Wildlife Conservation Network

Scholarship Program
Overview of Program

The WCN Scholarship Program funds graduate education and applied training for community-based
conservationists dedicated to working in their home countries. Our vision is that graduates of the
Scholarship Program will become leaders in wildlife conservation. They will lead existing NGOs or start
their own organizations, possibly even becoming WCN Partners. By working with local people as
effective stewards of their environment, they will create a world in which wildlife and communities may
co-exist and thrive.

Starting in 2019, thanks to the support of a generous donor, we will also be offering one veterinary-track
scholarship to either a student pursuing a wildlife veterinary education or an existing veterinarian looking
to improve their knowledge/experience with wildlife.

Scholarship provides:

• Tuition and living expenses for the duration of the program, over and above funding from other
sources
o Awards range from $5,000 USD to $30,000 USD, with most in the $10,000-$20,000 range
o For the veterinary-track scholarship, one scholarship will be available up to $25,000
• Mentoring by the nominator of each scholarship recipient
Eligibility:

All candidates must be:

• Nominated by a WCN Partner, WCN Guest Speaker, WCS or WWF senior conservationist
(current staff), Whitley Award recipient, Rufford Foundation funding (2nd Booster Grant or
Completion Grant) recipient, or Tusk-supported conservationist. One nomination per nominator.
• A national of a country in Central or South America, Asia, or Africa
• Committed to a lifelong career in wildlife conservation in his/her home country
• A college graduate
• Enrolled or planning to enroll (within the next year) in a masters-level, doctorate, or applied training
program
• For the veterinary-track scholarship, the degree must be clearly related to veterinary medicine

Preference is given to applicants who have not received a prior WCN Scholarship. If you are applying for a
second award, it must be for a different program or terminal degree.
Selection Criteria:

Overall criteria:
Scholarships will be granted to candidates who:

• Demonstrate that the subject area, course work, skills, and/or degree conferred by their program
will substantially empower them to make a significant contribution to field-based work in wildlife
conservation

• Have current or previous experience as an employee or volunteer with a field-based wildlife

conservation program (ideally 2-3 years field conservation experience)

• Are early in their career (i.e. not mid- to late-career professionals) and anticipate a career focused
on:
• field-based conservation and applied research (rather than pure academic research or
technical work).
• protection of a threatened or endangered species, specifically terrestrial mammals or marine
wildlife (rather than a pure landscape approach)
• developing innovative strategies to promote better co-existence between humans and wildlife

• Demonstrate an understanding of the community-based model of wildlife conservation. Strong

preference for those who plan to incorporate or support community-based conservation in their
work.

• Demonstrate commitment to working in support of and with local communities in the field

• Are enthusiastic, hard-working and self-motivated with good skills in leadership and verbal and
written communication

• Will most greatly benefit from the full range of opportunities the Scholarship Program provides

• Have high potential to become leaders in wildlife conservation

Specific to veterinary-track:

Conservationists are sometimes hindered in their capacity to conduct activities for their focal species
because of limited access to veterinarians and the lack of experience that local vets have in working
with wildlife. To address this gap, the WCN scholarship aims to provide an opportunity for in-country
veterinarians/aspiring veterinarians to build their skills so they can contribute to the conservation of
endangered species. The scholarship will be granted to a candidate who fulfills the above-mentioned
criteria and who:

• Demonstrates that the subject area, course work, skills, and/or degree conferred by their
program will substantially empower them to make a significant contribution to wildlife
conservation through their acquired skills in veterinary medicine

• Anticipates a career focused on field-based conservation and applied research through the lens
of veterinary medicine (rather than pure academic research or technical work).