Rotary’s commitment to peace and the generosity of Rotary members around the world combine to make the Rotary Peace Centers program distinctive and successful.

Each year, Rotary awards up to 130 fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of our peace centers. The Rotary Foundation partners with premier universities to offer master's degrees and professional development certificates in disciplines related to peace and development.

Clubs and districts have the power to shape the next generation of peace leaders both by recruiting and recommending peace fellows, and by keeping them engaged during and after their fellowships.

Every Rotary year, district governors appoint a District Rotary Peace Fellowship Subcommittee Chair to oversee Rotary Peace Fellowship promotion, recruitment, and engagement throughout the district. The subcommittee chairs can appoint subcommittee members to support recruitment of qualified candidates within their district and provide information to prospective candidates about how to apply. Subcommittee members help promote the fellowship program to club members and community organizations.

Clubs and districts can provide a recommendation as part of a candidate's application prior to submission. Educate candidates about Rotary and invite them to club meetings and activities. Help them prepare for the application process. All applications and recommendations are submitted in English.

To learn more, complete the online course "All About Rotary Peace Fellowships."

Rotary and Rotaract members can get involved in the following ways:

Recruit candidates

  • Promote the Rotary Peace Fellowships to qualified candidates using the resources below.
  • Encourage peace and development leaders from your community to apply.
  • Meet with candidates to help them decide which program best matches their interests, experience, and goals.
  • Refer potential candidates to the Rotary Peace Centers staff so they receive more information on how to apply.

Support candidates

  • Help candidates prepare a competitive application. Provide feedback on resumes and essays as they work on their application.
  • Ask candidates to participate in club and district activities to learn more about Rotary.
  • Volunteer to submit a club or district recommendation.
  • Instruct candidates to submit online applications to The Rotary Foundation by 15 May. All applications are considered final upon submission. All materials must be in English.
  • Submitted applications are reviewed by Rotary Peace Centers staff. All qualified applications move forward for further consideration.
  • Together with our partner universities, the Rotary Peace Centers Committee selects finalists and alternates in October, and candidates receive results in November.

Engage fellows

  • Invite current fellows or alumni to speak at club meetings and participate in activities.
  • Work with fellows on peacebuilding projects or support their initiatives with district grants.

Eligibility

Learn more about the eligibility requirements for the master’s degree program and the professional development certificate program.

Rotary Peace Fellowships may not be used for doctoral study. You are not eligible for the fellowship if you are:

  • An active Rotary member or a Rotaract member who is also a Rotary member*
  • An employee of a Rotary club or district, Rotary International, or another Rotary entity
  • A spouse, lineal descendant (child or grandchild by blood or legal adoption), spouse of a lineal descendant, or the parent or grandparent by blood of any living person in the previous categories
  • A former Rotary member, or their relative as described above, within 36 months of the member’s resignation

* Rotaract club members who are not also Rotary club members are eligible to apply.

Rotary Peace Fellows who have completed the certificate program, the master's program, or a Global Grant Scholarship must wait three years between the end date of that program and their intended start date for the fellowship.

Candidates must have a gap of at least three years between the completion of their most recent academic degree program (undergraduate or graduate degree) and their intended start date for the fellowship. Candidates currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program are not eligible to apply.

Resources & reference

Giving opportunities