Rising Wildlife Leaders Scholarship Program

Benefits & funding

• Award of up to US$25,000 per scholar.
• Covers tuition, fees, books, housing and living expenses, fieldwork expenses and supplies, and travel to and from the permanent home.
• Disbursed quarterly across the length of the academic program.
• Each quarterly payment is released on proof of enrollment and a summary of the previous quarter’s expenses; allocations can be adjusted with prior approval.
• Mentorship from the nominating conservation professional throughout the program.
• Access to the WCN network through virtual and in-person convenings, events, and communication platforms.
• Alumni are eligible for financial support toward internships after their studies conclude.
• A final report including financial details is required at the end of the scholarship agreement.

Eligibility

• Conservation and Veterinary Scholarships: a local national working in their home country or home region in Africa, Asia, or Central/South America. WCN also names select other locations without publishing that list, and past cohorts include scholars from outside the three named regions.
• Indigenous Scholarship: a member of an Indigenous tribe within the United States, pursuing a program through a US-based institution.
• At least 2–3 years of field conservation experience as an employee or volunteer with a field-based wildlife conservation program.
• Holds a bachelor’s degree or equivalent.
• Enrolled, or planning to enroll within the next year, in a master’s-level, doctoral, or post-graduate applied training program.
• Committed to a lifelong career in wildlife conservation in the home country or home region.
• Nomination is required. Conservation and Veterinary applicants need a nominator who is a WCN Partner, a WCN Wildlife Fund Director, a WCN guest speaker, a current WCS or WWF senior conservationist, a Whitley Award recipient, a Rufford Foundation second Booster Grant or Completion Grant recipient, or a Tusk-supported conservationist.
• Indigenous Scholarship applicants may be nominated by a wider range of conservation professionals, such as an academic advisor, a supervisor, or a well-known conservation leader who knows the applicant well.
• One nomination per nominator and one nomination per candidate.
• WCN publishes no age limit and no gender requirement.

Application process

1. 1
   Identify which of the three scholarships matches your background and study plan.
2. 2
   Secure a nominator who meets WCN’s criteria for that scholarship.
3. 3
   Have the nominator email scholarship@wildnet.org with their contact information and the nominator category they fall into, so WCN can share the application materials with them.
4. 4
   WCN sends the online application and nomination forms to eligible nominators in September.
5. 5
   Apply through the nominator during the October window; the call is never posted publicly.
6. 6
   The Scholarship Committee reviews the applications, and awards are made by March of the following year.
7. 7
   Once funded, submit proof of enrollment and quarterly expense summaries to release each payment, and a final report at the end of the agreement.

Program timeline

1. WCN shares the online application and nomination materials with eligible nominators.

   September

2. applications accepted through qualified nominators; the call is not listed publicly.

   October

3. awards made.

   By March of the following year

4. Quarterly during the scholar’s program

   disbursements released against proof of enrollment.