisation:
3. PROPOSED PROJECT: (Please attach a detailed plan of action of how the project will be carried out
4. DURATION
Start Date:
Completion Date:
5. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: (What is hoped to be achieved by this project? And what are the perceived
benefits to horticulture?)
6. REFEREE DETAILS
(Two written references must be attached. Both must be able to provide a knowledgeable opinion on your
project. RHS Bursaries Committee Members cannot act as referees)
Name:
Name:
Job Title:
Job Title:
Email Address:
Email Address:
7. SUMMARY OF COSTS
Contractor:
£
Consulting:
£
Plants/Materials:
£
Administration:
£
Essential Equipment:
£
Specialist Services:
£
for office use only
Other Costs (please specify)
TOTAL ESTIMATED COSTS
£
GRANTS/ FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
(as recorded in section 8. below)
£
RHS BURSARY AWARD SOUGHT
(Total estimated cost minus other grants/contributions)
8. GRANTS/FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTIONS
£
Name of Organisation:
Amount Requested: £
Successful?
Yes
No
Awaiting Response
Successful? Yes
No
Awaiting Response
Name of Organisation:
Amount Requested: £
9. DECLARATION
I confirm that the information given on this form and supporting papers is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, true and
accurate. I understand that if I have given misleading information, this will be sufficient grounds for cancelling my
application. If the application is successful, I undertake to fulfil the obligations set out in the ‘Application Guidelines’
accompanying this form. I agree the RHS may use material contained in my final bursary report for publicity purposes,
(including publication on the RHS website) and also consent to the use of material for publicity purposes by RHS bursary
funders.
By submitting this form, you indicate your consent to the RHS using the information provided to process your application and
to the RHS sharing the information with other external grant giving bodies and RHS bursary donors.
The RHS takes your privacy and security seriously and will only process your personal data for the purposes stated in this
form in line with the Data Protection Act 2018. We will never disclose your personal data to any third parties without your
prior consent. Please see the RHS Privacy Policy on our website for more information on how we process your personal
data and your rights
The granting of an RHS Bursary conveys no responsibility for the welfare of a bursary applicant.
Signature:
Where did you hear about RHS Bursaries?
Are you an RHS Member? Yes
No
Date: