Take Your Education Further. Make a Difference Worldwide.

Are you ready to pursue a graduate degree abroad and use your education to make a meaningful difference in the world? Rotary District 5300 offers Global Grant Scholarships to help exceptional students pursue advanced degrees while preparing to address some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Through the support of Rotary District 5300 and The Rotary Foundation, eligible students can receive scholarship funding to pursue a master's degree or doctorate at a university outside the United States.

2026–2027 Global Grant Scholarship Opportunity

District 5300 has committed funding for one Global Grant Scholarship for the 2026–2027 Rotary year. A second scholarship may become available if other committed District Foundation funds remain unspent.

Scholarship funding starts at $30,600, supported by District 5300 and The Rotary Foundation. The sponsoring Rotary club is encouraged to contribute an additional $1,000.

Who Can Apply?

To be considered, applicants must meet the following eligibility requirements:

• District connection: Must have lived within District 5300 boundaries for all or most of their K–12 education, and/or graduated from a college or university located within District 5300.
• Graduate studies abroad: Must be pursuing a master's degree or doctorate at a foreign university in a city with a Rotary club.
• Academic and career alignment: High school and college coursework, extracurricular activities, and career goals must align with one of Rotary's Areas of Focus.
• Rotary club sponsorship: Applicants must be sponsored by a Rotary club in District 5300. Each club may submit only one candidate per year.
• Family eligibility: Direct relatives of Rotarians are not eligible to apply.

Your Education. Your Impact.

Rotary Global Grant Scholarships support graduate-level study connected to one or more of Rotary's seven Areas of Focus:

• Promoting Peace
• Fighting Disease
• Providing Clean Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene
• Saving Mothers and Children
• Supporting Education
• Growing Local Economies
• Protecting the Environment

Your academic interests and future career plans should demonstrate how you intend to use your education to make a positive, lasting impact in one of these areas.

Learn more about Rotary's scholarship opportunities at Rotary International – Scholarships.

How to Apply

The application process involves both your sponsoring Rotary club and the District 5300 Global Grant Scholar Committee.

Step 1: Complete the application package

Interested students must complete the Global Grant Scholar Candidate Application and provide the following supporting documents:

• Academic transcripts
• Current CV (Curriculum Vitae)
• Proof of acceptance, either conditional or final, from the foreign university you plan to attend

If your university application is still pending, include documentation or correspondence showing that your application has been submitted and is under consideration.

Step 2: Interview with a sponsoring Rotary club

Your sponsoring club will interview you (either in-person or virtually), and its Board of Directors must approve your candidacy before your application can advance to the District level.

Step 3: Participate in a District interview

Candidates approved by their sponsoring clubs will be interviewed by the District Global Grant Scholar Committee. District interviews are planned for March 2027 and will be conducted virtually.

Important Dates

• February 15, 2027: Clubs begin interviews
• February 28, 2027: Deadline for final application submission.
• March 2027: District scholarship interviews.

All scholarship awards are subject to final approval by Rotary International.

Ready to take the next step? Review the application requirements and connect with a District 5300 Rotary club to explore sponsorship and begin the application process.

The J. Carolyn and Joseph B. McMullin Graduate Scholarship

District 5300 also offers a special graduate scholarship opportunity for eligible graduates of the United States Military Academy at West Point or Claremont McKenna College who wish to pursue postgraduate studies at a university abroad.

Established in 2011 by Joseph McMullin with an initial endowment of $150,000, the J. Carolyn and Joseph B. McMullin Endowed Scholarship honors a longtime Rotarian and District 5300 leader.

Joseph McMullin was a member of the Altadena Rotary Club from the late 1960s through June 2000, serving as club president and later as District Governor in 1988–1989. A World War II veteran, he passed away on September 19, 2019, at the age of 96 and is interred at Arlington National Cemetery.

Four scholarships have been awarded through interest generated by the endowment. Approximately $28,179 is currently available; however, the minimum award is $30,000. No McMullin Scholarship will be awarded until the available funds reach or exceed the minimum scholarship amount.