The Rotary Peace Fellowship, funded by The Rotary Foundation, develops the capacity of peace and development professionals by funding study at one of the Rotary Peace Centers at leading universities worldwide. Each year up to ~50 fellows pursue a master's degree and ~80 pursue a professional development certificate. The master's fellowship covers tuition and fees, accommodation, round-trip transportation, and required field-study/internship expenses for a degree of ~15–24 months at partner universities (such as Duke/UNC, Uppsala, Queensland, and others). The certificate program is a shorter, ~1-year experience for working professionals at peace centers including Makerere and Chulalongkorn. Applicants apply through a local Rotary district, which endorses candidates, and The Rotary Foundation makes the final global selection. The fellowship targets people with a demonstrated commitment to peace and a track record in relevant fields.
Submit the global application to The Rotary Foundation, and connect with your local Rotary district for endorsement, by the annual deadline (~mid-May).
You apply through your local Rotary district (which must endorse you) and then to The Rotary Foundation's global competition. Certificate applicants typically need more years of professional experience than master's applicants.
Any country
The Rotary Foundation selects fellows globally from district-endorsed candidates, assessing commitment to peace and development, professional and academic record, leadership, and the potential to apply learning to real-world peacebuilding. The master's and certificate tracks have distinct experience expectations.
The Rotary Foundation is the charitable arm of Rotary International, funding humanitarian and educational programs worldwide, including the Rotary Peace Fellowships. Through its global network of Rotary Peace Centers, it trains peace and development professionals to become catalysts for peace in their communities and careers.
Answers below are best-effort estimates from the most recent application cycle. Values marked ~ or (est.) may shift year-to-year — confirm specifics on the official scholarship page.
A fully-funded fellowship from The Rotary Foundation for peace and development professionals to study at a Rotary Peace Center — up to ~50 master's and ~80 certificate fellows each year worldwide.
Professionals with a demonstrated commitment to peace and development and relevant work experience; master's applicants also need a strong academic background and English proficiency.
Tuition and fees, accommodation, round-trip transportation, and required field-study/internship expenses, for a ~15–24 month master's or a ~1-year certificate program.
A master's degree fellowship (~15–24 months) and a professional development certificate (~1 year, for mid-career professionals) at different Rotary Peace Center universities.
Submit the global application to The Rotary Foundation and connect with your local Rotary district, which must endorse you, by the ~mid-May deadline.
The global application deadline is typically ~mid-May for study beginning the following academic year. Confirm the current date on Rotary's website.
At Rotary Peace Center partner universities, which have included Duke/UNC, Uppsala, the University of Queensland, Makerere, and Chulalongkorn, among others.
Competitive — district endorsement plus a global selection means strong peace/development experience and a clear purpose are essential.
No — in fact active Rotary members and certain Rotary-affiliated individuals are generally not eligible. You do, however, apply through a local Rotary district.
A shorter (~1-year) professional development certificate for experienced, mid-career peace and development practitioners, with intensive on-site sessions and applied learning.
Relevant peace/development work experience — more is expected for the certificate (mid-career) than for the master's, which also weighs academic strength.
Fellows join a global network of Rotary Peace Fellows and are expected to advance peace and development in their careers and communities.