American Rolex Scholarship

Scholarship Sponsored by Our World-Underwater

At present, two scholarships are available: one for North America and another for Europe. These scholarships offer a practical introduction to underwater and other water-related activities for young individuals contemplating a career in a water-related field. A scholar is chosen from each region and spends about a year working closely with current leaders in underwater disciplines. Scholars primarily travel within their region, but may also have opportunities to explore the underwater world globally. The experiences they may participate in can range from field studies, underwater research, scientific expeditions, laboratory tasks, equipment testing and design, photographic training, and other specialized tasks.

During the one-year period between the annual meetings of the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society™, scholars engage in activities related to their chosen disciplines. These experiences can last from a few days to over a month. After each experience, the scholar moves on to the next, resulting in extensive travel throughout the scholarship year.

Who is Eligible to Apply?

Criteria for Scholarship Eligibility

• Applicants must be between 21 and 26 years old at the time of the application deadline (31 January 2026 for all regions)
• Applicants must be citizens of the region relevant to the Scholarship (North America or Europe)
• Applicants should not have earned a graduate degree (such as Masters, Doctorate or similar) by June 1st of the scholarship year, and should not have chosen a clearly defined career path
• Applicants must have a high academic standing
• Applicants must be fluent in English
• Applicants must be certified as a Rescue Diver or equivalent with a minimum of 25 scuba dives logged in the past two years
• Applicants must provide evidence of adequate health insurance for the duration of the scholarship year
• Applicants must submit a completed diving medical history form (found in the application). A comprehensive diving medical evaluation will be required for all scholars.
• If selected as a scholar, applicants will be required to pass a NOAA or equivalent physical.

Important Announcement: The Australasian region will not be offering a scholarship in 2025. This decision has been taken to allow time to reinforce our volunteer network and support base within the region, ensuring the long-term viability of the program. We remain dedicated to providing valuable opportunities for young individuals passionate about the underwater world and will use this time to regroup and build a stronger foundation for the future of the Australasian Scholarship.

The following criteria will be used to evaluate scholarship applicants:

Diving History: Does the applicant have sufficient experience to safely dive throughout the year? Does the statement from their DSO or dive instructor indicate that they are a safe, confident, and comfortable scuba diver and capable of safely participating in the wide variety of diving experiences they may encounter during the scholarship year? If the applicant does not have Rescue Diver certification, is there equivalent training and experience, or other relevant factors that should make them eligible for an exemption?

Experience: Does the applicant have experience with fieldwork, professional diving, research (lab or field) or other relevant experience that would prepare them for the scholarship year? Conversely, are they early enough in their career that they would still benefit from the experiences offered during the scholarship year? Would the scholarship significantly impact their career path, or have they already had access to most or all of the experiences they might encounter during the scholarship year?

Communication Skills: Did the applicant effectively communicate in their statements (considering if English is not their first language or if they have additional support needs)? Based on their statements, do they have the potential to excel at communicating during the scholarship year? (e.g. public outreach, blogs, videos, presentations).

Leadership & Impact: Does the applicant demonstrate leadership potential and the ability to effect change in their field or the underwater world at large? Do they show the ability to represent the Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society™?

Recommendations & Potential: Does this applicant come highly recommended by a diverse group of referees (e.g. academics and non-academics)? Are there examples provided in the letters of recommendation, resume, statements and elsewhere that show they have the potential to excel during a challenging year of travel, educational experiences, and public outreach?

Contributing New Perspectives: Does this applicant bring valuable insights, experiences, worldviews, perspectives, interests, or background that aren't currently well-represented in the Scholarship Society and/or the field?