If travel isn’t financially feasible, start locally. Reach out to nearby country parks, National Trust sites, zoos, ecological consultancies, or environmental education programs to ask about volunteer roles or internships. These experiences help build your resume, skills, and professional network without the cost of going abroad. You can also support conservation organisations remotely through tasks like social media, research, or data work.

A degree is definitely helpful as it can strengthen your employability. However, there are paths into conservation that don’t require a degree. You can start with the foundation you have (be that a certificate or diploma) and build on that with fieldwork, internships, volunteering, and short courses. Practical experience – especially with animals, habitats, or data –  is very valuable when applying for certain roles.

Absolutely. Many conservation internship programs, including those offered by GVI, welcome participants from diverse academic backgrounds. These internships provide hands-on training, leadership development, and exposure to techniques used by conservationists worldwide. You can also look for local or remote roles that build transferable skills such as communication, project management, or public outreach – all of which are valuable in the conservation sector.

A bachelor’s degree is sufficient for many entry-level roles, especially in fieldwork, data collection, or education. However, roles in research, policy, or species recovery planning may require a master’s or PhD. It’s best to gain some practical experience first and decide if postgraduate study aligns with your long-term career goals.

For many marine conservation internships (including those offered by GVI), scuba training is included as part of the program, though you need to be a confident swimmer. In some cases, prior dive certification (such as PADI open water) may be preferred, but it’s not always a requirement. You can set up a call with an Enrolment Manager to discuss marine conservation programs here.

Many conservation internships, including those run by GVI, offer additional qualifications such as certificates, training in field techniques, and mentorship to help support long-term career growth. These can strengthen your CV/resume and improve job prospects in the conservation sector.

GVI’s virtual internship program offers a certificate of completion, as well as an online course, mentorship, and a reference. Virtual interns work remotely on real projects – it could be supporting data analysis, communications, fundraising, or research, etc. You can gain transferable experience remotely, and will be supported throughout your program by your Virtual Internship Supervisor.

A Professional Apprenticeship is a six-month program that includes a three-month internship on a GVI base where you’ll gain new skills and knowledge in accordance with your chosen program, followed by a three-month work placement with an in-country organisation. It’s one of the most powerful programs we offer. An internship, on the other hand, ranges from two to  24 weeks, and will allow you to gain more experience in the field while working under the guidance of a mentor. Our internship programs do not include a work placement. 

Yes. Many GVI programs allow students to carry out independent research as part of their academic work, provided it aligns with the site’s objectives. The best fit would be our Research Fellowship programs. During your research fellowship, you’ll get the opportunity to author or co-author your findings in a scientific paper and get published. You can also use your research fellowship to complete your thesis or dissertation by accessing unique data sets and utilising the expertise on base. Not only will this raise your academic profile, but you’ll contribute to real research projects that will inform and guide sustainable nature conservation projects in vulnerable habitats around the world. 

At GVI, we’re actively working to reduce financial barriers through need-based grants that can cover up to 80% of program fees via the GVI Foundation. We also offer structured internships with mentorship, job-readiness training, and alumni support to help participants move into paid roles.

The key to transitioning into paid roles is consistency, networking, and skill-building. Treat every volunteering opportunity like a job – be reliable, seek feedback, and ask to take on responsibility. Build relationships with staff, stay in touch, and look for internal vacancies. Highlight your experience in your CV/resume as if it were paid, focusing on the skills gained and outcomes achieved. Set alerts on job boards such as Environment Jobs, and look at the LinkedIn profiles of people in similar roles to those you want, to identify any key skills you may currently be missing. Persistence is key!

They’re more common than people think. Conservation needs project managers, policy analysts, fundraisers, grant writers, GIS technicians, communicators and more – many of which are primarily office-based. These roles are critical in supporting and scaling conservation work, and often come with more long-term employment opportunities.

