Important notice:
The Rotary Long Term Exchange programme is what it says, an exchange programme, and in return for hosting a student from the UK we are expected to host a student from that country. Since April 2009 the UK Borders Agency have restricted entry to the UK to a maximum of six months for exchange students attending state maintained schools, and who are not European Union nationals. If you wish to exchange with a country outside of the European Union then the restriction on entry to the UK may mean that an exchange with your chosen country is not possible unless our colleagues in that country have a student wishing to exchange with the UK who holds an EU passport. This restriction does not apply to the Republic of Ireland.
Rotary Clubs in RIBI (Great Britain and Ireland) sponsor students currently in Years 11- 13 (5th & 6th Form), to live and study at a similar level in a foreign country where they will be hosted with selected host families, normally for up to twelve months. In return, a student from the “exchange” country will be hosted, for a similar period, by the Rotary Club which has sponsored the outbound student.
If you are the exchange student: during your stay abroad, you will be become an integral member of your host family and will be treated by your host parents exactly as they would treat their own sons or daughters. A Rotarian from the hosting Rotary Club is appointed as your Mentor and whenever you have a question or concern during your exchange s/he will be there to help you.
You, or your family, will be expected to help identify families who would be willing to host an inbound student for around three months. Your own family may be one of the families but does not have to be. Nominated host families will be interviewed and expectations and obligations will be explained to them.
Prospective host families will be required to submit to CRB checks and supply independent referees who can verify their suitability to host a student from abroad. All nominated families should live within reasonable travelling distance of the high school which the inbound student will attend. Host families do not receive any payment but neither will the families hosting you be paid.
Applications must be made before the end of October for the following academic year. The sponsoring Rotary club will interview prospective exchange students and their parents. Selection of students for the available places and sponsorship will take place early in the new year. Every effort will be made to place selected students in their country of choice but this cannot be guaranteed and successful applicants may be offered a placement elsewhere. Orientations to prepare students for their exchange year take place in March/April and students normally travel to the host country in August or September.
There are many young people around the world dreaming of coming to UK & Ireland, so you can feel good that, by choosing to do a Rotary Youth Exchange, not only will you be able to fulfil one of your dreams but you will also enable someone else’s dream to come true.
Why not check out Facebook where you will find many Youth Exchange sites belonging to Rotary Districts and past exchangers all over the world – they are always happy to tell you what a great time they had.
If you have any further questions check out our FAQs page or, complete a Registration of Interest, now.