How it works

Preliminary applications to take part in the Short Term programme can be made anytime between September and March. However the earlier an application is made the better the chance of finding a suitably matched exchange partner with similar personal and/or family interests.

Shortly after receipt of your online application a representative of Rotary in your area will make contact to discuss the application further and answer any questions you may have. A suitable time will be arranged for an interview to take place in your home where present should be any of your family who will be at home during the period that the student from abroad stays with you.

Following the interview, and if you are accepted into the programme, you will be asked to complete a full application form. Rotary will then try and find a suitable exchange partner for you in your chosen country. Every effort will be made to find a placement for you but an exchange cannot be guaranteed.

If the student coming in to your house from abroad is under 18 years of age on arrival then all members of your family who are over 18 will be required to submit to CRB checks, which are arranged free of charge by Rotary. Your family will also be required to supply the names of independent referees, such as the family doctor or a teacher at your school, who can verify suitability to host a student from abroad. Should you be under 18 years of age the family abroad with whom you will be staying will be required to go through similar checks.

When all the preliminaries are complete and you have accepted the proposed student as your exchange partner you will be asked to make contact with them and their family to get to know them and to make arrangements for the exchange. Your local Rotary Club will have appointed you a mentor who will assist and will be there to answer questions or to help you or your family. An orientation will take place before you leave to prepare you for your exchange and to ensure everything that should be is in place.

If you have any further questions check out our FAQs page or make a Preliminary Application now.