Ocean Country Partnership Programme Scholarships Sri Lanka

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

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

Hosted by the University of Kelaniya and University of Peradeniya, the scholarships will enable scholars from Sri Lanka 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 to Masters’ students on a two-year basis. 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 MPhil degrees should be citizens of Sri Lanka
• Should be working in or have significant experience of work in the areas of environment, fisheries or aquaculture science
• Should hold an undergraduate or bachelor’s-level degree
• Will need to apply for one of the specific MPhil research project titles listed
• Applicants must meet the eligibility criteria for postgraduate study at their chosen university (either the University of Kelaniya or the University of Peradeniya)
• Applicants are encouraged to submit their applications to their chosen university course at the same time as completing their OCPP application to ensure that they can start the MPhil course by March 2024.

Degree programmes 

The OCPP Sri Lanka scholarships will support MPhil Degrees available in the various research areas at each university.

University of Peradeniya

• MPhil in Aquatic Animal Health

The scholarships will facilitate a range of potential projects and research topics, such as:  

• Investigation of local transmission routes of a economically important pathogen in Litopenaeus vannamei cultured in Sri Lanka
• Investigation of the causes of mortality outbreaks in postllarvae produced from SPF Litopenaeus vannamei broodstock  
• Investigation of bacterial and viral pathogens in wild-sourced shrimp and mud crabs in Sri Lanka
• Evaluation of the efficacy of commercially available therapeutic agents and locally sourced immunostimulants in controlling shrimp diseases

*Candidates with hands on training or previous experience in aquatic animal health assessments are encouraged to apply.

University of Kelaniya:

• MPhil in Inland Water Resource Management  
• MPhil in Aquatic Resource Management
• MPhil in Fisheries Management 
• MPhil in Wetland Restoration /Ecosystem Restoration  

The scholarships will facilitate a range of potential projects and research topics, such as: 

• Study of water quality, heavy metals and microplastic pollution in the Mahaweli river system
• Contamination of plastic debris and some selected physico-chemical properties of water and sediments in Anawilundawa Mangrove restoration site, and the surrounding inland coastal area
• Habitat mapping of blue carbon habitats in Sri Lanka
• Understanding the diversity of Sri Lanka's shark and ray trade using molecular tools
• Assessing the population of sharks and rays in Sri Lanka

More information

• The Ocean Country Partnership Programme (OCPP) is a UK Government-led development programme under the Blue Planet Fund, delivered by Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science (Cefas), the Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) and the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) on behalf of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)
• Find out more about the OCPP 
  

Funded with UK aid from the UK government.