The Rotary IHE Delft Scholarship, officially the Rotary Scholarship for Water and Sanitation Professionals, pays for a one-year MSc in Water and Sustainable Development at IHE Delft Institute for Water Education in the Netherlands. For the 2026-27 cohort it covered US$36,377 of costs: tuition, accommodation and living costs, insurance and the residence permit. It is funded as a Rotary Foundation global grant and awarded to 10 to 12 water professionals a year.
You need two things to apply: an admission offer from IHE Delft and a local Rotary club willing to sponsor you. The 2026 round closed on 15 April 2026. For the next intake, plan on applying for admission by 1 April 2027 and having your club submit the scholarship form by 15 April 2027. Below is what the award pays, what it leaves out, who cannot apply and how to win over a Rotary club.
Key facts about the Rotary IHE Delft Scholarship
- Partners: The Rotary Foundation and IHE Delft, in a strategic partnership running since 2012.
- Awards so far: about 150 by March 2023, according to IHE Delft.
- Awards per year: 10 to 12, from about 60 applications, according to the 2026-27 application form.
- Programme: MSc in Water and Sustainable Development (12 months, taught in English, in Delft). Joint programmes are not eligible.
- Thematic tracks: Water and Health; Water, Food and Energy; Water Hazards, Risks and Climate; Water Resources and Ecosystems Health.
- Nationality: any country where Rotary has clubs.
- Who applies: you and your sponsoring Rotary club, together, on one form.
- Selection: by the Rotary/IHE Delft committee in the Netherlands, in May.
- After the degree: you must return home and work in water and sanitation.
What the scholarship covers
The 2026-27 form gives a full cost breakdown in US dollars.
| Cost item | Covered? | Amount (US$) |
|---|---|---|
| Tuition (after a 25% discount) | Yes | 18,164 |
| Accommodation and cost of living | Yes | 17,129 |
| Insurance | Yes | 800 |
| Residence permit | Yes | 284 |
| Total covered | 36,377 | |
| International travel | No | 2,340 |
| Thesis fieldwork | No | 995 |
| Other costs | No | 351 |
| Total you or your sponsors must find | 3,686 |
Some listing sites say the award pays your airfare. The 2026-27 form lists international travel as not covered, so plan to raise about US$3,700 yourself or ask your sponsoring club whether it can help.
How the money is raised
The scholarship is a Rotary global grant, and the money is pooled from several Rotary sources:
- Your sponsoring club is encouraged to give, ideally US$5,000 or what it can afford.
- The club is also asked to secure District Designated Funds (DDF) from its district, ideally another US$5,000.
- The Rotary Foundation’s World Fund matches the DDF contribution.
- Rotarians, clubs and districts worldwide donate the rest.
A club that can promise money and a district that can commit DDF make a stronger case. When you approach a club, it helps to know this.
See our guide to Rotary Foundation global grant scholarships, which fund graduate study at other universities too.
Who is eligible
You can be considered if:
- You hold an admission offer for the IHE Delft MSc in Water and Sustainable Development.
- A Rotary club or district in your home community agrees to be your primary sponsor and interviews you.
- Rotary is established in your country.
- The sponsoring district is “qualified” by The Rotary Foundation, and the club has no overdue global grant reports.
Who cannot apply
Rotary’s conflict-of-interest rules exclude:
- Rotarians.
- Spouses and lineal descendants of Rotarians (children, grandchildren), and spouses of those descendants.
- Employees of a Rotary club, district or other Rotary entity, or of Rotary International.
- Certain ancestors of the people above.
Rotaract members can apply if they meet the other conditions.
