Admission

Eligibility

To be eligible for the Masters of Science in Biodiversity Conservation, applicants must be under the age of 45 and fulfil one of the following:

1. Hold a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in any science field
2. Hold a bachelor degree in any field and have a minimum of 2 years work experience in the natural science field (certification of employment required)

Admission Requirements

To apply, students need to present:

• One completed application form, including four photographs (4 x 6cm)
• A letter (in English) stating why they wish to study the Masters and their future aspirations
• Certified transcripts of their undergraduate study
• Evidence of proficiency in spoken and written English (latest qualification only)
• Certification of employment (if required)

Student Selection

Successful applicants will undertake a bridging course for eight weeks (November to December) which concludes in written examinations for each course studied. Applicants performing well in these exams are then selected for admission to the first year of the Masters programme which begins in February each year.

Fees

On completion of the bridging course, successful candidates are required to pay a fee of USD$250 per semester to the Accounting Office at the Royal University of Phnom Penh. Payment is due at the start of each semester and failure to meet this will result in the candidate being deferred or ejected from the programme. Staff from the Royal University of Phnom Penh who meet the admission requirements of the Masters are exempt from paying this fee.

Tuition Scholarships and Research Grants

Four types of scholarships are available for students entering the first year of the MSc programme in February 2012:

• Courtesy of the USAID funded ‘Helping Address Rural Vulnerabilities and Ecosystem Stability’ (HARVEST) Program, eight two-year scholarships providing tuition fees, thesis data collection costs and a monthly living allowance are available for male and female students;
• Courtesy of the Lim Kannitha Fund, five one-year scholarships covering tuition fees and learning materials are available for female students;
• Courtesy of the International Crane Foundation, two-year scholarships covering tuition fees and thesis data collection costs are available for male and female students; and,
• Courtesy of the Centre for Biodiversity Conservation, two scholarships for tuition fees are awarded to the highest scoring students in each semester of first year of the MSc programme.

In addition, financial support is available for all students for their thesis research, as is assistance for students wishing to present their work at conferences and other gatherings.