2015 WWF/Russell E. Train Fellowships for Graduate Study in Conservation.

Application Deadline: FEBRUARY 28, 2015

Russell E. Train Fellowships support individuals pursuing a master’s or doctoral degree in conservation. Each year, WWF supports committed conservationists from target countries to receive financial support for their studies and field research.

Applicants can apply to attend any university around the world and must return to their home countries to work in conservation for at least two years after completing their degree. Applicants from select WWF-US priority countries must meet all of the eligibility criteria to be considered for a grant.

Open Competition:

Building Capacity for Ocean Management 
Eligible countries: Fiji, Kenya, Madagascar, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tanzania

Valuing Standing Forests
Eligible countries: Bolivia, Cambodia, Cameroon, Colombia, Ecuador, Democratic Republic of Congo, Laos, Peru, Vietnam

Conservation in Mozambique
Mozambique only

Current & Aspiring University Faculty for Conservation
Select countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.

Eligibility Requirement:

To be eligible for any Train Fellowship listed above, all applicants must:

• be a citizen and legal permanent resident of an eligible country;
• have at least two years of conservation-related work or research experience;
• have a demonstrated commitment to working in conservation in an eligible country;
• be enrolled in, admitted to, or have applied to a master’s or PhD program anywhere in the world;
• begin EFN-supported studies before January 2016;
• commit to working for at least two years in your home country after the completion of your degree; and
• submit all required documents by the application deadline (February 28, 2015).

SELECTION

Train Fellows are selected through a competitive, merit-based process. An independent, interdisciplinary panel of experts is convened in each country to review applications and to identify the top candidates based on the following criteria:

• Professional qualifications as evidenced by previous and current conservation-related positions, references from colleagues in the field, publications, and other sources.
• Demonstrated leadership through involvement in community and volunteer activities, the workplace, local and national government, and other areas.
• Prior academic achievement as shown by grades, academic awards, references from teachers and professors, and so on.
• Motivation and commitment to contribute to conservation in a participating country and to share what is learned with others in their field and in their home communities.
• Potential impact of proposed study/research on conservation efforts in the home country or region.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the WWF/Russell E. Train Fellowships