WWF Nepal Memorial Scholarships

WWF, the global conservation organization leading international efforts for a living planet, instituted the WWF Memorial Scholarships in honor of the late conservation leaders who lost their lives in a tragic helicopter accident near Ghunsa, Taplejung on 23rd September 2006.

Students may put in their applications for more than one scholarship based on relevancy and criteria.

Scholarship Types

• Chandra Gurung Memorial Fellowship
  • In honor of the late Chandra Gurung and his life-long commitment to conservation, WWF has established a memorial scholarship fund that will provide financial assistance to conservationists from Nepal who wishes to pursue a Master’s degree in a conservation-related field. Recognizing the tremendous loss of leadership with Chandra’s untimely and tragic death, through this fund WWF will help build a new generation of conservation leaders to take on the many challenges facing Nepal in preserving its rich natural heritage.
• Nepal Conservation Memorial Scholarship
  • To honor the 24 individuals lost in the tragic helicopter incident of 23rd September 2006 and their commitment to preserving Nepal’s rich natural heritage, WWF has established a memorial scholarship fund that will assist students who wish to pursue careers in conservation. Recognizing the tremendous loss of leadership in conservation, through this fund WWF will help build a new generation of conservation leaders to ensure the future of nature in Nepal. To encourage bright and promising students to pursue careers in nature conservation, each year WWF will award a Nepal Conservation Memorial Scholarship to a student who has completed 12 years of compulsory education and would like to pursue bachelor’s degree in the field of environment and biodiversity conservation in Nepal.
• Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship
  • To honor the late Mingma Norbu Sherpa’s life-long commitment to help Nepal’s rural poor to improve their livelihoods while living in harmony with nature, WWF has established a memorial scholarship fund that will provide financial assistance to students from remote regions of Nepal who intend to pursue careers in nature conservation. Recognizing the tremendous loss of leadership with Mingma’s untimely and tragic death, through this fund WWF will help build a new generation of conservation leaders to take on the many challenges facing Nepal in preserving its rich natural heritage.
  • To encourage bright and promising students from Nepal’s rural mountain areas to pursue careers in nature conservation, each year WWF will award a Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship to a student who has completed 12 years of compulsory education and would like to pursue bachelor’s degree in the field of environment and biodiversity conservation in Nepal.
• Jennifer Headley Memorial Scholarship
  • In honor of Jennifer Headley and her life-long commitment to conservation, WWF has established a memorial scholarship fund that will provide financial assistance to female students from Nepal who are currently employed in or intend to pursue careers in nature conservation. Recognizing the tremendous loss of leadership with Jennifer’s untimely and tragic death, through this fund WWF will help build a new generation of conservation leaders to take on the many challenges facing Nepal in preserving its rich natural heritage.
• Jillian Bowling Schlaepfer Memorial Scholarship
  • In honor of Jillian Bowling Schlaepfer and her life-long commitment to conservation, WWF has established a memorial scholarship fund that will provide financial assistance to students from Nepal who are currently employed in or intend to pursue careers in nature conservation. Recognizing the tremendous loss of leadership with Jill’s untimely and tragic death, through this fund WWF will help build a new generation of conservation leaders to take on the many challenges facing Nepal in preserving its rich natural heritage.

Benefits

• Chandra Gurung Memorial Fellowship
  • The fellowship recipient will receive Nepali Rupees 482,000.00 over a period of 2 years to cover tuition, living expenses, books and supplies, and thesis research costs while pursuing a Master’s degree in a conservation-related field at a university in Nepal. Scholars will also have the opportunity to interact with WWF staff on conservation projects in Nepal. WWF reserves the sole right to reduce or split the scholarship amount between deserving candidates if needed.
• For Nepal Conservation Memorial Scholarship, Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship, Jennifer Headley Memorial Scholarship and Jillian Bowling Schlaepfer Memorial Scholarship 
  • The scholarship recipient will receive Nepali Rupees 569,400.00 over a period of 4 years to cover tuition, field equipment and field tour fees, living expenses, books and supplies, and thesis research costs while pursuing their bachelor’s degree in a conservation-related field at a university in Nepal. Scholars will also have the opportunity to interact with WWF staff on conservation projects in Nepal. WWF reserves the sole right to reduce or split the scholarship amount between deserving candidates if needed.

