Students

GRSP Scholarship- Application Period: June 1 to October 31

Here’s how it works … Students from around the world apply each year for this amazing cultural experience. Our ambassadorial scholarship is focused on education and cultural enrichment. We want you to come to the United States as an ambassador for your country and leave being an ambassador of the United States and many other countries you will learn about from your fellow GRSP students.

If accepted into the program you will be extended a one-year (August to May), non-degree seeking scholarship to a college or university here in Georgia. You do not get to select the school you attend. That is determined by your host club. You will live on campus in a dormitory, but will have a host family that will be your “home base” throughout the year. Your host family will serve as your “family” throughout the year, there to support and guide you every step of the way. You get to spend time on weekends, breaks and holidays with your host family living every day life in America.

Our program does not contemplate an “exchange” of students, and there is no obligation in return to accept any students from the United States. All we expect is that you will come to fully engage, learn and share with us in an effort to help us expand peace, international goodwill and understanding around the world. We want to build life-long friendships and expand your global network and ours in hopes that we can work together to make the world a better place.

Here are our Application Requirements:

Applicants must be at least 18 years of age by August 1 or must not have reached age 25 by August 1 of the scholastic year (NO EXCEPTIONS)
Applicants who are married, or engaged to be married, will not be awarded a scholarship (NO EXCEPTIONS)
Applicants who have previously studied in the USA for a period exceeding four months cannot be considered for a scholarship (NO EXCEPTIONS).
Citizens and Dual Citizens of the United States are not eligible to receive the GRSP scholarship.
All students must be sponsored by a Rotary Club from your country. If your parents or friends of the family are Rotarians, ask their clubs to sponsor you. If you have no connection to Rotary, click on the box to the right to find a Rotary Club near you to approach about sponsorship.

If accepted and offered a scholarship we will begin your admissions process with your assigned college or university. It is important that we have your TOEFL and SAT Reading/Math scores at the time of your application submission or the date scheduled for your test(s), which should be taken before December 1 in order to have results returned prior to the GRSP student selection process.

Not having the test scores sent to us in a timely fashion will greatly impact the likelihood of your acceptance. Please note the minimum test score requirement for our partnering colleges on the tab to the right.

We have 26 participating colleges and universities within Georgia. As of 2022, some require SAT scores and some do not. The students do not pick the college or the clubs that sponsor them, so the test scores are strongly suggested for the selection process. While we advise taking the SAT by October 31, if a test is not available within that timeline, please put the test date on the application that you have scheduled.

Be sure to send the results to the Georgia Rotary Student Program for those tests. We are aware that the international test days may only be available in December. It is advised to take the test in December if October is not an option, as the results should have time to arrive in the GRSP Office by the end of the year.

To meet the English proficiency requirement, schools will accept a TOEFL 74 or SAT Evidence Based Reading and Writing of 480. If there is a delay in the time for the SAT test, we strongly suggest taking the TOEFL before October, if possible, so the club reviewing the application would have an idea of the student’s ability to understand English.

In the event that the school determines you do not meet its admissions standards, the scholarship offer will unfortunately have to be withdrawn.

The GRSP scholarship pays all scholastic costs, including tuition, a book allowance ($500), dormitory, and meal plan. Students are responsible for covering all transportation expenses to and from the United States, medical insurance costs, and any income taxes imposed on non-scholarship income by the U.S. Treasury. It is important to do your research and ask questions early to make sure you understand all of your financial obligations. Students need to be prepared to bring $3,000 to $5,000 in reserve to cover expenses throughout the year. Your host families are not expected or prepared to support you in any way financially throughout the year.

If you meet our requirements, embrace our mission, and are all-in for a life-changing adventure, we encourage you to apply.

Student Experiences

Magno Soria Toniolo

Brazil
University of West Georgia
So far, I have done many things. I went to the Falcons game twice (they lost both, unfortunately, but it was amazing to be in the Mercedes Stadium), I have also been to the Braves game and, my highlight was at Christmas, when I went to Las Vegas with my host family. Who does not want to go there! Everybody wants it and I had the opportunity to spend a week there. What a great experience. In addition, we drove to the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam. After that, I can tell you, the Grand Canyon is the most beautiful and impressive place that I have ever seen. Anyway, these things are just a little bit of everything I have lived here. I am very grateful to Rotary community for giving me this incredible opportunity. I will carry this with me for the rest of my life.

KATHERINE ANCINEZ

Colombia
Georgia Southwestern State University
Spending time with the other GRSP students for me was the most fulfilling part of the program. I find it so incredible that people from all over the world ended up at the same place. We were all so different, but at the same time, we were all put in the same situation. This is what made us so close. And the best part is that we are all willing to share our cultural shocks. It’s funny that, for example, the cold weather was very strange for me, but for another person, seeing palm trees was strange. Spending time together made us learn so much. And the best part is that I can’t say anything bad about any of them. They are all lovely souls.

