Many universities offer graduate level or postgraduate degrees that relate directly to the environment.  These are:

• Conservation Studies
• Earth Sciences
• Environmental Education (& Leadership)
• Environmental Sciences
• Environmental Studies
• …and more!

Graduates with these degrees have gone on to continue their studies towards a doctorate, or are employed in a wide range of positions, including:

• Environmental Management
• Energy and Engineering consultancies
• Multi-national companies
• Law
• Local government
• Environmental organizations
• Public Policy
• Non-Profit organizations
• Research positions
• Teaching
• …and more!

• Here are some resources that outline the top global programs in environmental action: 
  • Top Universities for Climate Action: Times Higher Education 
  • Top Global Schools for Environment and Ecology: U.S. News
  • Top Masters Programs in Climate Change: Keystone Master Studies 
  • Top Institutions for Earth and Environmental Sciences:  Nature
  • Top Environmental Policy Programs: U.S. News
  • QS World University Rankings by Subject 2021 (Environmental Sciences): QS Top Universities*
  • Best Environmental Law Programs: U.S. News
• Refer to “Additional Resources” for a detailed list of programs and careers to investigate based on your individual interests.

Grants and Fellowships

• A grant proposal is a document (or a set of documents) that is submitted to an organization with a clear intent of securing funding for a research project. Writing a grant varies widely across the disciplines. 
• Writing successful grant applications is a long process that begins with bringing an idea to fruition. 
• Here are some guidelines to keep in mind while applying for grants: 
  • Read the document in its entirety and follow all the instructions carefully 
  • Carefully investigate the application requirements as they vary greatly across different programs. Look closely at the notice of funding opportunities for each specific grant program to ensure that you are addressing all the requirements stated in the application
  • Understand the scoring criteria and address each of the criteria to the best of your ability 
  • Be sure to include all additional forms and/or documents that the application requires 
  • When writing your proposal, be very clear and precise with your project idea or why you are applying for that grant. Establish all your major points and avoid unnecessary complexity. 
  • Proof-read your proposal and have a faculty meber or an adviser proof-read it for you as well 
• Sections of a grant application: A grant application is typically divided into the following sections. Read the instructions on the application clearly and try to address every section with all the information it requires. 
  • Project Introduction: This section is similar to an abstract and is mostly written after the completion of the rest of the proposal. It should clearly explain what you are using the funds for and should be written in a way so that any reader can clearly understand what the proposal will be talking about and what the project attempts to deliver. 
  • Project Justification: This section should define and explain the problem your project will attempt to address. Some question to answer in this section are: 

• What is the problem you are trying to address? Why is the problem critical to solve now?
• What plans, studies, and data are currently available to identify the problem? How do these support the need of you project? 
• Who are your target audience? How will they be impacted when the project is completed? 
• Who will your project serve?

• Project Objectives: This section should mirror what you are using the funds for in your project. It should have measurable and tangible deliverables, unlike the goals of your project – which can often be broad. 
• Project Timeline: This section should discuss how the project will be managed and objectives will be met within the timeline (which is usually stipulated in the grant), or you will define in your proposal. Include the planned start date, activity, responsible members, proposed completion date milestones, and deliverables. 
• Project Budget: This section must include the costs associated with each element of your project and what proportion of your project will be funded by another grant/source/organization. The budget should provide enough details that the reviewer can have a general understanding of what the project entails and all the costs that could be associated with it. 
• Look at “Additional Resources” for some grants/funds that are available for environment and sustainability projects.