Admission requirements for the MSc
| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Degree | Bachelor’s at B/B+ (US) or upper second class (UK) level in a relevant field |
| Experience | Several years of related work is an asset, not a requirement |
| IELTS Academic | 6.0 overall and 6.0 in writing |
| TOEFL iBT | 80 overall and 17 in writing |
| English exemption | Nationals of countries including Ghana, India, Kenya, Nigeria, the Philippines, Uganda and Zimbabwe, if their degree was taught in English |
| Motivation statement | Five questions, 600 to 1,000 characters each |
Rotary IHE Delft Scholarship deadline and timeline
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| IHE Delft admission application | 1 April 2027 |
| Club submits the complete scholarship form | 15 April 2027 |
| Selection | May 2027 |
| Host counsellor assigned in the Netherlands | By end of August 2027 |
| Programme starts | Around October or November 2027 |
(based on this year’s date; confirm on the official page when the call opens)
The 2026-27 cohort’s form gave a November 2026 start and October 2027 graduation. IHE Delft’s general admission window for 2027 runs from 1 November 2026 to 1 July 2027, but Rotary applicants need the admission letter well before mid-April.
Your club submits, not you
The committee only considers complete forms sent by the sponsoring club. Late, incomplete or handwritten forms are rejected, so agree a submission date with your club at least two weeks before 15 April.
About the MSc in Water and Sustainable Development
The programme is a full-time, 12-month MSc taught in English on IHE Delft’s campus in Delft. You choose one of four thematic tracks when you apply: Water and Health; Water, Food and Energy; Water Resources and Ecosystems Health; or Water Hazards, Risks and Climate. The programme targets early and mid-career water professionals, which is why the Rotary committee looks so closely at your work and community record. A two-year Research MSc also exists, but the Rotary form names the 12-month MSc and excludes joint programmes, so check with the committee before applying for anything else.
How to apply, step by step
- Apply to IHE Delft: submit your MSc application online from November and aim to have an admission letter by March.
- Find a Rotary club: use Rotary’s Club Finder on my.rotary.org to locate clubs near your home or workplace.
- Attend a meeting: the form encourages candidates to visit the club. Bring a one-page summary of your work and plans.
- Get interviewed: the club interviews you and decides whether to sponsor you.
- Fill in the candidate section: personal details, education, three short essays and the signed agreement.
- Club fills in its section: sponsor contacts, two other committee members, funding pledge, District Governor and District Rotary Foundation Chair contacts, and six club essays.
- Club submits by 15 April: by email to the Rotary/IHE Delft committee, with your CV and IHE Delft admission letter attached.
- District confirms funds: after May selection, the District Rotary Foundation Chair confirms the DDF amount by email.
Documents checklist
| Document | Who provides it |
|---|---|
| Candidate section of the form, typed and signed | You |
| CV or résumé | You |
| IHE Delft admission letter | You (from IHE Delft) |
| Club section, with sponsor and two committee members | Sponsoring club |
| Funding pledge and DDF details | Club and district |
| District Governor and District Rotary Foundation Chair contacts | Club |
| Proof of English, for admission | You, unless exempt |
The form must be completed electronically or typed. Handwritten forms are not accepted.
How to write the three candidate essays
Each essay is 100 to 300 words. They map to Rotary’s values, so answer them in that language.
- Community service and leadership: Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self”. Give one concrete example: a sanitation campaign you led, a borehole project you managed, volunteers you trained.
- Fit with Rotary’s water and sanitation goals: link your work to safe water, sanitation and hygiene access in your community. Use real numbers where you can.
- Your future contribution: name the job or project you will return to and how you will keep working with Rotarians, for example on a club WASH project.
A sample opening (invented for illustration): “In 2023 I helped our municipal water office map 140 shallow wells in Kisumu County; a third tested positive for E. coli. I want to return with the skills to design the treatment that those results demanded.”
What the club’s part of the form asks
Clubs answer six questions: how they selected you, the project’s objectives and beneficiaries, what role Rotarians abroad will play, the club’s interest in water and sanitation, how they will stay in touch with you, and what they will contribute financially. A club with past WASH projects scores better. If the first club you meet has no water projects, try another.
