Rotary Peace Fellows are leaders promoting national and international cooperation, peace, and the successful resolution of conflict throughout their lives, in their careers, and through service activities. Fellows can earn either a master’s degree in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies, conflict resolution, or a related field, or a professional development certificate in peace and conflict resolution.
How to apply
Interested candidates must apply for Rotary Peace Fellowships through their local Rotary club. Use the Club Locator to find Rotary club contact information. If your hometown doesn’t have a Rotary club, try entering the names of nearby cities. You also can try searching for Rotary club websites. If you have difficulty finding or contacting a Rotary club in your area, contact Rotary Peace Centers staff for assistance.
Fellowship types
Applicants can choose from two Rotary Peace Fellowship options:
| Master’s degree | Professional development certificate |
| Six centers, seven universities | One center, one university |
| 15- to 24-month course | 3-month course |
| Study timelines differ according to each university’s schedule | Two sessions per year (January-April and June-August) |
| Up to 10 new fellows at each center each year; up to 60 fellows per year | Up to 25 new fellows in each session; up to 50 fellows per year |
| Two- to three-month practical internship during summer break | Two to three weeks of field study incorporated into curriculum |
| Building the leaders of tomorrow | Strengthening the leaders of today |
Eligibility criteria
- A strong commitment to international understanding and peace demonstrated through professional and academic achievements and personal and community service activities
- A bachelor’s degree or commensurate experience as a minimum, with strong academic achievement
- A minimum of three years’ combined paid or unpaid full-time relevant work experience (master’s degree) or five years’ relevant work experience with current full-time employment in a mid- to upper-level position (professional development certificate)
- Proficiency in a second language (master’s degree) or in English (professional development certificate)
- Strong leadership skills
Individuals applying immediately after obtaining an undergraduate degree are generally not strong candidates for Rotary Peace Fellowships. People with disabilities and members of Rotaract clubs are eligible and encouraged to apply.
Individuals who previously participated in the Ambassadorial Scholarships program, or were Peace Fellows in the professional development program at Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand, are required to wait a minimum of three full years before applying for a master’s degree fellowship.
Individuals who participated in the Rotary Peace Centers master’s degree program are not eligible for the professional development program at Chulalongkorn University.
The following people are ineligible for master’s degree Rotary Peace Fellowships but may apply for the professional development certificate on an exception basis:
- Active and honorary Rotarians
- Employees of a Rotary club, RI district, Rotary International, or other Rotary entity
- Spouses, lineal descendants (children or grandchildren by blood or legal adoption), spouses of lineal descendants, or ancestors (parents or grandparents by blood) of any living person in the categories above
- Former Rotarians and their relatives as described above (within 36 months of resignation)
Such individuals, if accepted, will be responsible for paying for all program-related costs, health insurance, and airfare.
Application process
The fellowship application and selection process consists of three levels: club, district, and world. There is no limit to the number of qualified candidates a club and/or district may submit to the world competition.
Club level
Individual Rotary clubs initially screen and select fellowship applications to forward to the district level for competition. Club deadlines may be as early as March or as late as June for Rotary Peace Fellowships and vary by club district deadlines.
District level
Districts must allow sufficient time for interview and selection in order to meet the 1 July deadline for candidate submission to The Rotary Foundation. Because application deadlines vary by club and district, applicants must contact their local clubs and districts for specific deadline information.
World level
Each Rotary district submits candidates’ applications to the Foundation on or before 1 July. The world-level selection committee includes Trustees-appointed Rotarians and representatives from the university partners. The Foundation will inform candidates and districts about final selection decisions in November.
For more information, contact your local Rotary club or the Rotary Peace Centers Department at The Rotary Foundation.