Follow up support :
MSc scholarships
The closing date for application to the TBA Masters scholarship programme is 30th APRIL each year. See below for more information.
2012 scholarships to be announced soon
TBA Masters scholarship
Funded through a consortium of TBA funders, The TBA Postgraduate Scholarships are annually offered by the Tropical Biology Association to its African alumni. They are intended to help African alumni undertake postgraduate studies after they have attended TBA courses, as part of the TBA alumni follow up support programme designed to promote human resource development and strengthen professional expertise among African biologists in biodiversity conservation and research.
You can download the postgraduate application form as a Word or PDF file (you will need Adobe Acrobat to read this).
You can also download the guidelines for applications in PDF format.
Scholarship includes:
- Funding granted for up to two years of study leading to the award of a Masters degree.
- Depending on the proposed study programme, the scholarship will include tuition fees, travel costs, study materials, and a modest living allowance.
Eligibility:
- Applicants must be nationals from Africa who have attended a TBA course.
- Priority will be given to those who attended courses since 2001.
Applicants must pursue a postgraduate degree that will directly enhance their research and conservation skills as is relevant to their own country.
How to apply
Applications must be in English and include the following:
- TBA Postgraduate Scholarship application forms duly filled.
- Cover letter (no more than two pages) indicating how the applicant will benefit from the course, apply education to enhance biodiversity conservation in country, region, district and community.
- A copy of acceptance letter to a university programme, or submit documentation indicating that they have applied for Masters study or its equivalent.
- Letter from employer (if applicable) confirming current status of applicant and that you will be allowed time off during the duration of study.
- Two letters of reference written by someone who has supervised you during your academic studies or professional employment. Note that it will be your responsibility to ensure that the referees send the reference letter in good time.
Completed application forms together with supporting documents should be returned to:
The TBA Postgraduate Scholarship
c/o Nature Kenya
P O Box 44486
00100-Nairobi
Kenya
tel: + 254 20 3749957/3746090
fax: + 254 20 3741049
email: tba-africa@tropical-biology.org
The application deadline is 30th April each year. Applications
received after the deadline or incomplete applications will not be reviewed.
TBA current and past Masters scholarship holders
The number of TBA Scholars grew to 33 alumni with 2 more just awarded new offers in 2010. The beneficiaries join a growing number of Africa experts that the TBA is helping build. Below are some updates.
2003 Masters scholarship holder, Amis Mao Angua,
won the Society for Conservation Biology 2007 Student Award for his paper
and talk on "Do freshwater and terrestrial priorities overlap in conservation
assessments?". Amis graduated
with a PhD from the University of Cape Town in 2009 and is currently
the Program Manager for WWF South
Africa’s Integrated Catchment Management Programme.
Kowiyou Yessoufou, 2003 TBA MSc scholarship holder, is also the coordinator of the Benin alumni group, is currently doing his PhD studies at the University of Johannebsurg. His research project is centred on Community phylogenetics of southern African flora. He previously presented his Masters thesis work in a regional seminar at Bamako. Click here to view his presentation as a pdf.
The 2005 master's scholarship holder, Mwema Martin Musangu, finished his Masters in 2007 with a 1st class grade from Cape Town University. Click here to download the pdf of the poster that he presented at the Society for Conservation Biology 2007 conference in South Africa.
2006 Masters scholarship holder, Josia Razafindramanana, is currently doing her MPhil in Britain.
2008 Masters scholarship holder, Caleb Ofori writes, "My pioneering long-term amphibian research in Ghana has resulted in the discovery of two new species to science (one of them through TBA funding). Interestingly, this is the only time in history a native (Ghanaian) is leading amphibian research in Ghana. Thanks to the TBA experience!"
Another 2008 TBA scholar, Deo Tuyisingize, is now back in Rwanda and is heading the biodiversity program at Karisoke Research Center after completing his MSc in Conservation Biology at the University of Cape Town. His thesis was on small terrestrial mammal community composition in the Volcanoes National Park, Rwanda.
Mary Warui, the other 2008 Scholarship awardee has since completed her thesis titled “Current status, Utilization and succession of mangrove forest in Mida Creek, Coast Province, Kenya” and is awaiting graduation.
For a chance to view more detailed, exciting profiles as well as to send in your personal profile, please visit the TBA Achievers page
African Education for Leaders in Conservation (AELC) Masters scholarship
TBA is very proud to see that our European alumni united and took the initiative to set up a scholarship fund. The scholarship was set up by the European participants from the TBA course in Tanzania 2003 to raise money to for one of their fellow African participants to complete a Masters course.
"We set this fund up to contribute to conservation on the long term, by enabling an African to pursue their education to a level necessary to make a significant contribution to their country's development. We believed that with an MSc degree, this person would stand a better chance to be involved in conservation projects or in decision-making processes concerning conservation of natural resources in their country." Nick van de Wiel, AELC coordinator.
Towards the end of 2005, the award was given to Simon Musila who used the award to enrol for an MSc in Environmental Studies specialising in Community Development at Kenyatta University, Kenya in September 2006. He said "I have deliberately chosen the area of study since today it has become common knowledge that we cannot preserve biodiversity...the challenge to conserve biological resources we have is to strive to invent better and appropriate ways to protect the invaluable assets of our country." In 2010, Simon graduated with a Masters degree. Click to view that news.
For more information on the AELC scholarship and how you could set up a scholarship programme for one of your fellow TBA course mates, please don't hesitate to email us.