WCN Scholarship Program

The WCN Scholarship Program invests in the next generation of conservation leaders by providing grants for graduate education to students committed to working on wildlife conservation in their home countries.

Background: Founded ten years ago (as of 2016) to mitigate growing threats against imperiled species worldwide. The program focuses on finding and nurturing emerging conservationists in countries with high threat levels.

Geographic Scope: Global; supports students from 28+ countries across Africa, Asia, South America, and other regions

Focus Areas:

• Graduate-level education in conservation, wildlife biology, ecology, and related fields
• Species-specific conservation (snow leopards, red pandas, jaguars, Bengal tigers, lions, cheetahs, elephants, rhinoceros, fishing cats, etc.)
• Students committed to working on wildlife conservation in their home countries

Award Details:

• As of 2016, 80 scholarships awarded across multiple years
• In 2015, WCN awarded 10 scholarships
• Supports M.Sc., M.Phil., and Ph.D.-level education
• Named scholarships include: Sidney Byers Scholarship, Pat J. Miller Scholarship, Handsel Scholarship, Zegeye Kibret Memorial Scholarship

Eligibility:

• Students committed to wildlife conservation work in their home countries
• Demonstration of exceptional skill, courage, and commitment to conservation
• Collaborative and solutions-oriented mindset
• Nominated by senior conservationists from WCN, Wildlife Conservation Society, World Wildlife Fund, and Whitley Award winners

Selection Process:

• Senior conservationists from WCN, Wildlife Conservation Society, and World Wildlife Fund, as well as Whitley Award winners, nominate scholarship candidates

Contact/More Info: wildnet.org/scholarships