Eligibility Criteria

• Chandra Gurung Memorial Fellowship
  • All applicants must be citizens of Nepal not exceeding 30 years of age at the time of application to be eligible for Chandra Gurung Memorial Fellowship. Applicants must have applied or be admitted to a Master’s degree program in a conservation-related field at a university in Nepal. Students must be in their first year/semester of study.
• Nepal Conservation Memorial Scholarship
  • All applicants must be citizens of Nepal not exceeding 25 years of age at the time of application to be eligible for Nepal Conservation Memorial Scholarship. Applicants must have applied or be admitted to a Bachelor’s degree program in a conservation-related field at a university in Nepal. Students must be in their first year/semester of study.
• Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship
  • Students with Nepali citizenship not exceeding 25 years of age at the time of application who have completed their intermediate with science are eligible to apply. Applicants must have applied or be admitted to a Bachelor’s degree program in a conservation-related field at a university in Nepal. Students must be in their first year/semester of study.
• Jennifer Headley Memorial Scholarship
  • Female Nepali citizens not exceeding 25 years of age at the time of application who have applied or have been admitted to a Bachelor’s degree program in a conservation-related field at a university in Nepal are eligible to apply. Students must be in their first year/semester of study.
• Jillian Bowling Schlaepfer Memorial Scholarship 
  • All applicants must be citizens of Nepal not exceeding 25 years of age at the time of application to be eligible for Jillian Bowling Schlaepfer Memorial Scholarship. Applicants must have applied or be admitted to a Bachelor’s degree program in a conservation-related field at a university in Nepal. Students must be in their first year/semester of study.

Selection Criteria

• Chandra Gurung Memorial Fellowship
  • Chandra Gurung Memorial Fellows are selected through a competitive, merit-based process. A selection committee is convened to review all eligible applications, interview finalists, and select a winner 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.
    • Leadership through involvement in community, volunteer, and extra-curricular activities, etc.
    • 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 Nepal.
• Nepal Conservation Memorial Scholarship
  • Nepal Conservation Memorial Scholars are selected through a competitive, merit-based process. A selection committee is convened to review applications, interview candidates, and select a pool of finalists. Finalists are chosen based on the following criteria:
    • Applicants will be judged on their academic achievement (SEE & 10+2 or equivalent results) and motivation and commitment to conservation in Nepal and performance during the personal interview.
    • Preference will be given to applicants from ethnic/indigenous minority and Dalit groups.
• Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholarship
  • Mingma Norbu Sherpa Memorial Scholars are selected through a competitive, merit-based process. A selection committee is convened to review applications, interview candidates, and select a pool of finalists. Finalists are chosen based on the following criteria:
    • Only applicants who have completed +2/intermediate with science will be considered for this scholarship.
    • Priority will be given to applicants from remote area districts (SEE certificate must be from a remote area district).
    • Preference will be given to applicants from protected areas of Sagarmatha, Kangchenjunga, Langtang, Manaslu, Makalu Barun, Gaurishankar, Annapurna (Manang and Mustang districts), Rara, Dolpo and Api Nampa.
    • Applicants will be judged on their academic achievement (SEE & TCL/10+2 or equivalent results) and motivation and commitment to conservation in Nepal and performance during the personal interview.
• Jennifer Headley Memorial Scholarship and Jillian Bowling Schlaepfer Memorial Scholarship
  • Finalists are chosen based on the following criteria:
    • Applicants will be judged on their academic achievement (SEE & 10+2 or equivalent results) and motivation and commitment to conservation in Nepal and performance during the personal interview.
    • Preference will be given to applicants from regions where WWF has active field projects.

For more information, visit WWF.