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.

Clubs and districts have the power to shape the next generation of peace leaders both by recruiting and nominating peace fellows, and by keeping them engaged after the fellowship ends.

Every Rotary year, district governors appoint a District Rotary Peace Fellowship Subcommittee Chair to oversee the Rotary Peace Fellowship application and endorsement process. The subcommittee chairs, along with additional trained Rotary endorsers, interview candidates and submit endorsement decisions. Rotary endorsement is required before The Rotary Foundation can consider a candidate. Clubs help by recommending and coaching qualified candidates.

Step one: Recruit candidates

  • Promote the Rotary Peace Fellowships to qualified candidates using the resources below.
  • Meet with candidates to help them decide which program best matches their interests, experience, and goals.
  • Please note that the certificate program at Chulalongkorn University in Thailand is not accepting applications in 2023, as The Foundation and the university are conducting an evaluation of the program.
  • Refer a candidate to our staff, who will contact them.

Step two: Support candidates

  • Provide feedback on resumes and essays.
  • Complete the online training course on the fellowship.
  • Volunteer to submit a club recommendation.
  • Instruct candidates to submit online applications to The Foundation by 15 May.
  • Submitted applications are reviewed by Rotary Peace Centers staff. All qualified applications move forward for endorsement consideration.

Step three: Interview and endorse candidates (trained Rotary endorsers)

  • District Rotary Peace Fellowship Subcommittee Chairs and Rotary endorsers complete the required endorsement training.
  • Review all qualified applications online, interview candidates and decide whether to endorse.

Step four: Submit endorsements (trained Rotary endorsers)

  • Submit endorsement forms online by 1 July.
  • Receive confirmation that the application and endorsement have been completed (endorsers and candidates).
  • Endorsed candidates will move forward for consideration by the Rotary Peace Centers selection committee.

Endorse

Step five: Receive results

  • The Rotary Peace Centers Committee selects finalists and alternates in October
  • Candidates and endorsers receive results in November

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.

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