Rotary Youth Exchange

Who Can Apply

Students age15½ to 18 years old. You must be in high school or recently graduated, have strong grades, be open-minded, willing to learn, and ready for adventure. You must be sponsored by your local Rotary Club.

Quick Highlights

• Year 1 (Prep & Apply): Applications open September 1st. Candidates attend local interviews in October/November, district interviews in Grants Pass in December (where country matches are decided), and training sessions through spring and early summer prior to your departure.
• Year 2 (The Exchange): All OUTBOUND students leave between July and early September for their host countries, live abroad for the school year, and head home the following June/July.
• Year 3 (Mentorship): Returning home! You're now called a ROTEX and returned students help to prep and mentor the next group of outbound exchange students!
• Safety First: Host families go through an official background check and approval process, backed by Rotary Youth Protection policies.
• Custom Matching: You can express your top destination preferences, and Rotary works to find the best match for your personality and interests.

How to Get Started 

• Check Eligibility: You must be between 15 and 18 1/2 years old.
• Apply: Submit a preliminary application through a local Rotary Club in District 5110.
• Application Deadline: October 23, 2026.
• District Selection & Fees: Final interviews take place in December where a program deposit is paid (covers medical/travel insurance, administrative fees, blazer, pins, and orientation).
• Mandatory Orientation: Students and at least one parent must attend the mandatory orientations to go over safety rules, travel logistics, and host family expectations.

Costs & What's Included

• Global Fee (~$8,500 USD): Paid in 4 installments starting in December. Includes round-trip flights, travel insurance, orientations, language training (Pimsleur), swag, and visa support via iywt.com.
• Covered by Rotary: Tuition, housing, meals, and a small monthly stipend (~$100 USD).
• Extra Expenses: Personal spending money, travel/tours (~$4,000 USD total), visa/legal fees, and a $500 emergency fund.

Where Will You Go?

Over 25 countries across Europe, Asia, and the Americas (such as France, Japan, Brazil, Germany, Spain, and South Korea). You get to rank your top 15 choices, though flexibility is key!

Quick Highlights

• No School Involved: This isn't an academic study program—it's purely about travel, sight-seeing, cultural exchange, and having fun during summer break.
• Safety First: Host families go through an official background check and approval process, backed by Rotary Youth Protection policies.
• Custom Matching: You can express your top destination preferences, and Rotary works to find the best match for your personality and interests.

How to Get Started

• Check Eligibility: You must be between 15 and 18 1/2 years old.
• Apply: Submit a preliminary application through a local Rotary Club in District 5110.
• Application Deadline: January 29, 2027.
• District Selection & Fees: Final interviews take place in February, where a $500 program deposit is paid (covers medical/travel insurance, administrative fees, blazer, pins, and orientation).
• Mandatory Orientation: Students and at least one parent must attend the March Orientation to go over safety rules, travel logistics, and host family expectations.
• Matching & Travel: Matches are finalized in March and April. Travel takes place over the summer (starting as early as mid-June), with families booking flights together with their exchange partner's family.

Estimated Budget: Around $2,465 total (Passport: ~$165, Flights: ~$1,800, RYE Deposit: $500), plus optional spending money/gifts (~$300) and any visa fees.