Turning Interest Into Action

Due to website redesign, for Spring 2026, the application window is 1st-30th of April 2026, with decisions by the 1st of July 2026.

The Applications process

The Zebra Foundation for Zoological Education invites applications from individual veterinary surgeons, registered veterinary nurses and undergraduate veterinary students to undertake research projects that will further their skills and knowledge of zoo and wildlife health. The Foundation awards grants according to the Reviewers’ and Trustees’ assessment of the project’s contribution to the Applicant’s professional development, and the field of zoological medicine in general.

It is the Trustees’ policy not to fund any project in its entirety but to provide funds that will support specific parts of your project. This could help attract further funding from other bodies. Grants are awarded according to merit, and depending on project requirements range from £100 (one hundred British Pounds) to £1000 (one thousand British Pounds). Successful applicants can apply for another project in the future, to a total maximum Award across both projects of £1000.

A comprehensive and detailed project budget is required for each application. Please note that the Zebra Foundation does not fund travel, accommodation or personal sustenance.

Application will need to be done through your (zoological or educational) institution. Only use institutional email addresses and contact details for both the Supervisor and the Applicant. Please note, to ensure fair distribution of funds, only two applications per institution can be submitted per application round. Institutes are encouraged to select the most deserving students/projects prior to submitting their applications.

Applications are considered in two rounds each year: in the Spring and the Autumn:

Spring Applicants:

  • Spring applications should be submitted between 1st-31st March each year.
  • Automatic notification will be given on receipt of the application.
  • A Decision Letter on whether an Award will be granted will be sent out by the 1st of June.

Autumn Applicants:

  • Autumn applications should be submitted between 1st-30th September each year.
  • Automatic notification will be given on receipt of the application.
  • A Decision Letter on whether an Award will be granted will be sent out by the 1st of December.

Applications are online only, and must be made using the Application Form below. If your project does not meet the minimum requirements for a Zebra Foundation Award, you may receive immediate automated notification. If there are technical errors on the webpage, please notify the Zebra Foundation Secretary.

The Foundation does not fund projects after the project has been completed. Applicants are therefore encouraged to apply before or at the start of their project.

Application form

More Information

This section provides information on the sorts of projects that qualify for funding and those that do not.

We also give reporting requirements for successful grantees.

Examples of projects we have funded in the past available here soon.

Projects qualifying for funding:

  • Seeing practice at an institution specializing in zoological medicine providing the applicant undertakes a written project during this time (examples might include morbidity/mortality study or case review).
  • Research projects (laboratory, field or clinic-based) leading to advances in zoological medicine and/or training of the applicant in a relevant discipline.

Projects that do not fulfil these criteria may be automatically rejected.

Projects that do not qualify:

  • Seeing practice where no specific project is undertaken
  • MSc/ PhD course fees
  • Attendance at wildlife captures courses
  • Conference attendance
  • Post-doctoral researchers and applicants already considered leaders in their field.

Projects that do not fulfil the criteria set for application may be automatically rejected.

If you get awarded a grant…

The recipient of a ZEBRA Foundation award is required to submit, within 3 months of their stated project completion date, an electronic copy of their project report (abstract, introduction, materials and methods, results, discussion, summarised in approximately 3 pages A4). This should be emailed to the Zebra Secretary.

The Zebra Foundation encourages recipients to publish in peer-reviewed journals. The Foundation also reserves the right to publish the précis of the report and will lodge a hard copy of the report in the RCVS library, BVZS publications. Applicants will also be encouraged to present their work at BVZS meetings.

If due to circumstances the project did not take place, the applicant must return the award in full to the Foundation.

Join the BVZS

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Memberships available for vets, nurses and students.