Rotary Scholarship for Pacific Water and Sanitation Professionals

Background

The strategic partnership between and the International Water Centre (IWC) at Griffith University, aims to address the world’s water and sanitation crisis by increasing the number of trained professionals to devise, plan, and implement solutions in developing and emerging countries. The IWC is a key capacity building organisation in the global water sector and dedicated to providing education and training to promote whole-of-water cycle approaches to integrated water management around the world.

Through this partnership, scholarships are awarded annually for graduate students from Pacific Island countries to study in the Master of Integrated Water Management program managed by the IWC at Griffith University’s Brisbane South Campus. Eligible countries are from Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia (excludes Hawaii) and can be checked by referring to the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC).

About the Program

You will be studying in the Master of Integrated Water Management, which is a one-and-a-half-year program. You will spend one year (2 trimesters) at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia and half a year (1 trimester) working on an applied research project in your home country.

The Master of Integrated Water Management creates water leaders by drawing on international teaching and research from many fields to provide a trans-disciplinary, whole-of-water-cycle approach to water management.

The program aims to build the capacity of future leaders in water management, with an emphasis on professionals working in Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) and development, urban water management, across water, land and people and in water finance for the achievement of sustainable development goals.

The program equips students with practical tools and skills for developing and managing the adoption of innovative solutions to local, regional, national and international water management issues. Students will develop the strategic, managerial and technical skills they need to advance in the water sector.

Award value

The Scholarship applies to 12 months (2 trimester) of tuition fee and stipend for study in Australia plus a further 6 month (1 trimester) of tuition fee and stipend for study in their home country upon meeting the ongoing enrolment requirements. Allowance for international travel between Australia and the home country, Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC), health checks and visa application fees is made in the funding provided.

Duration

The Scholarship applies to 12 months (2 trimester) study in Australia plus a further 6 months (1 trimester) study in their home country.

Start

Trimester 1, 2026 for 1.5 years.

ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible you must:

be a citizen of a Pacific Island Country Check eligibility by referring to the Standard Australian Classification of Countries (SACC) including Melanesia, Micronesia and Polynesia (excludes Hawaii).
have a recognised bachelor degree (or higher) in any discipline with a minimum grade point average of 4.0 using a 7.0 scale.

have a minimum of 2 years full-time (or equivalent) relevant professional experience. Professional Experience includes roles within Government Agency, Consulting Firm, NGO, Water Utility, NRM group, Mining/resources company. Roles as Consultant, Project officer/manager, Project delivery (analyst, scientist), Environmental Scientist, Engineer, Planner.

satisfy all academic and English language entry requirements for entry into the chosen program. A list of countries exempt from providing an IELTS test can be found here.
be a new commencing student who has received an offer to study by the scholarship closing date.
be a full-time student starting in 2026.

THE PROCESS – HOW TO APPLY

STEP 1:

Familiarise yourself with information about the Scholarship offer and the Master of Integrated Water Management Program.

STEP 2:

Apply to study for the Master of Integrated Water Management program (Pathway 2) at Griffith University.

To avoid delays, be prepared and have the following documents ready to upload to your online application:

Certified copies of your academic transcript and award certificate for a recognised bachelor degree (or higher) in any discipline.
Evidence and details of work experience relevant to water and sanitation. Provide your CV, and letter from your employer with your position title, dates of employment and an outline of duties performed. See requirements in eligibility section above.
If you don’t satisfy the English language entry requirements for entry into the chosen program, provide a certified copy of your English test results. A list of countries exempt from providing an IELTS test can be found here.
A copy of your current valid passport or official photo identification.
In the Financial support section of your on-line application, answer “yes” to the statement: “I will be sponsored and add the sponsor’s name which is “Rotary Scholarship for Pacific Water and Sanitation Professionals”.

If your application is successful, you will receive a Letter of Offer from Griffith University.

Apply to study

STEP 3

You will need a Rotary Club to nominate you for a Rotary scholarship. While you wait for your Letter of Offer from Griffith University , search for your nearest Rotary club and ask them to nominate you. Once you have found a nominator/sponsor, you and the Club are required to complete the scholarship application using the button provided below to download the application form.

After completing the form, the sponsoring Rotary Club submits your application to the Rotary/IWC selection committee for assessment. Successful applications will then be submitted to The Rotary Foundation for formal endorsement.

Apply for the scholarship

IMPORTANT DATES

Scholarship application closing date for Trimester 1 2026 is 31^st August 2025. Please be aware that to be eligible to submit your Scholarship application you will need to have received an offer of entry to the Masters from Griffith University (this can be an offer conditional upon finance).
Receive outcome by: 11^th October 2025

RECEIVING THE SCHOLARSHIP

The Scholarship will be applied upon award, with fees paid by the census date of each Trimester, upon meeting the ongoing enrolment requirements (see below), and living stipend paid fortnightly.

TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The recipient may hold the Scholarship subject to:

The Scholarship applies 12 months (2 trimester) of tuition fee and stipend for study in Australia plus a further 6 month (1 trimester) of tuition fee and stipend for study in their home country upon meeting the ongoing enrolment requirements (see below).

Students must be international fee paying to qualify for the scholarship and each scholarship deduction. Any change from International Fee-Paying student status will result in the scholarship being withdrawn.
Student must be enrolled in and successfully complete on-campus study for 1 year (two semesters covering 80CP of courses) and then complete 6 months (1 semester covering 40CP of final project course) in their home country
Deferral of the Scholarship is not permitted.

Ongoing enrolment requirements

Students must maintain their enrolment according to their visa requirements.
Students must remain enrolled in the program for which the scholarship offer was made.
Should a student withdraw or cancel for any reason, the scholarship amount is non-refundable.
To maintain scholarship eligibility, students must pass all the requirements for each trimester of studies and successfully progress on to enrol in the next required trimester. A minimum cumulative GPA of 4.0 on a 7.0 point grading scale must be maintained to qualify for the tuition fee deduction in the following trimester of enrolment.