The Rufford Foundation funds early-career conservationists' field projects in developing countries through a rolling small-grants ladder — start with up to £7,000, grow through follow-on stages to £18,000 as your project delivers. There are NO deadlines: apply any time of year, with decisions from days (initial screen) to 4 months (full external review). Since the early 1990s it has backed over 5,100 projects in 150+ countries and is famously the "first grant" that turns a young conservationist's fieldwork idea into a career.
Why it is notable: a rolling ladder fund that "big scholarship" aggregators never list because it funds projects, not degrees. The staged structure rewards success — your pilot project buys you progressively larger follow-on money — and the no-deadline design means the page is perpetually relevant, not tied to a cycle date.
Funding at a glance
What it covers
staged funding
1st RSG up to £7,000
2nd RSG up to £8,000
Booster Grant up to £12,000
Completion Grant up to £18,000 — verified on the official FAQ page. Over £30 million awarded through 5,100+ grants in 150+ countries since the programme began
This scholarship is offered for Undergraduate, Masters and PhD programs.
Who can apply
NO nationality restrictions — anyone may apply. The project must be located in an eligible developing or emerging economy country (official country-eligibility list on the site) and must have a clear nature-conservation focus. Applicant should be in the early stages of a conservation career — priority to current MSc/PhD students or those who graduated in the last 3 years. Follow-on stages (2nd RSG, Booster, Completion) are open to previous Rufford grantees; a project change between 1st and 2nd RSG is allowed, but Booster/Completion must continue the same work.
Experience
No experience required
Language Certificate
the application AND all three references must be submitted in English
Other Certificates
Degree certificates & transcripts
Age Limit
No Age Limit
Check your eligibility
Run all three quick checks before reviewing your chosen course's full entry requirements.
1
Country checker
NO nationality restrictions — anyone may apply. The project must be located in an eligible developing or emerging economy country (official country-eligibility…
2
Last degree checker
Choose your highest completed qualification to see which degree level may fit.
3
Course checker
Pick a course to see whether it falls inside this scholarship's scope.
Complete all three checks
Your combined result will appear here.
Based on published eligibility — always confirm on the official page before applying.
Application essentials
Requirements
Review each requirement before you begin the application.
01
Language
the application AND all three references must be submitted in English
02
Qualification
NO nationality restrictions — anyone may apply
03
Documents
online application form + three referee submissions; final evaluation report (Final Report template) after the grant — confirm the current form's required uploads before publishing, as the official fo
Document checklist
01online application form + three referee submissions
02final evaluation report (Final Report template) after the grant — confirm the current form's required uploads before publishing, as the official form may evolve.
Application fee
No fee — completely free
No separate scholarship application fee is published; confirm on the official page.
Visa, kept concise: Fieldwork in a developing country typically needs a research permit and/or research visa arranged through the host organisation — start months ahead; your fund-receiving organisation can usually sponsor or guide this.
Application Procedure
7 steps — follow in order. Each stage prepares the next.
01
Confirm eligibility: early-career stage
project in an eligible developing/emerging economy country, clear conservation focus, threatened species (if species-focused), project NOT yet started.
→
02
Read "General criteria and grants available" on
the official apply site to pick the right stage.
→
03
Create a user account with a valid
email address (password emailed to you) on apply.ruffordsmallgrants.org.
↓
06
Track progress on the site
first-stage decisions can arrive within days, external-review decisions within 4 months.
←
05
Your three referees are contacted automatically —
one must be based at a well-established institution (major conservation NGO, university, or government body), one must be FROM the country where you will work, one must be from OUTSIDE that country; MSc/PhD students must
←
04
Complete and submit the ONLINE application in
English (online only — no email/paper submissions).
↓
07
Provide regular public updates on your project
webpage and submit the Final Report template — required before you can apply for follow-on funding.
Ready to apply?
Continue on the official The Rufford Foundation platform.
NO nationality restrictions — anyone may apply. The project must be located in an eligible developing or emerging economy country (official country-eligibility list on the site) and must have a clear nature-conservation focus. Applicant should be in the early stages of a conservation career — priority to current MSc/PhD students or those who graduated in the last 3 years. Follow-on stages (2nd RSG, Booster, Completion) are open to previous Rufford grantees; a project change between 1st and 2nd RSG is allowed, but Booster/Completion must continue the same work.
What does the scholarship cover?
staged funding; 1st RSG up to £7,000; 2nd RSG up to £8,000; Booster Grant up to £12,000
Where do I apply?
Through the official application portal linked in the Official links section on this page.
Need document or attestation help?
Detailed attestation guidance stays in Opplore's standalone Guides section, not inside this scholarship page.
United Kingdom · The Rufford Foundation