Ocean Country Partnership Programme Scholarships

Universities, and the people who research within them, have a vital role to play in creating solutions to enable the sustainable use of marine resources and address marine environmental problems. 

The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) Scholarships, funded through the UK’s Blue Planet Fund,  offer a unique opportunity for students to undertake a fully funded Master’s - and in some cases a PhD - in marine science.  

Aimed at early to mid-career researchers who wish to develop a career in marine science, the OCPP scholarships support world-class research and innovation in the areas of: 

• marine pollution 
• sustainable seafood  
• marine biodiversity 

The overall aim of the scholarships is to strengthen the capacity of OCPP partner countries to address marine environmental challenges. The OCPP awards are designed to support scientific research that will contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of marine resources. 

To date, the OCPP Scholarships have been extended to students in 10 different countries including in the South Pacific (Solomon Islands and Vanuatu), Ghana, India, Bangladesh, Belize, Maldives, Senegal, Mozambique and Sri Lanka. 

What does the scholarship include? 

Scholarships will fund marine science related courses. These are specified by the host university. Each successful recipient will be entitled to: 

• Tuition fees  
• Living allowance 
• Research support grant 
• Disability and maternity costs (case by case basis) 

Who can apply?

• Applicants should hold an undergraduate or bachelor’s-level degree. 
• Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for postgraduate study at the host university. 
• Please refer to the specific OCPP country pages linked below, for the country specific eligibility criteria and potential courses and research projects available.
• We strongly advise applicants to read all of the application guidance and FAQs carefully, before starting their application.

More information

• To find out more please email ocpp_enquiries@acu.ac.uk
• The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) is a UK Government-led development programme under the Blue Planet Fund, delivered by Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
• Find out more about the OCPP 
  

Funded with UK aid from the UK government.