USA Scholarships
Oceanic Research Group Scholarship 2027 - $1,000
The Oceanic Research Group Scholarships keyword points to the Oceanic Research Group Undergraduate Marine Conservation Scholarship, a $1,000 award for students working on marine conservation through an accredited US or international undergraduate program. Oceanic Research Group, the nonprofit behind Jonathan Bird''s Blue World and other ocean education films, sponsors the fund, and the Women Divers Hall of Fame (WDHOF) runs the application each fall. You need a detailed conservation research proposal, two recommendation letters, and a clear budget showing how the money advances your project. The scholarship supports fieldwork and research costs, not tuition, living expenses, or general dive gear. WDHOF opens the 2027 cycle on 1 October 2026 and closes it 30 November 2026. Awards are announced in early February 2027, with funds distributed in spring. Do not apply if you need money before March 2027.
What is the Oceanic Research Group Scholarship?
Oceanic Research Group has pushed ocean literacy since 1991 through films, classroom resources, and public television series such as Jonathan Bird's Blue World. The nonprofit also puts real money behind the next wave of marine scientists through the Oceanic Research Group Undergraduate Marine Conservation Scholarship, a $1,000 research award administered each year by the Women Divers Hall of Fame. Google Trends often surfaces the broad phrase "Oceanic Research Group Scholarships," but the live undergraduate fund is this named WDHOF scholarship tied to conservation fieldwork and thesis-style projects.
The award is modest on purpose. It is meant to cover a slice of research costs, boat time, lab fees, or travel to a study site, not to replace financial aid or pay rent while you write papers. Reviewers read a full proposal: conservation goals, methods, expected results, and an honest budget. Two mentors have to vouch that you can pull the plan off, and everything has to fit inside an 18-month clock that starts when WDHOF sends the check in spring.
Timing trips up more applicants than the essay does. WDHOF opens the portal on 1 October 2026 and shuts it on 30 November 2026, with letters due at the same moment. Winners hear in early February 2027, yet the organization warns you away if you need cash before March. If your semester billing or a summer field season cannot wait for that schedule, skip this cycle and hunt for faster grants.
Partnership with WDHOF also means you compete under their one-application rule. Scan the full scholarship list before you commit. If you are a woman focused purely on marine conservation, the Sherry Reed Memorial fund might fit better. If you are any gender with a tight undergraduate research plan, the Oceanic Research Group line item is the match. Either way, start on oceanicresearch.org for the mission context, then move to WDHOF for the forms that actually decide the award.
Eligibility
-
✓Enrolled in an accredited undergraduate programYou must be enrolled in an accredited undergraduate academic or research program in marine conservation or a closely related discipline at the time you apply. The scholarship is for undergraduates only; master's and doctoral students should look at other WDHOF awards or graduate research grants.
-
✓Open to applicants of any age and genderUnlike some WDHOF marine awards that are women-only, the Oceanic Research Group scholarship accepts qualified applicants of any age and gender, including women, men, and non-binary persons. International students enrolled at accredited universities may apply when their project meets the conservation focus.
-
✓Research proposal with conservation objectivesYou must submit a research proposal that states conservation objectives, methods, and anticipated results. Reviewers want a concrete plan for independent research or fieldwork tied to your degree program, not a generic statement of interest in the ocean.
-
✓Funds used only for eligible project costsThe award supports independent research and fieldwork expenses directly tied to your proposal. WDHOF excludes salary, tuition, living expenses, student loan payments, prior incurred costs, and general camera or dive equipment purchases unless a item is specific to the proposed research.
-
✓Can complete the project within 18 months of the awardScholarship funds must be used within 18 months of the award date (for the 2027 cycle, typically by late August 2028). You also owe a final report when the project ends. Skip the application if your timeline or funding needs fall outside that window.
-
✓Apply for only one WDHOF scholarship or grantWDHOF allows one scholarship or one training grant application per cycle. Pick the Oceanic Research Group award only if it fits your undergraduate marine conservation project better than the other listed funds.
Benefits
- Scholarship amount $1,000 for one recipient
- Eligible expenses Independent research and fieldwork costs
- Administration Women Divers Hall of Fame
- Application fee None
- Tuition and university fees Not covered
- Living expenses and salary Not covered
- General dive or camera gear Not covered unless research-specific
- Funds before March 2027 Not available; spring payout only
Document checklist
-
✓WDHOF online application via GrantInterfaceRegister and apply through the WDHOF portal at grantinterface.com after applications open on 1 October 2026. Complete the eligibility questionnaire first; the system then shows scholarships you may select, including the Oceanic Research Group award.
-
✓Marine conservation research proposalA written proposal detailing conservation goals, methodology, timeline, and expected outcomes. Explain how the $1,000 will move the project forward and how results benefit marine conservation.
-
✓Budget or use-of-funds statementShow line items for permitted expenses such as travel to a field site, lab fees, sampling supplies, or research-specific equipment. Flag anything excluded under WDHOF rules so reviewers see you understand the limits.
-
✓Two letters of recommendationTwo referees who can speak to your ability to complete the proposed work must submit letters through the portal by 30 November 2026 at 5:00 p.m. New York time. Missing letters disqualify the application with no extensions.
-
✓Proof of undergraduate enrollmentDocumentation that you are actively enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program in marine conservation or a related field, such as a transcript, enrollment verification, or registrar letter.
-
✓Final report after project completionAwardees submit a final report when the funded work is done, within the 18-month use window. Treat this as part of the award conditions from the start.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Oceanic Research Group Scholarship?
The Oceanic Research Group Undergraduate Marine Conservation Scholarship is a $1,000 award sponsored by Oceanic Research Group and administered by the Women Divers Hall of Fame. It helps undergraduate students in marine conservation or related fields pay for independent research or fieldwork tied to a written conservation proposal. It is one of several marine scholarships WDHOF runs each fall.
Who is eligible for Oceanic Research Group Scholarships?
Eligible applicants are enrolled in an accredited undergraduate program in marine conservation or a related discipline, may be any age, and may be any gender. You need a strong research proposal, two recommendation letters, and a plan to use the funds within 18 months of the award. The scholarship does not fund graduate students, tuition, living costs, or general scuba equipment.
When is the Oceanic Research Group Scholarship 2027 deadline?
For the 2027 award cycle, WDHOF opens applications on 1 October 2026 and closes them on 30 November 2026 at 5:00 p.m. New York time. Recommendation letters must arrive by the same deadline. Awards are announced in early February 2027, with funds sent in spring 2027.
How do I apply for Oceanic Research Group Scholarships?
Apply only through the WDHOF online system on GrantInterface after 1 October 2026. Complete the eligibility form, select the Oceanic Research Group Undergraduate Marine Conservation Scholarship, upload your proposal and supporting materials, and have two referees submit letters in the portal. You may apply for only one WDHOF scholarship or training grant per cycle.
Can the Oceanic Research Group Scholarship pay tuition or living expenses?
No. WDHOF limits this scholarship to independent research and fieldwork expenses that advance marine conservation. Salary, tuition, room and board, student loans, expenses you already paid, and most camera or dive equipment purchases are excluded unless an item is essential and specific to the proposed research.
Do I need to be a certified diver to win?
WDHOF serves the diving community, but the Oceanic Research Group award is open to all genders and does not require diver certification by itself. Your proposal must still be feasible for an undergraduate marine conservation project, and many winners conduct lab, policy, or shore-based work rather than deep technical diving.
What if I need the money before March 2027?
WDHOF states clearly that you should not apply if you need the scholarship before March 2027. Disbursement follows the early February announcement in spring. Plan field seasons or lab work accordingly, or seek faster-turnaround grants for immediate costs.
How is this different from the Sherry Reed Memorial scholarship?
Both are WDHOF undergraduate marine conservation awards with similar research requirements. The Sherry Reed Memorial scholarship is women-only and carries a higher stipend tier in some cycles, while the Oceanic Research Group scholarship is open to all genders and pays $1,000. You may only submit one WDHOF application, so choose the fund that matches your eligibility.
Scholarship Union
More in-depth scholarship guides curated by experts.
Related guides
Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.
Visit official website