Yes. Youth conservation opportunities are growing, especially through schools, local wildlife organisations, local community organisations and zoos. Try writing directly to organisations  and see if they have any opportunities – they often love to hear from young changemakers. GVI offers award-winning teen volunteer programs in Africa, Asia, Europe, and Latin America, focusing on wildlife, marine, and environmental conservation. These programs are designed to empower young people to make a difference. You can set up a call with an Enrolment Manager here to discuss these opportunities.

To strengthen your university/college application, try to gain experience through volunteering at wildlife centres, zoos, aquariums, or local conservation groups. Participating in relevant extracurricular activities, online courses (e.g., from FutureLearn or Coursera), and reading scientific literature can also help demonstrate your passion and commitment.

This is a really important consideration. Look for organisations that track and measure their impact, work with and support local partners, and ensure ethical and sustainable practices are followed. Annual reports are a great way to review this info – GVI releases an Impact Report that you can review online.

One of the biggest pitfalls is staying inside your comfort zone, i.e. only applying to roles that perfectly match your background or waiting for the “perfect” opportunity. Conservation is a dynamic, hands-on field, and progress often comes from putting yourself out there – whether that’s cold emailing, taking short-term roles, or saying yes to unexpected opportunities. Another common mistake is underestimating the value of networking, many jobs are filled through relationships, not job boards. Finally, some people focus only on fieldwork and overlook critical skills like data analysis, communication, or policy. To avoid these, stay open, be proactive, and remember that a non-linear path is completely normal (and often leads to the most exciting opportunities).

Yes, you can! Many students use our Research Fellowship programs to complete their university thesis or dissertation, as these programs are designed to provide access to unique datasets and on-base expertise.

Yes, absolutely! Our internships run year-round, and the summer is a very popular time for students to join. Our programs have flexible start dates, allowing you to choose a duration that fits perfectly with your university’s summer break and academic schedule. We always suggest applying early to make sure you secure the program you want during those busy months.

GVI offers a special structured support program called the ‘career guarantee’ for those who complete a 12-week or longer career or research internship. This is not a job guarantee, but a system of professional support, coaching, CV guidance, and access to the alumni network to help you take your next career step.

Yes, there is a program fee. This generally covers accommodation and food, your living arrangements, and nutritious meals while you’re on base, pre-departure support, training and orientation, long-term GVI field staff, and 24-hour in-country support. It is important to note that the fee does not include the costs for your international flights, travel insurance, visa costs, or personal spending money.

We recommend 12 weeks to get the most out of the internship!

Yes, GVI is planning to continue our webinar series. We are hoping to host similar events down the line to discuss future internship opportunities. Keep an eye on our social media channels or sign up for our newsletter so you don’t miss any announcements for the next event!

The main difference is that an internship is designed to better equip you for a future career in conservation, while volunteering focuses more on supporting the project work. Internships include several key add-ons, like one-on-one mentoring sessions, the completion of a special project, and taking on added responsibilities around the base, like leading surveys.

No, if you are awarded a GVI Foundation Grant, you do not have to pay that grant amount back. The grant is a financial contribution made by the GVI Foundation towards your program fees.

The career advisor’s support is quite generous: if you are interested in publishing your research, they can be available to you for up to two years, or for as long as the publication process takes. This ensures you have ongoing guidance well after you return home.

Our model is focused on contributing long-term data to our partners, who then lead on conservation action. Our breakthroughs are our partners’ breakthroughs. For example, our 18+ years of coral reef data in the Seychelles is used by the government to manage their Marine Protected Areas. You can see research citing our work on our Google Scholar profile.

Yes! When you refer a friend who books a GVI  program, you can receive a £500 (or your country’s currency equivalent) credit (if you’ve done a program), and your friend will get £500 (or your country’s currency equivalent) off their program fees.

The best next step is to book a call with one of our Enrolment Managers. They are experts in guiding you through all the options, discussing your interests, and ensuring you choose the program that best matches your specific career goals and academic background. You can contact the team here.