Details

Category: IBiNS

The Institute of Biodiversity and Non-profit Studies offers postgraduate research programmes in the area of biodiversity, conservation management, ecological restoration, forestry/agro-forestry, socio-economics, political ecology, non-profit studies, grants writing and politics of fundraising, bush-meat, eco-tourism and climate change.

Currently, IBiNS is not yet awarding postgraduate certificates but works with the corresponding universities to support the research work of the prospective students. While the partner university provides the academic supervision, IBiNS provides the professional and technical supervision.

Core Research Programmes at IBiNS

The following research areas will be promoted at the Institute:

• Primates Research
• Ecotourism and Conservation Research
• Ornithology Research
• Mountain and Hydrology Research
• Applied Social Sciences Research
• Forests and Climate Change Research
• Marine Conservation Research
• Political Ecology Research
• Agro-forestry and Soil Health Research
• Amphibians, Reptiles and Insects Research

Entry Requirements into the Postgraduate Programmes at IBiNS

1. Prospective candidates are expected to have fulfilled the following conditions
2. Have obtained an approved supervisor in his/her current University;
3. Have a research proposal already defended in his/her department;
4. Have approached ERuDeF/IBiNS to finalize his/her research proposal at least 3 months prior to taking up the research position;
5. Will undergo another successful pre-research defense at IBiNS in the presence of its invited supervisor from a partner university alongside his/her supervisor before finally being accepted to conduct research at the Institute;
6. Accept to defend the first draft of his/work at the Institute in the presence of the Institute externally invited supervisor before submitting final draft to his university;
7. Before the final submission of the final thesis to the university, she/he is expected to have made at least two publications at the Institute.

Compulsory Training Programmes for Postgraduate Students

It is compulsory for all postgraduate students to undergo the following courses at the Institute namely

1. Grants writing and non-profit management;
2. Scientific writing and publishing;
3. Biometrics and data analysis;
4. Professional writing and reporting;
5. Conservation biology.

Duration of the Research Programmes

There is no specified duration of research. Research programmes could run from several weeks, through months to a few years in case of a PhD research.

Funding of Postgraduate Research Programmes

Research fees will vary depending on the programme and duration. A 12-month research for post graduate diploma will cost one million, Master degree will range from two and half million to three and a half million and PhD will cost over four million franc. For international students this amount will triple.

Funding of the Research Programmes

• The funding for the research programmes could come from several sources namely
• Funding attached to ERuDeF conservation programmes,
• Funding from the prospective student as she/he uses our research/office facilities and logistics,
• External funding developed jointly by the prospective candidate and ERuDeF given that such a candidate has approached ERuDeF at least 12 months in advance to prepare a joint funding bid,
• Funding from relevant government sources, v) funding from international organizations such as ITTO, IUCN, WWF/EFN, FFI, etc,
• Funding from Embassies of countries represented in Cameroon.

Deadlines for Submission of Applications

Applications will be evaluated in quarterly Graduate Committee meetings scheduled for March, June, September and December of each year.

Starting dates of the Research Programme

Once the prospective candidate has fulfilled the entry requirements, and approved by the Institute's Graduate Committee, she/he will be expected to start the research programme within the following 30 days.