One Enrolment. One Scholarship. One Wave of Change.
For every student who joins a Big Blue Education course, we fund one full scholarship to a young person in a developing country who has the passion to protect our oceans — but not the means to study them. Every time someone pays for a Big Blue Education course, a student somewhere who can’t afford it gets one for free. That’s it. That’s the initiative.
Why One Wave?
CEO & Founder
The ocean doesn’t recognise borders. A young person growing up in a fishing village in the Philippines, on a reef-fringed island in Fiji, or in a coastal community in Jamaica is arguably closer to the realities of marine science than most students who study it — and almost certainly further from any formal way to do so.
One Wave changes that. It’s a simple, direct commitment: for every paying student who enrols in a Big Blue Education course, one full scholarship is provided, free of charge, to a student in a developing country. No compromise on quality — scholarship students receive exactly the same course, the same materials, the same personal support, and the same internationally recognised Cambridge qualification as every other student.
One paying student. One scholarship. One small wave of change.
What the Scholarship Includes
A Full Education. Not a Reduced One.
Scholarship recipients receive everything a paying student receives — no exceptions.
Connection to a global student community of ocean advocates
Potential participation in educational travel adventures (subject to availability)
Certification upon successful course completion
Option to take the international Cambridge exam at an approved center
Who Can Apply?
Passion Over Privilege
We’re not looking for the most qualified student on paper. We’re looking for students who care — and who have the most to gain and give back.
Essential Criteria
Aged 14–18+
Genuine passion for marine science and ocean conservation
Basic English language skills (all courses are delivered in English)
Access to internet and a device — computer, tablet, or smartphone
Roughly 5–8 hours a week to study
We Especially Encourage Applications From
Students from coastal or island communities directly affected by ocean change
Young people with limited access to quality marine science education (which, frankly, is most of the world)
Students from underrepresented groups and remote communities
Those with a clear vision for how marine science could help their community
Important: we prioritise passion and potential over previous academic achievement. No marine science background needed. No perfect grades needed. Just a genuine connection to the ocean and the commitment to see it through.
Building a Network of Ocean Advocates
Scholarship students don’t study in isolation. They join the same student community as everyone else — the same forums, the same webinars, the same global network of people who care about the ocean. Because that’s the point: building a community of future ocean advocates who actually know each other.
We work with NGO partners in each region to find the right candidates, support the application process, and stay in touch during the course. These aren’t cold partnerships on a spreadsheet — they’re organisations that know their communities and know which students will make the most of this.
Philippines: Save Philippine Seas, Oceanus Conservation, Marine Conservation Philippines.
Indonesia: Indo Ocean Foundation, Blue Corner Conservation, Coral Triangle Center.
Caribbean: Caribbean Youth Environment Network, CORALL Barbados, Alligator Head Foundation (Jamaica).
Pacific: Vatuvara Foundation (Fiji), Palau International Coral Reef Center, Micronesia Conservation Trust.
Southeast Asia: EcoThailand Foundation, New Heaven Reef Conservation.
Latin America: Ecology Project International (Mexico), Blue School Programme (Brazil).
UN SDG Alignment
The Bigger Picture
One Wave directly supports two United Nations Sustainable Development Goals — not because it sounds good on a website, but because that’s genuinely what it does:
SDG 4 — Quality Education: Inclusive, equitable, quality education for all. Not just the people who can already afford it.
SDG 14 — Life Below Water: Conserving and sustainably using the oceans. Which is considerably harder without people who actually understand them.
We publish an annual impact report. It covers where the scholarships went, how students are doing, and what’s working and what isn’t. Because transparency matters more than a polished story.
How to Apply
Apply for a One Wave Scholarship
Applications are open year-round and reviewed on a rolling basis. Places depend on paid enrolments — when spots open, we let partner organisations know and post it here too. No complicated process. No mysterious committee.
What You’ll Need
Completed application form
Most recent school report or academic transcript
One reference letter from a teacher, community leader, or mentor
Proof of residency
Optional: anything showing marine-related activities or interest
How Applications Are Assessed
40% — Passion for marine science (this is the one that matters most)
30% — Potential community impact
20% — Personal circumstances and financial need
10% — Practical ability to complete the course
Grades aren’t the deciding factor. Passion and potential are. If you’re not sure whether to apply — apply. Big Blue Education is committed to equal opportunities and welcomes applications from all backgrounds. Scholarship decisions are based on passion, potential, and need rather than previous academic achievement alone.
How to Support One Wave? Enrol. Refer. Sponsor.
The easiest way? Enrol in a course. Every paying student funds a scholarship automatically — no donation box, no charity guilt trip, just the way the model works.
You can also share it with someone who should know about it. Or, if you’re a business, foundation, or individual who wants to sponsor additional scholarships directly, we’d love to hear from you.
Partner With One Wave
One Wave works because of the people on the ground.
We provide the education — our NGO partners provide the local knowledge, community trust, and human connection that makes the scholarship programme genuinely impactful.If your organisation works with young people in coastal or marine communities, we’d love to talk about how we can work together.
What Makes a Good Partner?
We’re looking for NGOs, community groups, schools, marine conservation organisations, and youth programmes that know their communities and have an existing relationship with young people in marine or coastal areas. You don’t need to be large. Some of our most effective partners are small, community-level organisations — the ones that know exactly which student in their network deserves this.
Partner FAQs
WhDo students need previous marine science qualifications?
No — just a genuine interest in marine science and a basic educational foundation.
What if students have limited internet access?
We work around it where we can — materials can be downloaded when internet is available. Talk to us about individual situations.
Can students who don’t live near the coast apply?
Absolutely. Passion for ocean conservation matters more than proximity to the sea.
How many scholarships are available?
It depends on paid enrolments. We let partners know when places open.
What happens after students complete the course?
Students receive a certificate of completion and have the option to sit the international Cambridge exam. They remain part of our global alumni network.
Are there any costs to students or partner organisations?
The course is fully funded. The only requirement is internet access and a device. The cost of taking the exam at a Cambridge centre is not covered in the scholarship — however we are setting up a sponsorship fund to make this available.
What support is available for students who struggle?
Students receive ongoing support, can access discussion forums, and we work with partners to provide additional local support where needed.
Ideal Partners
Work directly with young people aged 14–18+ in coastal or island communities
Have existing youth education, conservation, or community programmes
Operate in developing countries or underserved regions
Can identify passionate students who would benefit from this — and tell us why
What We Ask of Partners
The Main Thing:
Share scholarship information with suitable students in your community
Help identify candidates — the ones with the most to gain and give back
Assist with the application process where needed
Provide a reference for applicants you know
Local Support (Optional but welcome):
Be a local point of contact for scholarship students during the course
Check in on student progress occasionally
Help troubleshoot local challenges — internet access, device availability, that kind of thing
Connect students with local marine conservation activities
Impact Reporting:
Share feedback on how the programme is landing in your community
Help us track student outcomes — the stories matter as much as the numbers
Contribute to the annual impact report
Time commitment: genuinely minimal. Mostly concentrated in the application period, with occasional check-ins once students are underway.
What You Get From the Partnership
Digital posters and graphics for social media promotion
Application forms — physical and digital
FAQ sheets for students and families
Ongoing communication and support from the Big Blue Education team
Recognition in our communications, annual impact report, website and communications
A simple one-page partnership agreement — nothing complicated
