2026 IAWF Student Scholarship Application

The International Association of Wildland Fire (IAWF) Board is proud to support graduate-level training and research across the global wildland fire community. In 2026, we will once again award two graduate-level scholarships, each valued at USD $3,000, to IAWF members enrolled in a Master of Science/Arts (MSc/MA) or Doctoral (PhD) program studying wildland fire or closely related topics.

We encourage applications from students exploring any aspect of wildland fire, whether physical, ecological, social, or interdisciplinary. Through this scholarship, we aim to support and recognise research that advances how we understand, manage, and live with fire globally. Scholarship recipients will receive financial support and international recognition within the wildland fire community.

The application period is open from 9 February to 9 March 2026, and recipients will be announced in mid-April. Scholarships will be awarded to the top MSc applicant and top PhD applicant, based on assessment of the submitted essay. Please see the guidelines and application information for full details. 

Guidelines and Application information

1. The applicant must be a member of IAWF at the time of application and remain so at least during their award period. Visit IAWF web site for details on membership application (http://www.iawfonline.org) and visit the Membership/Benefits for online membership application.

2. The applicant must be enrolled full-time in graduate school with, at the closing date of the scholarship application period, at least 8 months remaining in their program if they are an MSc candidate or 12 months remaining if they are a PhD candidate.

3. The applicant must submit a 500-750 (750 maximum) word essay submitted in English that includes 3 components: (UPLOAD BELOW)

a) a description of how they have or will overcome challenges and/or barriers associated with their academic program and associated research. These challenges and/or barriers may include, but are not limited to:

• location of the research (e.g., field site, laboratory, geographic region)
• subject area being studied (e.g., non-traditional or evolving research area)
• country/region of origin or other personal circumstances.

b) a description of how the international fire community will benefit from completion of their post graduate studies; and

c) a statement of the anticipated benefit the scholarship would bring to the student with particular emphasis on (but not limited to) how scholarship funds would be used to further their research goals and/or allow the dissemination of research to the fire management community (an example would be additional meetings, workshops or conferences attended).

4. The applicant must arrange for a letter of support written in English to be submitted on their behalf by their primary thesis supervisor. The letter of support must confirm: (1) the student is enrolled in an MSc or PhD program under their supervision

a) the student has at least 8 months (MSc applicants) or 12 months (PhD applicants) remaining in the program at the time of application

b) the content of the student’s essay is accurate; and

c). The student has the ability to successfully complete the work. 

The letter may be uploaded below or emailed to Mikel Robinson, execdir@iawonline.org)

6. Upon completing their degree, all scholarship recipients will submit to the Association a copy of the signature page approving the thesis or other similar academic requirement, and a copy of the abstract that appears in the body of the thesis. These materials will be transmitted by the students under a cover letter that states the IAWF is permitted to use the information in these materials in publications of their choosing. The purpose of this authorization/waiver is to allow the IAWF to highlight the success of this program and those of the students sponsored.

7. Scholarship recipients will acknowledge the financial support of the IAWF in all publications or manuscripts arising from work sponsored in part by this scholarship.

8. Completed applications must be received no later than 9-March 2026.

Essay formatting instructions Your name should appear at the top of each page and all pages must be numbered. The text should be double-spaced on Letter (8.5 x 11 inch) or A4 (21 x 29.7 cm) paper. Your completed student essay, including the body of the text and any references, figure or table captions, must not exceed 750 words. Submissions that exceed 750 words, determined from an electronic word count, will be disqualified.

Accepted formats - WORD and PDF.