The WCN Scholarship program was founded in 2006 to nurture emerging conservationists and better equip them to take up the fight for wildlife.
WCN scholars are the future of conservation. These students from Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, and Latin America are committed to working on wildlife conservation in their home countries. They are forward thinkers and out-of-the-box problem solvers, able to navigate the labyrinth of challenges they face protecting endangered wildlife with courage, optimism, stamina, and a nimbleness to adapt to constantly fluctuating political and cultural landscapes—always keeping an eye on the bigger picture.
If you are an interested applicant, please find more information via the button below. Note that you must be nominated by a pre-approved/eligible nominator. The call for nominations will open in October of each year, and it will NOT be listed publicly.
Core Components
- Awards of up to $25,000 can be used for tuition, fees, books, housing and living expenses, fieldwork expenses and supplies, travel to/from permanent home
- Ongoing mentorship, networking opportunities, and additional support and resources from WCN
Why it Matters
- Equips locally-based early-career conservationists with the academic training and the network necessary to scale up their impact and reach their potential as conservationists.
Management & Governance
- Kate Mastro, Senior Program Manager, Learning and Leadership for Conservation – Wildlife Conservation Society
- Peter Zahler, Director of Field Conservation – Zoo New EnglandMarkus Hofmeyr, Director of the Rhino Recovery Fund – Wildlife Conservation Network
- Norbu Tenzing, Vice President – American Himalayan Foundation
- Laura Gruber, Sr Programs Manager – Wildlife Conservation Network
Approved Nominators
- WCN Partners
- WCN Fund Directors
- WCN Expo Guest Speakers
- WCS or WWF senior conservationists
- Whitley Award or Rufford Foundation booster grant recipients
- Tusk-supported conservationists.
Conservation Scholarships
WCN Conservation Scholarships are awarded to emerging conservationists from Africa, Asia, Central/South America, and select other locations* to pursue graduate education and applied training programs.
Veterinary Scholarships
Addressing a need for additional and experienced local wildlife veterinarians, the WCN Veterinary Scholarship provides an opportunity for current and aspiring in-country wildlife veterinarians to build their knowledge and skills to protect endangered species.
Indigenous Scholarships
The WCN Indigenous Scholarship Program funds graduate education and applied training for candidates from Indigenous tribes within the United States pursuing a career in conservation.
Program Impact
Since its launch, the Scholarship Program has supported over 200 conservationists who are now leading efforts to protect wildlife across the globe
244
Scholarships Awarded
To date, we have awarded 217 scholarships to emerging conservationists around the world.
53
Countries Reached
We’ve awarded scholarships in 47 countries since the program has launched.
28
Scholarships Awarded Last Year
WCN awarded 16 scholars scholarships to scholars pursuing their education.
Meet the Scholars
Meet the scholarship recipients protecting wildlife throughout the world.
News
Fund Education. Fuel Conservation.
Invest in future conservation leaders by helping them access the knowledge and tools to protect nature where it matters most.
Scholarship Program
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