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January 2025 Intake Now Open

Train where the
science happens.

WRTI's postgraduate and professional training programmes combine ecological theory, field research, and data science — delivered from Kenya's most biodiverse landscapes by the researchers who study them.

3,200+
Professionals trained
47
Years of training
40+
Countries reached
12
Field centres
January 2025 Intake
Applications currently open — close December 2024
MSc Wildlife Management & Conservation
Deadline: 15 December 2024
Closing
PG Diploma in GIS for Wildlife
Deadline: 20 December 2024
Open
Certificate in Wildlife Research Methods
Deadline: 31 December 2024
Open
Short Course: Conservation Data Science
Starts: 20 January 2025 · Rolling
Open
Start your application →
AM
NK
JO
FW
Join 3,200+ conservation professionals trained by WRTI. Alumni work in 40+ countries.
📗Programs
📘Short Courses
🏕️Field Experience
📝Admissions
🌐Alumni
💼Career Outcomes
Training Programs

Four pathways into
wildlife science.

From a two-year MSc combining research and fieldwork to intensive short courses for working professionals — WRTI has a program for every stage of a conservation career.

0 50km
Postgraduate
PG Diploma — 12 months

GIS for Wildlife Conservation

A focused postgraduate diploma combining geospatial science with conservation applications — species distribution modelling, habitat mapping, remote sensing, and GIS-based decision support for wildlife managers.

Duration
12 months full-time
Mode
Residential
Software
ArcGIS, QGIS, R
Credential
PG Diploma — WRTI
Distance sampling transect — width 200m
Certificate
Certificate — 6 months

Wildlife Research Methods

A rigorous six-month certificate covering the core quantitative methods of wildlife research — survey design, distance sampling, mark-recapture, camera trapping, and data analysis — with extensive field application.

Duration
6 months full-time
Mode
Mixed — class & field
Field days
60 field days
Entry
Undergraduate degree
Curriculum
Field Experience
Career Outcomes
Alumni Stories
Entry Requirements

Students spend significant time at WRTI's field research centres across Kenya's major ecosystem types, conducting real research alongside WRTI's scientist team.

🦁
Narok Research Centre
Savanna Lowland · Maasai Mara Ecosystem
Large carnivore ecology, pastoral coexistence, human-wildlife conflict. GPS telemetry, camera trapping, prey surveys.
🐘
Amboseli Field Station
Semi-Arid Savanna · Mt Kilimanjaro foothills
Elephant tracking, drought ecology, corridor research. GPS analysis, distance sampling, vegetation assessment.
🦏
Tsavo Research Centre
Dry Savanna · Tsavo Ecosystem
Black rhino monitoring, habitat assessment, anti-poaching research. Individual ID, genetic sampling, aerial support.
🌿
Laikipia Field Station
Highland Plateau · Laikipia Ecosystem
Wild dog pack dynamics, primate ecology, genetics sampling. Behavioural observation, disease monitoring, GIS mapping.

WRTI graduates work across government, conservation NGOs, research institutions, international organisations, and private sector environmental consultancies — in Kenya and across Africa.

Kenya Wildlife Service
Wildlife Ecologist · Research Scientist · Field Manager
218 graduates placed
African Wildlife Foundation
Programme Officer · Conservation Scientist
84 graduates placed
Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife
Policy Analyst · Technical Advisor
62 graduates placed
IUCN / UNEP
Species Programme Officer · Regional Coordinator
46 graduates placed
Universities
Lecturer · PhD Researcher · Lab Manager
112 graduates in academia
Private Sector EIA
Environmental Consultant · GIS Analyst
124 graduates placed
94%
Employment rate within 12 months
40+
Countries where alumni work
3,200
Alumni since 1976
AM
Dr. Aisha Mohamed
Senior Carnivore Ecologist, Kenya Wildlife Service
"The MSc at WRTI gave me the field skills and research rigour I needed. Eight months in Laikipia and the Mara gave me experience that no classroom could provide. KWS hired me six weeks after I graduated."
MSc Wildlife Management · Class of 2019
KM
Kipchoge Mutai
GIS Programme Lead, African Wildlife Foundation
"The GIS Diploma completely transformed my career trajectory. I went from a generalist conservation officer to leading AWF's geospatial programme across East Africa. The practical focus was everything."
PG Diploma GIS · Class of 2021
NO
Nyambura Ochieng
Research Scientist, WRTI Narok Centre
"I completed the Certificate in Wildlife Research Methods while I was still a graduate student. The field days in the Mara produced data I used in my PhD. It's real science, not simulation."
Certificate Wildlife Research · Class of 2020
FW
Francis Wanjiru
Conservation Data Scientist, WWF Kenya
"The Conservation Data Science short course gave me the R programming and statistical skills I needed in two weeks. Immediately applicable — I was running occupancy models in production the following month."
Short Course: Conservation Data Science · 2022
Requirement MSc Wildlife PG Diploma GIS Certificate
Undergraduate degree (minimum 2nd class)
BSc in Biology, Ecology, or related science
Any relevant degree
Any science degree
Professional experience
Minimum 1 year relevant work experience preferred
Not required
Not required
English language proficiency
IELTS 6.0 or equivalent (international applicants)
Research proposal (1,000 words)
Required at application stage
Two reference letters
Medical fitness certificate
For field work clearance
Tuition fee (KES)480,000/yr280,000120,000
Scholarships available: WRTI offers a limited number of partial scholarships for outstanding Kenyan applicants to the MSc programme, funded through institutional partnerships. Contact the admissions office for current scholarship availability.
Short Courses

Professional skills, intensively delivered.

