Student Fellowships & Research

Description.
Ambassadorial Scholarships, The Rotary Foundation’s oldest and best-known program, was founded in 1947. Since then, nearly 38,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today it is the world’s largest privately funded international scholarships program. Nearly 800 scholarships were awarded for study in 2005-06. Through grants totaling approximately US$500 million, recipients from about 70 countries studied in more than 70 nations.

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

Benefits.
Academic-Year Ambassadorial Scholarships provide a flat grant of US$25,000 for one academic year of study in another country. These awards are intended to help defray costs associated with round-trip transportation, tuition and other fees, room and board, and some educational supplies. Application must be made through a Rotary club in the area of the applicant’s legal or permanent residence and deadlines vary. (Please note that while the guidelines state that applicants may also apply to the Rotary club affiliated with their place of full-time study or employment, the Rotary district in which Bowdoin resides does not offer these scholarships.)

Eligibility.
Ambassadorial Scholarship candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Candidates must have completed at least two years of university or college course when the scholarship begins.
• Candidates must be citizens of a country in which there is a Rotary club.
• Candidates cannot be Rotarians; honorary Rotarians; or employees of a club, district, or other Rotary entity or of Rotary International. Spouses, lineal descendants (child or grandchild by blood or adopted or not adopted), spouses of lineal descendants, and ancestors (parent or grandparent by blood) of any living persons in the foregoing categories are also ineligible. Please note that Rotarians and their relatives remain ineligible for scholarship awards for 36 months after a Rotarian has discontinued club membership.
• Application must be made through a local Rotary club in the applicant’s legal or permanent residence or place of full-time study or employment.
• Study or training must be undertaken in another country or territory where there are Rotary clubs, but not in the sponsor Rotary country or district. (Recipients of donated scholarships may study in the donating district.)
• There are no age or gender restrictions on Ambassadorial Scholarships.
• Rotaractors are eligible and encouraged to apply, provided they meet all other eligibility criteria.
• Persons with disabilities are eligible for Foundation awards.

Application Process. While there is no internal selection process through Bowdoin, interested students are encouraged to draw upon the resources of the Office of Student Fellowships and Research to complete their application. Interested applicants must apply for Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships through their local Rotary club. Remember that availability varies by Rotary district. The following can be used as a general guide of the application timeline for program year 2011-12:

• November/December 2009. Application materials for 2010-11 Ambassadorial Scholarships become available from the Rotary club in the applicant’s area of permanent residence. Applicants must contact the Rotary club to determine whether scholarship funding is available, ask about local application deadlines, and obtain application materials.
• January - 15 July 2010. Applicants should complete the 2010-11 application, carefully researching possible institutions of study. There is no need to apply for or take language tests at this time.
• September - 15 December 2010. All 2011-12 scholarship applicants will receive notification of their study institution assignments (as long as their applications were submitted by the 1 October district deadline).
• February 2011. All 2011-12 scholarship recipients will receive a packet of information from the Foundation. This material outlines the steps they’re required to complete in preparation for their term.

Please note that applicants are responsible for all photocopying needed for the internal selection process and as required by the foundation.