Ocean Country Partnership Programme Scholarships India

A unique opportunity to undertake a fully funded Master’s in marine science.

OCPP India

The OCPP Scholarships India, funded through the UK’s  Blue Planet Fund, offer a unique opportunity for students from India to undertake a fully funded Master’s in marine science. 

Aimed at early to mid-career researchers from India who wish to develop a career in marine science, the OCPP scholarships India will support world-class research in this area. 

Hosted by Berhampur University and Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT)​, the scholarships will enable scholars from India to harness their regional knowledge, conduct vital research and help develop solutions to marine environmental problems. 

The aim of the scholarships is to support scientific research that will contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of marine resources and strengthen responses to marine environmental challenges. The scholarships will also make a positive and tangible impact on the livelihoods of coastal communities that depend on healthy marine ecosystems. 

What does the scholarship include? 

Scholarships will be awarded for Masters’ students. Each successful recipient will be entitled to: 

  • Tuition fees 
  • Living allowance 
  • Research support grant
  • Disability and maternity costs (case by case basis) 

Eligibility criteria 

  • Applicants for Master’s should be citizens of India 
  • Should be working in or have significant experience of work in the areas of environment, fisheries and aquaculture science. 
  • Should hold an undergraduate or bachelor’s-level degree. 
  • Applicants must already be studying on one of the Masters courses listed below under the Degree Programmes section

Degree programmes 

As part of your application, you will need to indicate the course that you are currently studying on and proposed research project from the list of Master’s programmes and research projects below: 

1. Berhampur University

MSc in Marine Biology​ 

Research topics:

  • Climate Change: Scoping exercise for citizen science as a tool for mapping the affect of climate change on sustainable seafood.
  • Water Quality: Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in India and their impact on sustainable seafood in India.

MSc in Oceanography​ 

Research topics:

  • Climate Change: Using modelling to predict the impact of climate change on aquatic animal culture.
  • Water Quality: In-field detection methods to determine and improve water quality for sustainable seafood in India.
  • Water Quality: Use of GIS to determine and improve water quality in aquatic animal production areas.

 

2. Cochin University of Science and Technology

MFSc Seafood Safety and Trade or MSc Industrial Fisheries 

Research topics:

  • Aquatic Animal Disease: Building genetic resources for indigenous species for determination of disease resistance traits.
  • Anti-microbial Resistance (AMR): Detection of AMR gene and/or residues in aquatic systems and their link to poor aquatic animal production outcomes.

MSc Marine Biology, Microbiology and Biochemistry

Research topics:

  • Aquatic Animal Disease: Using next generation sequencing combined with traditional pathology techniques to better understand syndromic shrimp diseases in India.
  • Anti-microbial resistance: In-field detection of AMR genes and/or residues in aquatic systems.

MTech Marine Biotechnology

Research topics:

  • Aquatic Animal Disease: Using next-generation sequencing combined with traditional pathology techniques to better understand fish disease in India.

How to apply

Applications must be completed through the online application form to be considered. If you don't already have an ACU account, you will need to set one up by clicking 'Get Started', in the top right-hand corner of the application login page. 

For each host university there are specific courses and research projects listed below that applicants will need to indicate their interest in as part of their application. 

We strongly advise applicants to read all of the application guidance and FAQs pages carefully, before starting their application, and then complete all questions in full. 

Applications are now open and will close 20 November 2023 at 16:00 UTC.

Apply for OCPP
India Danja And Paul And NCCR January 2023

More information 

Funded with UK aid from the UK government.

Image credits (from top): Palm trees on beach by Jaiju Jacob.  Image of researchers by Cefas.

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