FAQ
SOME COMMON QUESTIONS WE HEAR
Do I get to choose my country?
This is a very popular question. And the answer is, yes and no. For short-term exchanges, since they involve family-to-family reciprocal arrangements, we make every effort to accommodate country preferences. It may not always be possible to grant a student's first choice, but normally that can be done.
Long-term exchanges work differently, in that students from our exchange partners will be coming here for a year, and we have built relationships with these counterparts over many years. The countries we exchange with are those we know run top-quality programs, and we re-evaluate them each year. There are a limited number of exchanges available with each country, and we will not overload any country in either direction. Therefore, for long-term students, we ask you to select 3 countries from our over 30 preferred countries. We will only exchange with Rotary Certified Districts. The majority of students will get one of their top 3 choices. But remember, flexibility is a vital characteristic for a successful exchange student, and that starts right at the beginning.
Do I have to know another language?
No, but naturally it would help to have some familiarity with the language of the country you are wishing to go to, for either the short-term or the long term program. We don’t limit the program to students that are already bi-lingual; however some countries do have a minimum language requirement to participate.
Students typically become fluent in 4-5 months, even without a strong knowledge of the language! But make no mistake, the more of the language you know before you go the better your exchange will be. We have a minimum requirement that you start learning the language of your selected country as soon as you are approved for the program.
What does the scholarship cover?
The Scholarship will cover your tuition at a school in your host country. It will also cover your room and board with a host family. You will also receive a stipend from your host Rotary Club that can range from $90 to $150 per month. In addition you will have the opportunity to travel with your host family or with host Rotarians.
Yeah, but whats m out of pocket going to be?
We typically tell families to expect to spend between $5,500 and $6,000 over the time of the exchange. Your main out of pockets costs are airfare, insurance and for optional Rotary Organized trips while on exchange. Of course if you receive a stipend or allowance from home during your exchange that can vary things quite a bit. You should also plan on some costs for VISAS's and perhaps shipping documents back and forth.
Short Term Program - this is NOT a scholarship program
You and your parents are responsible for the cost of your airline ticket, as well as any visa or other travel documents that may be required. Additionally, you will need to have some spending money while abroad, and you and your family should budget appropriately for the time that you and your exchange partner are together here. Those costs, obviously, are variable and up to you to determine. We typically tell families to budget for around $2,500 for the costs of the summer exchange. There is a $125 administrative fee to help cover costs of the orientations, pins and other materials. The biggest costs are airfare; insurance is a minimal cost for the short term exchange but is required.
Here is a full breakdown by program type:
