MarAlliance
Z Scholarships
Supporting the Next Generation of Marine Conservationists with our Scholarship Fund
The oceans and its wildlife are facing many challenges to their health and function. To reverse declines and inspire marine stewardship, we urgently need to build local cohorts of scientifically trained marine champions to carry the torch for decades to come. And who better to carry this torch forward than the children of fishers who stand at the frontlines of these changes.
To light this torch, MarAlliance has launched a scholarship fund to support the next generation of marine conservationists and marine resource managers. Applicants must be strongly performing students from and based in the global south with preference given to traditional fishers who are also studying and/or the daughters and sons of traditional fishers based in our program countries. This support will enable students with limited means from the global south to finish high school and pursue higher education and build the capacities necessary for a career to meet the challenges faced by the sea and its wildlife in the coming decades.
Zeddy Seymour
Ze Luis Monteiro
Ziad Samaha
The Z Scholarships are so named to honor the memory of our marine scientists and sea-faring colleagues, Zeddy Seymour, Ze Luis Monteiro and Ziad Samaha who did much to share their love and knowledge of the sea and inspire the next generations during their too short lives.
And the support to Z Scholars goes beyond the scholarship. Z Scholars will form part of a growing network of students and practitioners who gain mentoring from our team and broader network, develop their professional, communication and leadership skills and gain access to opportunities for further education, paid internships and job placements. Scholars will be expected to give back to the sector through fieldwork, peer-to peer mentoring, education and outreach.
We are offering the Z Scholarships in two formats:
1.
Educational bursaries up to US$750 that cover tuition or school-associated costs in the final year of high school or during a thematically relevant undergraduate degree.
We have six (6) educational bursaries available for 2024-2025.
2.
Scholarship that covers tuition for a 4-year undergraduate degree in one of the target countries up to US$5,000.
We have three (3) 4-year scholarships available that span a degree undertaken between 2024-2027.
Eligibility and Application Criteria:
- Applicants must be nationals and living full time in eligible countries below:
- All MAR countries: Belize, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Cabo Verde
- In the Mediterranean: Non-EU countries including Turkey, Lebanon, Egypt, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco
- High school or undergraduate transcripts demonstrating documented grade point average higher than 3.2 / 80% / B in the year prior to the application.
- Choice of courses that align with the scholarship focus that include:
- Marine or oceanographic sciences
- Fisheries and fisheries management
- Wildlife sciences with a focus on marine wildlife / fish
- Natural resource management with a focus on marine courses
- Marine protected areas management
- Marine policy
- Marine finance
- A one (1) page Curriculum vitae / Resume
- Be 30 years old or younger by September 2024
- For countries in Central America, Mexico, Cabo Verde documentation that you or your parent is a bonafide traditional fisher with at least 5 years fishing. This should include a copy of the fishing license and identification and a letter of recognition from an associated cooperative, fisheries department, justice of the peace with clearly stated contact information.
- Demonstrate financial need through a signed declaration of parental income.
- Three references: 1st that speaks to your character by someone who is not family and has known you for at least 3 years, the 2nd from one of your teachers, and the 3rd from an employer or from a peer.
- A short video in your native language of less than 2 minutes or less (videos over 2 minutes will be disqualified) telling us who you are, why you are keen to pursue a career in marine science or the marine conservation sector, how you plan to give back to the sea and why you need a Z Scholarship.
Additional Qualities:
We seek many of the following qualities and outputs in the Z Scholarship candidates:
- Curious
- Good communicator and speaker
- Kind, supportive, community-minded and diplomatic
- Committed, hardworking & self-starting
- Passionate about marine science and or conservation (bonus if you love sharks & rays!)
- A compelling application and video
Application Process:
The application process for a 2024 scholarship or bursary opens April 1st and closes June 15th. The deadline for the MED scholarships will be September 5, 2024. The process will begin earlier in 2025. The decision-making process goes through 3 filters that will take 8 weeks to complete providing all necessary documentation has been submitted by candidates:
- A review by the MarAlliance team to short list candidates,
- A second review of short-listed candidates by the selection committees (two separate committees will review applications, 1st for MAR program countries and the 2nd for Mediterranean countries) that includes checking of all references and documentation.
- The selection committee’s brief interview with selected candidates.
- Announcement of Z Scholars on July 30th.
For any inquiries regarding eligibility criteria or suitability for the grant, applicants are encouraged to contact us directly.
SEND US AN APPLICATION!
If you meet eligibility criteria and these scholarships resonate with you, please proceed with filling out an application: