Pushing the frontiers of environmental research
Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)
Rufford Small Grants for Nature Conservation
Ecology, Systems Ecology and Conservation Biology research and training grant from The Rufford Foundation
Deadline not stated
Up to £18,000
About
Rufford accepts applications throughout the year for nature-conservation projects in eligible developing or emerging-economy countries. Its staged programme starts with grants up to GBP 7,000 and can progress through later grants to GBP 18,000. It is aimed at building early-career conservation experience through practical projects. There is no fixed application deadline; later grant stages have their own eligibility requirements.
Eligibility
Career stage: Master’s · PhD
Apply directly
Covers: Staged nature-conservation project grants, starting at up to GBP 7,000.
Eligible developing or emerging-economy countries only; undergraduates are excluded.
Reviewed Sep 24, 2026. Check the funder’s full conditions before applying.
Primarily MSc or PhD students and recent graduates in early conservation careers; undergraduates are not funded. Projects must meet the eligible-country and conservation criteria, including threatened-species requirements where relevant.
Topics
Ruffordnature-conservation projectsemerging-economy countriesGBP 7,000GBP 18,000early-career conservationpractical projectsapplication deadline
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Source: apply.ruffordsmallgrants.org