The Rotary Foundation - Rotary International - District and Global Grants

What Rotary grants fund

Rotary International's Foundation funds two kinds of grants that can pay for scholarships: District Grants and Global Grants. A District Grant scholarship can cover study at any level (school, bachelor or master), any length, any place and any subject. The exact amount is set by the local Rotary district that runs it. A Global Grant scholarship is bigger and international. It usually pays up to 30,000 USD (about 27,000 EUR) per academic year for one to four years, for master or postgraduate study abroad.

Who can apply

• Degree level: For a Global Grant scholarship you study at graduate level (master or postgraduate). District Grant scholarships are open to any level, including school and bachelor.
• Where you go: A Global Grant scholarship is for study in a country other than your home country. District Grant scholarships can be for study at home or abroad.
• Field of study: A Global Grant scholarship must match one of Rotary's seven focus areas: peace and conflict resolution, disease prevention and treatment, water and sanitation, mother and child health, basic education and literacy, community and economic development, or the environment. District Grants have no subject limit.
• Duration: A Global Grant scholarship must last at least one academic year.
• University chosen: For a Global Grant you must already have picked your target university.
• Sponsorship: A local Rotary club and district must sponsor you. You cannot apply to the Rotary Foundation directly.
• Nationality: Any nationality can apply, as long as a Rotary club sponsors you.
• Rotary ties: In many districts, Rotary members and their close relatives cannot receive these scholarships. Check your local district.

How to apply

You do not apply to Rotary International itself. Contact a local Rotary club, which recommends you to its district. The district then reviews candidates, sometimes with an interview, and submits the grant application online. For a Global Grant scholarship where studies start in August, September or October, the club and district must file by 30 June. Internal district deadlines vary and can fall much earlier, so ask your club well ahead.

How realistic are your chances?

Your prospects depend far more on your local Rotary connection than on a central quota. Every scholarship runs through a sponsoring club and district, and each sets its own rules and deadlines. If you build a relationship with a nearby club early, and your plans fit a focus area for a Global Grant, you compete within a small local pool rather than a global one. The hardest part is finding a willing sponsor, so start there and start early.