PAUL CHIDUWA

Zimbabwe
University of Georgia
The best part of being a GRSPer to me has being developing a sense of empathy instead of sympathy. All too often the global community watches catastrophic events happen in foreign countries and are sympathetic to the cause but coming into contact with somebody who has been affected by it changes the story altogether. You feel their pain, anxiety, disappointment and fear and get a better understanding of their life as you communicate and exchange ideas. This is the only way to fight racism and integrate the world beyond the scope of social media global communities. My interactions with Americans affected by events like 9/11, the Islam community and other minorities, African Americans and other groups have molded me into becoming more of a global citizen rather than a Zimbabwean. The experience has carved my intuition for the better in all facets relating to life and international relations.

SOFIA LINNEA MARIA ERLANDSSON

Sweden
University of North Georgia
Attending university in a small village, high up in the mountains, offered me a gorgeous view every morning. I found one of my best friends in my roommate and another of my best friends right down the hall. With the two of them, and many others, I discovered new states, went road tripping, skiing, tubing, and hiking parts of the Appalachian trail. Thanks to the endless stream of adventures there were barely a weekend where I did not have anything to do. And thanks to all of them, I felt like I was not only in the US but part of it.

I also found friends from all over the world in the other GRSP students. By meeting up during the GRSP weekends and taking part in all the amazing experiences they offered we got to know each other. Together we did everything from zip-lining to climbing a light house. Every new weekend was more fun than the last because we got to know one another better and better.

GEETH PINSARA MAHAGAMAGE

Sri Lanka
Piedmont College
To me, the GRSP is the exemplar of a life-changing program. When I heard that I was selected for the GRSP, I knew I was in for an experience, but I did not sign up for this: for all this hospitality, love and affection, the relationships that I have built and all this experience. It did not take me long after meeting my host parents, Rotarians and fellow GRSP students to understand that this year was going to be great, and so it has been. The GRSP genuinely changed my life in ways that nobody would have ever imagined, helped me grow, changed how I see the world, gave me and keeps giving me more and more experiences.

ADAOBI PRINCESS NWOFOR

Nigeria
Oglethorpe University
Being a graduate from my home country, I was also looking forward to the college life in the US and due to the program, I was able to explore it and for that I am so grateful. It was different and it was good, I learnt a lot and also noted the differences which made me decide to pursue a second degree here, all these would not have been possible if I was not part of the GRSP program and I am so blessed to be here. I made some friends here, met people from all over the world and I came to the conclusion that peace is possible despite race, age, status etc. We could exist together and still be happy. GRSP taught me that, I will forever be grateful to my uncle who told me about the program, to my rotary clubs: Midtown, Tucker and Sandy Springs who made it possible for me to be here and to have a home away from home.

FAHMIDA RAHMAN

Scotland
Georgia Gwinnett College
As an international student at GGC myself, I was easily able to meet other internationals attending and I loved it. Alongside GRSP, my actual college gave me opportunities to interact with many different cultures. Canadians, Swedes, Nigerians and countless more. Met some English folk and definitely appreciated the accents, felt like I was already closer to home. Although, the Scottish accents are better as biased as it sounds (apologies to Zoe, Southampton accents are cool too). Having a Chick-Fil-A on campus was phenomenal, I fully understand why Americans rave about it now. Isn’t it time to open a franchise of it in Scotland? GGC has provided me with so many memories to take home and I can’t be thankful enough. I cannot visualize my time there with anyone else but my two other GRSP kids.

ALEXANDRE ROY

France
Clayton State University
During this year, I had the chance to travel a lot. Not only all over Georgia, but also in Nashville, Charleston, Miami, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. This made me realize that the United States and its surroundings have so much diversity and so much to experience. The year is not over yet and I hope to have the chance to discover even more of this awesome country and make other lifetime memories.

More than anything, GRSP taught me to be more independent and organized which I am sure will be beneficial to me in the future. Being a part of this program allowed me to meet so many great people that I would not have met otherwise, and I now have an excuse to visit lots of new countries.

CATHARINA ILLUM VANDEKERCKHOVE

Denmark
Georgia State University
I’m from Denmark and have been studying at Georgia State University for my GRSP year. It’s been a very enlightening and wonderful experience. Studying in the middle of Downtown Atlanta has given me insight into the ups and downs of urban culture in the south and direct meeting with the people there. Attending a university without an actual campus has definitely been very interesting.

Read Our Blog

Host Families

Calendar of Events

What is Rotary?

Rotary (n):

A global network of 1.2 million neighbors, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers. These are people that see a world that is united and peaceful. These are people who take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

In Rotary, we solve real problems through our commitment to peace and our vision for a better tomorrow. For more than 110 years, Rotary’s people of action have used their passion, energy, and intelligence to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

What do Rotarians do?

Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to take action on our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to:

Promote peace
Fight disease
Provide clean water, sanitation, and hygiene
Save mothers and children
Support education
Grow local economies