Applications for 2011-12 academic year available in January 2010.  Download applications from www.rotary.org  The Rotary Foundation, Educational Programs.   Club interviews March-April. Contact your local Rotary club to get interviewed.  Finalisits must be in attendance for the District Interviews June 2-3, 2010.

Ambassadorial Scholarships
 

"For me the Rotary Scholarship is much more than being given an opportunity to study abroad; it is a chance to explore, reflect, critically examine and arrive at decisions on how I can best be of service to myself, my community and my country."

Adwoa K. Buahene
Academic-Year Scholar
(Nova Scotia, Canada, to France)

The Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program is Ambassadorial Scholarships, established in 1947. Since that time, more than 30,000 men and women from 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today, the Ambassadorial Scholarships Program of The Rotary Foundation is the world's largest privately-funded international scholarships program. Through grants totaling over  US$24 million, recipients from some 65 countries will study in more than 50 different nations.

The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships Program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries. Today, the program sponsors several types of scholarships for both undergraduate and graduate students, as well as qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as ambassadors of goodwill to the people of the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with local Rotarians and others the experiences that led to greater understanding of their host countries.

A benefit not found in other scholarship programs is the scholar's association with Rotary clubs and Rotarians. Each scholar is assigned both a sponsor and a host Rotarian counselor who provide orientation, advice and assistance.

Many former scholars serve important posts with their governments; others are highly respected in their fields. Examples of outstanding Rotary alumni include: Bill Moyers, a prominent U.S. journalist, Sadako Ogata, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees, Paul Volcker, former chairman of the Federal Reserve Board, Carlos Alberto Da Mota Pinto, former Prime Minister of Portugal, Otto Borch, Danish Ambassador to the U.S., and Roger Ebert, a popular U.S. film critic.

Scholarship availability is determined by local Rotarian contributions to The Rotary Foundation. As a result, not all Rotary clubs will offer scholarships. Prospective scholars must apply through a local Rotary club.

 Types of Scholarships

Currently, three types of scholarships are offered:

Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide funding for one academic year of study in another country. This award is intended to help cover round-trip transportation, tuition, fees, room and board expenses, and some educational supplies up to US$26,000 or its equivalent. The most common type of scholarship offered, more than 1,000 Academic-Year Scholarships were awarded for study in 2004-05.

Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either two or three years of degree-oriented study in another country. A flat grant of US$11,000 or its equivalent is provided per year to be applied toward the costs of a degree program. Mainly offered by Rotary districts in Japan and Korea, 138 Multi-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships were awarded for 2004-05.

Cultural Ambassadorial Scholarships are for either three or six months of intensive language study and cultural immersion in another country and provide funds to cover round-trip transportation, language training expenses, and homestay living arrangements, up to US$10,000 and US$17,000 respectively. Applications are considered for candidates interested in studying Arabic, English, French, German, Hebrew, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin Chinese, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, Swahili, and Swedish.

Some Rotary districts may only offer one type of scholarship; applicants must check with the local club regarding availability.