What happens after selection
The committee selects scholars in May. Your sponsoring district then confirms its District Designated Fund contribution by email, and the committee helps your club process the money as a Rotary global grant. A host club in the Netherlands is assigned to you, and Rotarians from District 1600 name a host counsellor by the end of August. Because you cannot defer or cancel after accepting, sort out your passport, employer leave and family plans before you sign the agreement. Keep in touch with your home club during the year; the form asks the club to plan how often it will contact you and who is responsible.
Your obligations as a scholar
- Send a monthly update on your studies to your sponsor and the committee.
- Submit a progress report after six months and a final report within two months of finishing.
- Give at least one talk at a Rotary club or district event in the Netherlands, and one at a district conference at home.
- Do not defer or cancel your studies after accepting, and do not combine the grant with other scholarships.
- Return home after the MSc to work in water and sanitation and stay in touch with Rotary.
Host Rotarians from District 1600 in the Netherlands support scholars, assign a host counsellor and invite you to district events.
Common mistakes
- Approaching a Rotary club in late March, when clubs need weeks to interview, vote and secure district funds.
- Applying when a parent or grandparent is a Rotarian.
- Choosing a joint IHE Delft programme, which is not eligible.
- Assuming flights are paid; budget about US$2,340 for travel.
- Writing generic essays with no community service examples.
- Letting the club send the form without the admission letter attached.
How it compares with other options
| Scholarship | Level | What it pays | Deadline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rotary IHE Delft Scholarship | MSc (12 months) | About US$36,400 of costs | 15 Apr 2027 |
| Erasmus Mundus scholarship | Joint master’s | €1,400 a month for up to 24 months, no tuition | Varies by programme |
| NL Scholarship and Dutch government options | Bachelor’s and master’s | €5,000 once | Varies by university |
| Scholarships for African students | Various | Our roundup of fully funded awards | Various |
Who should apply, and who should not
Apply if you already work in water, sanitation or hygiene, can show community service, live near an active Rotary club and want to go back to your job at home with better skills.
Look elsewhere if you are related to a Rotarian, want a two-year or joint master’s, plan to stay in Europe after graduating or cannot cover about US$3,700 in uncovered costs.
FAQ
Is the Rotary IHE Delft Scholarship fully funded?
Mostly. It covered US$36,377 for 2026-27, including tuition, living costs, insurance and the residence permit, but not international travel, fieldwork or small extra costs of about US$3,686 in total.
How do I get a Rotary club to sponsor me?
Find a club near you with Rotary’s Club Finder, attend a meeting, explain your water and sanitation work and ask to be interviewed. The club decides whether to sponsor you and submits the form.
What is the deadline for the Rotary IHE Delft Scholarship?
Apply for IHE Delft admission by 1 April 2027 and make sure your club submits the complete scholarship form by 15 April 2027.
Can children of Rotarians apply for the Rotary IHE Delft Scholarship?
No. Rotarians, their spouses, children and grandchildren, and Rotary employees are not eligible. Rotaract members can apply.
Sources and updates
Checked on 25 October 2026 against the official 2026-27 Rotary Scholarship for Water and Sanitation at IHE Delft application form (published by IHE Delft in November 2025), IHE Delft’s Rotary scholarship page and March 2023 news release, and IHE Delft’s admission and English language requirement pages. The 1 April admission date is based on the 2025 and 2026 rounds as reported by Scholars4Dev and After School Africa. We compared this guide with the Scholars4Dev listing, which still shows 2025 dates and says airfare is covered. We will update this page when the 2027-28 form is released.
I am Jude Chinecherem, a final-year MBBS student at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. I know what it feels like to want an education your family cannot afford. When my parents could not pay for my schooling, I had to learn how to find scholarships and work the system out on my own, with nobody to guide me. I came out the other side, and now I share everything I learned so the next student does not have to figure it out alone. This is the advice I wish someone had given me back then.
