Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade

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About

The development and delivery of the Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade is supported by The A. G. Leventis Foundation.

The Oxford Masterclass on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade is designed to give you a comprehensive understanding of the complexity and dynamic nature of wildlife trade systems, with a specific focus on addressing illegal wildlife trade (IWT). The course is delivered by Oxford academics and collaborators from around the world.

Throughout the course, you will explore how actions and interventions interact within broader social-ecological systems and assess the roles, motivations and impacts of various actors involved in wildlife trade and governance. You will also learn to critically evaluate policies and regulations at multiple scales, with a view to ensuring that any wildlife trade is both legal and sustainable.

By identifying key tools, resources and approaches, you will be equipped to evaluate different intervention types and secure funding for impactful wildlife trade projects. With a strong focus on interdisciplinarity, this course will provide you with the knowledge needed to make informed decisions to influence real-world conservation outcomes.

This course is targeted at practitioners, researchers, and policymakers. 

Modules

You will study six modules which involve a combination of live and pre-recorded lectures, practical activities, and self-led study. 

There is no formal, summative assessment for the course. However, feedback will be provided by the course leaders and some guest lecturers on pieces of work completed during the course. A certificate of completion and digital badge will also be offered to course participants.

Admissions

If you have any questions, please contact iwtmasterclass@biology.ox.ac.uk.

How to apply

Applications are currently open for the masterclass, which will take place online from mid-September to mid-November 2026.

Apply now

The application form includes the following sections: 

  1. Personal details 

  2. Details of employment or current position 

  3. Area of specialism and how it relates to the wildlife trade 

  4. What aspect of the curriculum will be of most use to you in your work 

Who should apply

Applications are welcome from people at any stage of their career, in any sector, including those working in academia, government, industry, NGOs, or law enforcement. However, you must be working in a role relevant to wildlife trade, and you must be able to demonstrate clearly your main area of specialism (e.g., species, geography, or sector such as law enforcement), and why you think you would be a good fit for this masterclass.

Fees

The fee for this course is £500 per participant.

We have five bursaries available for West African participants.

Bespoke Courses

In addition to our scheduled Masterclasses, we also offer bespoke Masterclasses on Mitigating Illegal Wildlife Trade, tailored to the needs of specific organisations or sectors. These can be delivered online or in person. Please contact us on iwtmasterclass@biology.ox.ac.uk to discuss the options.