Rotary Peace Fellowships

Peace Fellowships

Are you looking to make a significant impact on the world by promoting tolerance and cooperation? Each year, Rotary funds some of the world’s most dedicated and brightest professionals to study at our Rotary Peace Centers. These fellows are committed to the advancement of peace, and often go on to serve as leaders in national governments, NGOs, the military, law enforcement, and international organizations such as the United Nations and World Bank.

What are Rotary Peace Fellowships?

Each year, Rotary selects individuals from around the world to receive fully funded academic fellowships at one of our peace centers. These fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship/field study expenses. Two types of peace fellowships are available.

Master's degree

We offer master’s degree fellowships at premier universities in fields related to peace and conflict resolution and prevention. Programs last 15­–24 months and require a practical internship of 2–3 months during the academic break. Each year we award up to 50 master’s fellowships from these institutions:

• Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, US
• International Christian University, Japan
• University of Bradford, UK
• University of Queensland, Australia
• Uppsala University, Sweden

Professional development certificate

For those with more extensive experience in peace-related fields, we offer a 3-month program in peace and conflict resolution at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. This program incorporates 2–3 weeks of field study. We award up to 50 certificates each year.

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Peace profile: Katia de Mello Dantas

Katia is policy director for Latin America and the Caribbean at the International Center for Missing and Exploited Children in Brazil. "The tools and techniques I've learned—from a simple stakeholder analysis to the much more complex dynamics of international aid—are all applied on a daily basis to my job." Katia was a 2007-09 endowed fellow at the Rotary Peace Center at Duke/UNC.

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Is a peace fellowship right for me?

We select fellows from around the world, based on their ability to have a significant, positive impact on the world. To be considered for a peace fellowship, we look for:

• A strong commitment to international understanding and peace, demonstrated through professional and academic achievements and personal and community service
• A bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience (at a minimum) with strong academic achievement
• Relevant work experience:
  • For master’s degree—3 years paid or unpaid
  • For professional development certificate—5 years and current full-time employment in a mid- to upper-level position
• Proficiency in English for both fellowship types and in a second language for master’s degree

What are the restrictions?

The following are not eligible for master’s degree fellowships:

• Active and honorary Rotarians
• Employees of a Rotary club, Rotary 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)

Additionally, fellows in the professional development program or participants in Rotary’s former Ambassadorial Scholarships program must wait at least three years before they can apply for the master’s degree fellowship.

How can I apply?

To apply for a peace fellowship, download the application, complete the applicant portion, and submit it to a Rotary club or district for endorsement. The deadline for submitting applications to Rotary International is 1 July, while the deadline for submitting to a local club can vary (generally March–June).

For more information

• Contact Rotary Peace Centers staff
• Visit our Facebook page