Two-week to six-week intensive courses for working wildlife professionals, government officers, and conservation practitioners. CPD certified.

📊
Conservation Data Scientists · Ecologists · Wildlife Managers
Conservation Data Science with R

Practical R programming for wildlife data — occupancy modelling, population trend analysis, distance sampling, and data visualisation. No prior programming experience required.

Duration
2 weeks
Mode
Residential
Fee (KES)
45,000
Next run: 20 January 2025 · Spaces available
Register
🗺️
GIS Analysts · Field Ecologists · Wildlife Rangers
Applied GIS for Wildlife Management

Hands-on GIS training using QGIS and ArcGIS for wildlife management applications — habitat mapping, ranger patrol analysis, species distribution, and reporting.

Duration
3 weeks
Mode
Residential
Fee (KES)
62,000
Next run: 10 February 2025 · Spaces available
Register
📸
Field Researchers · Wildlife Managers · NGO Staff
Camera Trap Survey Design & Analysis

Complete training in camera trap methodology — from survey design and deployment through to density estimation, occupancy modelling, and result interpretation using SECR and occupancy models.

Duration
2 weeks
Mode
Field & Classroom
Fee (KES)
52,000
Next run: 3 March 2025 · Spaces available
Register
🛰️
Remote Sensing Analysts · Conservation Officers
Remote Sensing for Habitat Monitoring

Satellite imagery analysis for wildlife habitat — land cover classification, NDVI vegetation monitoring, change detection, and Google Earth Engine for large-area habitat assessment.

Duration
3 weeks
Mode
Residential
Fee (KES)
68,000
Next run: 17 March 2025 · Limited spaces
Register
🦁
Wildlife Rangers · Conservation Officers · Wardens
Wildlife Survey Methods: Aerial & Ground

Standardised wildlife survey methodologies — aerial survey procedures, distance sampling transects, dung count methods, and data recording protocols for wildlife rangers and field officers.

Duration
6 weeks
Mode
Field-based
Fee (KES)
95,000
Next run: April 2025 · Enrolling now
Register
⚖️
Policy Officers · Government Staff · NGO Managers
Wildlife Policy & Governance Essentials

A focused course on Kenya's wildlife legal and regulatory framework — the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, protected area governance, community conservancy law, and policy implementation.

Duration
2 weeks
Mode
Residential
Fee (KES)
38,000
Next run: May 2025 · Enrolling now
Register
Field Experience

Your classroom is Kenya's wildlife ecosystems.

WRTI students don't observe research from a distance — they conduct it. Every postgraduate programme includes substantial time at active field research centres, working alongside WRTI's scientist team on real research projects.

Nairobi HQ Narok Amboseli Tsavo Laikipia Samburu Meru Mt Kenya Coastal Kisumu Key training centres Additional field sites N

Where you'll work.

Field placements are assigned based on program requirements and student research interests. Each centre provides real research infrastructure, experienced mentors, and active data collection.

Narok Research Centre — Maasai Mara Ecosystem
Savanna Lowland · 14 researchers · 6 active projects
CarnivoresElephantsHWCCamera traps
Amboseli Field Station — Amboseli Ecosystem
Semi-Arid Savanna · 8 researchers · 4 active projects
Elephant trackingDrought ecologyCorridors
Tsavo Research Centre — Tsavo East/West
Dry Savanna · 10 researchers · 5 active projects
Black rhinoElephantsHabitatGenetics
Laikipia Field Station — Laikipia Plateau
Highland Plateau · 7 researchers · 4 active projects
Wild dogsPrimatesGenetics
Samburu Research Centre — Northern Rangelands
Arid & Semi-Arid · 4 researchers · 2 active projects
Grevy's zebraArid speciesMigration
Admissions

How to apply.

1
Choose your program
Review WRTI's program catalogue and select the program that best matches your background, career goals, and available time. Check entry requirements for each program carefully before applying.
💡 If you are unsure which program suits you best, contact our admissions office for a pre-application consultation.
2
Prepare your documents
Gather all required application documents before starting your online application. Required documents vary by program.
Certified copies of academic transcripts and certificates
Two reference letters (academic or professional)
Personal statement or research proposal (program-specific)
CV or resume (all previous experience)
Medical fitness certificate (for field-based programs)
Proof of English language proficiency (international applicants)
3
Submit your online application
Complete WRTI's online application form and upload all required documents. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis — earlier submission improves your chances of acceptance before the deadline.
⏱ Allow 45–60 minutes to complete the online form. You can save your progress and return before submission.
4
Application review and decision
WRTI's Admissions Committee reviews all applications within 21 working days. MSc applicants may be invited for a brief interview (in-person or virtual). All applicants receive a written decision with reasons.
📬 Check your email regularly after submission. Incomplete applications will be returned for completion before review.
5
Confirm your place and pay the deposit
Successful applicants must confirm their acceptance and pay a non-refundable registration deposit within 21 days of the offer. Sponsorship letters for employer-funded students must be received before the program start date.
🎓 Contact admissions to discuss payment plans and scholarship options.
Apply for
January 2025.

