The Ghana and Nigeria Ecological Survey Techniques Scholarship

Key information

1. The Ghana and Nigeria Ecological Survey Techniques Scholarship funds the full course fees and a study support grant for one student per annual cohort for the duration of their course. The scholarship is available to applicants who are either a national of Ghana and ordinarily resident in Ghana or a national of Nigeria who is ordinarily resident in Nigeria. The scholarship is awarded on the basis of demonstrated outstanding academic or professional merit and/or potential, and a candidate’s potential to contribute to the field in their home country.

2. The Scholarship is available for each academic year from 2022 to 2024.

3. One scholarship is available for the Postgraduate Certificate in Ecological Survey Techniques (PGCert) commencing in September 2024. It covers the course fees for the first three terms of registration (the PGCert is normally completed over one year) as well as a study support grant to contribute towards costs such as travel and accommodation for the face to face week in Oxford in September.

4. If the awardee suspends their studies for one or more terms, the Scholarship will not automatically be carried over—they should contact the Senior Course Administrator to request this.

Eligibility

5. Applicants meeting the usual course entry requirements and who are either:

  • a national of Ghana and ordinarily resident in Ghana or
  • a national of Nigeria and ordinarily resident in Nigeria.

6. All eligible applicants (see point 5) who apply to the PGCert before 1 March 2024 will be automatically considered for the scholarship.

Criteria

7. The Scholarship will be awarded on the basis of outstanding academic and/or professional merit and/or potential, and taking account of demonstrable commitment and ability to contribute significantly to the fields of ecology and conservation in their home countries. Key criteria include:

(a) Academic excellence, where indicators may include: a high-level qualification in a relevant discipline (such as a first-class honours degree, US GPA of 3.7, or equivalent, merit or distinction at postgraduate level) and individual marks on a student’s transcript.

(b) Professional excellence: Evidence of a strong record of relevant professional achievement including extensive practical field experience in the areas of ecology and biodiversity. Indicators may include the candidate’s CV, personal statement, interview and professional references.

(c) Motivation and potential future contribution to the field: Applications should demonstrate the potential to make an on-going professional contribution to ecology and conservation in Ghana or Nigeria either via applied ecology or conservation projects or via academic research and teaching.

Assessment

8. A panel (comprising at least two suitable University staff) will assess candidates according to the criteria above, and may consider any written and/ or oral components of candidates’ PGCert applications.

9. The Panel may propose a ranked shortlist, whereby the Scholarship, if declined by the first candidate, will be offered to the next one, and so on.

Offer and acceptance

10. The awardee is normally contacted in early May, and will be given a deadline to confirm their acceptance.

11. Unsuccessful applicants will be notified as soon as the awardee has accepted their offer.

Further information

12. For any queries about the Scholarship, please email the course team at est@conted.ox.ac.uk