Blue Carbon Summer Programme in Scotland: WWF-Funded Scholarships at the University of St Andrews
- Country
- UK
- Funding
- Fully funded
If you're passionate about the ocean, climate change, and conservation, the Blue Carbon Summer Programme at the University of St Andrews is one of the most credible and inspiring short courses you can aim for. Run by the university's Blue Carbon Academy, which is aligned with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science, and delivered in partnership with WWF, it brings together students and professionals to study how coastal ecosystems help fight climate change.
Here is a clear guide to what the programme involves, how the funding works, who can apply, and how to apply. There is one honest point about funding to understand up front, so you know exactly what to aim for.
At a glance
- Host: University of St Andrews, Scotland, UK (Blue Carbon Academy)
- Partner: WWF (World Wide Fund for Nature)
- Format: Two-week course with lectures, coastal fieldwork, and lab work
- Funding: A small number of WWF full scholarships (around six)
- Scholarship covers: Course fees, international travel, accommodation, and subsistence
- Focus: Scholarships prioritise participants from the Global South
How the funding actually works
Here is the honest picture. The Blue Carbon Summer Programme is a paid summer course, but WWF funds a limited number of full scholarships (around six in recent editions) to widen access. Each scholarship covers the course fees, international travel to Scotland, accommodation, and subsistence, and they are prioritised for talented applicants from the Global South, where blue carbon habitats such as mangroves are globally significant.
So the opportunity to attend fully funded is real, but competitive: you are applying for one of a small number of scholarships rather than a place that is free for everyone. If you are not selected for a scholarship, attending would mean paying the course fee yourself.
What you will study
The course blends science and policy. Participants build a strong theoretical foundation in blue carbon (the carbon stored in coastal habitats like mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrasses), then design field sampling strategies, carry out fieldwork on the Scottish coastline, and analyse their own samples in the laboratory. The daily schedule typically pairs morning lectures with afternoon practical classes, supported by leading international researchers and policymakers, and includes excursions and cultural activities. Participants complete an accredited course at the University of St Andrews.
Who can apply
- Undergraduate students who have completed at least one year (two semesters) of full-time study by the time the course begins
- Postgraduate students and career professionals seeking to strengthen their blue carbon knowledge
- Applicants with a strong academic average (around 3.2 on a 4.0 scale)
- Applicants who can provide proof of English proficiency
- All nationalities may apply, with scholarships focused on the Global South
How to apply
- Review the official programme page and confirm the current dates, fees, and scholarship terms.
- Complete the online application form for the summer programme.
- Apply for the WWF scholarship specifically, if you need funding, by the scholarship deadline (which is earlier than the course).
- Provide your supporting documents, including academic records and English proficiency evidence.
- Await the decision, and if awarded a scholarship, follow the instructions on travel and enrolment.
Deadlines
The programme runs annually as a two-week course, held in June in recent years (and previously July). Scholarship deadlines fall several months ahead of the course. Recent editions have already taken place, so if you are interested, watch for the next call and always confirm the current dates on the official St Andrews page.
Apply and confirm the details
Read the full programme details, fees, and scholarship information, and apply, on the official University of St Andrews page: Blue Carbon Summer Programme, University of St Andrews.
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Disclaimer: FoundScholar is an independent information platform and is not affiliated with or endorsed by the University of St Andrews or WWF. Details change each year, so always confirm on the official source before applying.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Blue Carbon Summer Programme fully funded?
The course itself has a fee, but WWF funds a small number of full scholarships (around six) that cover the course fees, international travel, accommodation, and subsistence. These are prioritised for participants from the Global South. If you are not awarded a scholarship, you would pay the course fee yourself.
Who runs it and where is it held?
It is run by the University of St Andrews' Blue Carbon Academy, which is aligned with the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science, in partnership with WWF. It takes place at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, United Kingdom, and includes lectures, fieldwork on the Scottish coastline, and lab work.
Who can apply?
Undergraduate students who have completed at least one year (two semesters) of full-time study, as well as postgraduates and career professionals interested in blue carbon science and policy. A minimum academic average (around 3.2 on a 4.0 scale) and proof of English proficiency are typically required. Applicants of all nationalities may apply, with scholarships focused on the Global South.
When does it run and when is the deadline?
The programme is an annual two-week course that has run in June (and previously July). Scholarship application deadlines fall several months earlier (for example, early in the year for a June course). Recent editions have already taken place, so watch for the next call and confirm dates on the official St Andrews page.