Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation Scholarship Program

Get up to $10,000 for your graduate or undergraduate research in fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation in BC.

Published by G Paul · last checked September 26, 2026

Total value

$10,000

Deadline

May 1, 2027

Level

Undergraduate, Graduate, Post-secondary

Open to

British Columbia

Apply on the official site ↗

What you will need

An online application in HCTF's application system, answering the posted application questions for the scholarship you choose
For the Al Martin HCTF Conservation Scholarship: at least two references who know your graduate work, added in the online application (emailed letters are not accepted)
For the Don McCubbing Scholarship: an approved faculty sponsor and project supervisor for your honours thesis or directed studies project
For the Maureen Wayne Bursary and the other UVic and BC Conservation Foundation awards on the page: apply through the organisation that runs each one

About this award

Depending on the award, you can receive up to $10,000. Specifically, the Together for Wildlife scholarships offer up to ten $10K awards annually, and the Al Martin HCTF Conservation Scholarship provides up to seven $10,000 scholarships annually. The Don McCubbing Scholarships offer up to 5 annual awards of $4,000 each. The Maureen Wayne Bursary provides one or more bursaries. As these are scholarships and bursaries, this money is yours to keep and you do not have to pay it back. This is for you if you are a passionate researcher dedicated to protecting British Columbia's natural ecosystems, particularly those focusing on fish, wildlife, and habitat conservation. For the Together for Wildlife and Don McCubbing awards, the deadline is May 1 each year; the 2026 round closed on May 1, 2026. For other variants, no deadline is posted publicly — before you start the application, check Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation's program page or call their office to confirm when applications open and close this year. You should ask the Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation when and how you will be notified of the results. Each scholarship has its own overview and application questions on the award's official page. For Together for Wildlife, Indigenous students are encouraged to apply, and preference goes to students who seek to foster diversity, build Indigenous capacity or advance reconciliation. Ask Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation during your application how the money will reach you — some awards pay students directly, others apply funds to tuition. Confirm this so you can plan your cash flow. Renewal conditions aren't listed — if you're counting on this for multiple years, confirm with Habitat Conservation Trust Foundation whether it's one-time or renewable and what you need to maintain.

Who qualifies

To qualify for the Together for Wildlife scholarships, you must be a domestic or international student enrolled in a Masters or PhD program at a BC post-secondary institution and doing your research in BC. Your research must support stewardship, management, policy, or decision-making of wildlife in BC, specifically focusing on terrestrial species that are common or not at risk; species at risk cannot be the main focus. For the Al Martin HCTF Conservation Scholarship, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident of Canada enrolled in a graduate program for fish or wildlife management and/or conservation at a British Columbia university. To qualify for the Don McCubbing Scholarship, you must be a Canadian citizen in the fourth year of a BSc program at a BC post-secondary institution, enrolled in an honours thesis or directed studies course focused on BC freshwater fish, wildlife or habitat conservation or management, with an approved faculty sponsor and project supervisor. For the Maureen Wayne Bursary (UVic), you must be an undergraduate student in the University of Victoria's School of Environmental Studies in a major or honours program with an interest in wetlands, estuaries, and coastal areas.

This is what the award's official page said when we last checked. Rules change, so confirm on the award's official page before you apply.

Canadian citizen, permanent resident or international student
Open to undergraduate, graduate or post-secondary students
Resident of British Columbia
Studying fish, wildlife, habitat conservation, Reconciliation & Collaboration, Terrestrial Ecosystems, Stewardship & Management, Fish or Wildlife Management, Conservation, wetland, estuaries, coastal areas, sciences, outdoors field or Environmental Law

How to apply

Read the award's official page
Check you meet every requirement, and note each document they ask for.
Ask for reference letters2 weeks
Give your referees at least two weeks' notice, and send them your résumé.
Submit your application
Save a copy, and submit at least a day before the deadline shown above.

Tips for applying

Research FocusAvoid making species at risk the primary center of your Together for Wildlife application. Instead, show how your work focuses on the broader ecosystem or common terrestrial species. Clearly demonstrate that any benefit to a species at risk is a secondary result of your ecosystem approach.
ReferencesAvoid sending reference letters by email. For the Al Martin scholarship you need at least two references who know your graduate work, and you add them in the online application so each one gets a link to submit their reference.
StrategyAvoid a general application for all awards. Instead, tailor your proposal to the specific legacy of the award, such as Don McCubbing's emphasis on practical field work and technical skills. Mention how your goals align with the specific conservation area the award targets.
RealismAvoid assuming you will receive multiple awards. Instead, remember that for Together for Wildlife, there is a maximum of two scholarships awarded to any one individual. Check your previous funding history to see if you are still eligible for a second award.

Questions students ask

How do I apply?

Use the Apply on the official site button on this page: it opens the official application page in a new tab.

When is the deadline?

Applications close on May 1, 2027. Submit a day or two early: application sites get busy at the end.

Can international students apply?

Yes. It is open to Canadian citizens, permanent residents and international students.

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FundMyCourse.ca · checked Sep 26, 2026