Applications are currently open for all WRTI postgraduate programs and short courses starting January 2025. Spaces are limited.

MSc Wildlife Management & Conservation
Deadline: 15 December 2024
Closing Soon
PG Diploma GIS for Wildlife
Deadline: 20 December 2024
Open
Certificate in Wildlife Research Methods
Deadline: 31 December 2024
Open
Short Courses — Multiple (rolling)
Rolling registration · See individual courses
Open
Start application → Contact admissions office
Admissions: admissions@wrti.go.ke
Tel: +254 (0)20 600 4002
Office hours: Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00 EAT
Alumni

3,200 conservation professionals.
One shared foundation.

Join the alumni network
AM
Dr. Aisha Mohamed
Senior Carnivore Ecologist
Kenya Wildlife Service, Nairobi
"The MSc at WRTI is more than a degree — it's two years immersed in Kenya's wildlife, working alongside the scientists who generate the data that shapes conservation policy. I graduated with a field skillset and a research network I use every day in my work with KWS."
MSc Wildlife Management & Conservation · Class of 2019 · Now: Wildlife Ecologist, KWS
KM
Kipchoge Mutai
GIS Programme Lead — East Africa
African Wildlife Foundation
"The GIS Diploma transformed my career. What sets the WRTI programme apart is the application — we weren't learning GIS in the abstract, we were mapping real carnivore territories and corridor connectivity for active conservation decisions."
PG Diploma GIS for Wildlife · Class of 2021 · Now: GIS Programme Lead, AWF
PS
Dr. Priya Subramanian
Conservation Programme Officer
IUCN Species Survival Commission
"I came from India to study at WRTI, and it was the defining experience of my conservation career. The access to Kenya's wildlife ecosystems, the quality of the research environment, and the calibre of the faculty are genuinely world-class."
MSc Wildlife Management & Conservation · Class of 2017 · Now: Programme Officer, IUCN SSC
WO
Wanjiru Otieno
Senior Ecologist, East Africa Operations
WWF Kenya
"The short course in Conservation Data Science gave me the R skills I needed in just two weeks. The immediate applicability is what made it exceptional — I was writing my own occupancy models within weeks of completing the course."
Short Course: Conservation Data Science · 2022 · Now: Senior Ecologist, WWF Kenya
JA
Jean-Pierre Amani
Country Director — DRC
Wildlife Conservation Society
"I completed my Certificate in Wildlife Research Methods in 1999 — and I use the survey methodology skills from that course to this day, leading wildlife monitoring programmes across the Congo Basin. WRTI training stands the test of time."
Certificate Wildlife Research Methods · Class of 1999 · Now: Country Director, WCS DRC
RL
Rebecca Lai
PhD Researcher — Wildlife Ecology
University of Oxford, WildCRU
"My MSc at WRTI gave me the methodological foundation and Kenya field network to gain entry to Oxford's WildCRU PhD programme. The data I collected in Tsavo during my MSc thesis formed the foundation of my PhD research proposal."
MSc Wildlife Management & Conservation · Class of 2022 · Now: PhD Researcher, Oxford WildCRU
Career Outcomes

Where WRTI graduates work.

Employment sector distribution — MSc graduates (2015–2023)
Government wildlife agencies28%
Conservation NGOs24%
Research institutions & universities18%
Environmental consultancies14%
International organisations (IUCN, UNEP, WWF)10%
Further study (PhD)6%
94%
Employment rate
within 12 months
40+
Countries where
alumni work

Top employers of WRTI graduates

Kenya Wildlife Service
218
graduates
African Wildlife Foundation
84
graduates
WWF Kenya / WWF International
72
graduates
Ministry of Tourism & Wildlife
62
graduates
IUCN / UNEP / WCS
46
graduates
Universities (Kenya, Africa, Global)
112
graduates
3,200+
Professionals trained
47
Years of training excellence
40+
Countries reached
94%
Graduate employment rate
12
Field training centres
4
Degree & diploma programs
📝

Ready to apply?

Applications for the January 2025 intake are open now. The MSc Wildlife Management deadline is 15 December 2024. Start your application today — spaces are limited.

Start your application
🤝

Sponsor an employee.

WRTI works with government agencies, NGOs, and private sector organisations to provide subsidised training for staff through institutional sponsorship agreements.

Discuss institutional training
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Already an alumnus?

Connect with the WRTI alumni network — 3,200+ conservation professionals across 40 countries. Update your profile, find opportunities, and contribute to WRTI's research community.

Join the alumni network