Group Study Exchange

The Group Study Exchange (GSE) program of The Rotary Foundation is a unique cultural and vocational exchange opportunity for young business and professional men and women between the ages of 25 and 40 and in the early years of their professional lives. The program provides travel grants for teams to exchange visits between paired areas in different countries. For four to six weeks, team members experience the host country's institutions and ways of life, observe their own vocations as practiced abroad, develop personal and professional relationships, and exchange ideas.

For each team member, The Rotary Foundation provides the most economical round-trip air ticket between the home and host countries. Local Rotarians in the host area provide for meals, lodging, and group travel within their district.

Application Process for Team Members

All interested applicants must first have their candidacy endorsed by a Rotary club in the district where the applicant works or lives. From there, endorsed applications are sent on for consideration at the district level.

Eligibility Criteria

Team members must:

• be between the ages of 25-40;
• be employed full-time in a recognized profession;
• not be a Rotarian, honorary Rotarian, or employee of Rotary or the lineal descendant or spouse of a lineal descendant, a Rotarian, an honorary Rotarian, or an employee of Rotary;
• not be the spouse of another team member;
• not be an ex-Rotarian or the lineal descendant or spouse of a lineal descendant of an ex-Rotarian or ex-Rotary employee who resigned less than 36 months before the time of application.

Ideal Candidates

Ideal team members are:

• between the ages of 25 and 40;
• employed full-time in a recognized profession;
• a citizen of the country in which they reside;
• in good health;
• neat in appearance and able to express themselves clearly and logically;
• of a sound, general educational background;
• interested in and clearly enthusiastic about their chosen vocation and in possession of outstanding vocational skills;
• open-minded, tolerant, and flexible;
• proficient in the major language of the partner district;
• comfortable working as part of a team with a schedule that is physically and emotionally demanding.