Centre for Wildlife Studies PhD Admissions 2026: Apply Now for Ecological Research Opportunities

Debanjan ChamlagainFebruary 2, 2026

The Centre for Wildlife Studies (CWS) welcomes applications for PhD Admissions 2026 in wildlife ecology and conservation. This doctoral program is offered in collaboration with the Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE). It targets motivated candidates passionate about field-based research on wildlife ecology and conservation in India and Asia. The Centre for Wildlife Studies PhD Admissions 2026 program offers diverse research opportunities spanning endemic species, landscape change, human-wildlife interactions, and conservation strategies. Admissions for 2026 provide a unique chance to contribute to vital ecological research efforts.

Also Read: NCERT Recruitment 2026: Apply for fresh and multiple academic posts now

Table of Contents

PhD Project Opportunities

The candidates applying under Centre for Wildlife Studies PhD Admissions 2026 have the opportunity to apply in the given project:

Project Title	Description
Ecology and Conservation of Endemic Vertebrates in the Western Ghats	Study ecology, behaviour, and conservation of endemic vertebrates (mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles) focusing on habitat change and anthropogenic pressures.
Impacts of Landscape Change on Free-ranging Asian Elephants in Peninsular India	Investigate distribution and habitat relationships of Asian elephants, assess impacts of land-cover change on their ecology.
Bat Conservation: Heritage Monuments, Wind Energy, Ecosystem Services	Research bat mortality, roosting in historical monuments, and ecosystem services provided by bats in India.
Evaluation of Tourism Opportunities and Challenges across Indian Protected Areas	Analyze wildlife tourism trends, evaluate benefits and costs, and develop conservation-oriented tourism policies.
Understanding Human-Wildlife Interactions	Evaluate government conservation programs addressing wildlife conflict compensation and impacts on attitudes towards wildlife.
One Health and Human-Wildlife Conflict Mitigation in Ghats Communities	Study social networks and community coordination for human-wildlife conflict and zoonotic disease awareness and mitigation.
Hunting and Wildlife Trade in the Western and Eastern Ghats	Investigate hunting drivers, impacts on wildlife and trade, using both ecological and social science methods.
Non-Timber Forest Products Extraction in the Western Ghats	Research extraction patterns, drivers, and conservation implications of NTFPs critical for rural livelihoods.
Designing and Evaluating Environmental Education Curricula and Programs	Evaluate CWS Wild Shaale program impacts on children’s wildlife compassion and attitudes.
Open Topic	Candidates with matching interests and fellowship support can design projects aligning with CWS expertise.

Fellowship

The PhD students admitted under Centre for Wildlife Studies PhD Admissions 2026 receive a monthly fellowship of Rs. 40,000. This increases to Rs. 50,000 after successfully completing coursework and passing the candidacy examination. This fellowship supports dedicated research in wildlife ecology and conservation during the doctoral program.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualifications

Applicants applying under Centre for Wildlife Studies PhD Admissions 2026 must be Indian nationals or OCI cardholders, possessing a postgraduate degree in natural sciences, social sciences, medical sciences, veterinary sciences, or engineering with a minimum of 65% marks or equivalent.

Experience

The candidates applying under Centre for Wildlife Studies PhD Admissions 2026 least two years of field-based wildlife research experience is required.

Desirable Qualifications

Proposal writing and report preparation skills
Experience publishing scientific or popular articles
Knowledge of ecological survey and analytical methods
Familiarity with software such as QGIS/ ArcGIS/ Google Earth Engine and R or Python
Applicants eligible for UGC/ CSIR-NET/ GATE are encouraged to apply
OCI candidates should furnish GRE/ TOEFL scores

Selection Process

Shortlisted applicants under Centre for Wildlife Studies PhD Admissions 2026 based on qualifications will partake in a written entrance test conducted by CWS in person. Candidates passing the entrance exam will be invited for a personal or online interview. Applicants bear all related expenses.

Admission Test Details

The written entrance test is mandatory for candidates and evaluates the knowledge relevant to wildlife ecology and conservation.

Documents Required

Undergraduate transcript
Masters’ transcript
Curriculum Vitae (CV)/Resume
1-2 page personal statement outlining main research interests (max 2 projects) and relevant experience
List and copies of scientific publications, technical reports, or popular articles
Fellowship documentation if applicable (DST-INSPIRE, UGC-NET, CSIR, GATE scores)
Three referee statements sent directly by referees to doctoral.program@cwsindia.org

Steps to Apply

The candidates applying under Centre for Wildlife Studies PhD Admissions 2026 must complete the online application form (Given Below)
Compile all required documents into a single PDF file
Submit the PDF along with the completed application form before the deadline
Ensure referees send reference letters directly to the official email