Rotary Peace Fellowships Program 2023

Do you want to make a difference in your community? Rotary’s programs are developing the next generation of leaders, providing funding to make the world a better place, and making peace a priority and our programs are not just for club members. Each year, Rotary awards fully funded fellowships for dedicated leaders from around the world to study at one of our peace centers. Through academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities, the Rotary Peace Centers program develops the capacity of peace and development professionals to become effective catalysts for peace. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.

Since the program began in 2002, the Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 1,600 fellows who now work in over 140 countries. Many serve as leaders in governments, NGOs, education and research institutions, peacekeeping and law enforcement agencies and international organizations like the United Nations and the World Bank. The Rotary Peace Fellowship is designed for leaders with work experience in peace and development. Our fellows are committed to community and international service and the pursuit of peace. Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and up to 40 for certificate studies at premier universities. You choose the program that’s right for you;

1. Master’s degree programs

Accepted candidates study peace and development issues with research-informed teaching and a diverse student body. The programs last 15 to 24 months and include a two- to three-month field study, which participants design themselves.

Eligibility of the Master’s degree programs

Master’s degree candidates must:

• Be proficient in English
• Have a bachelor’s degree
• Have a strong commitment to cross-cultural understanding and peace as shown through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service
• Have the potential for leadership
• Have at least three years of full-time relevant experience in peace or development work

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.

• Professional development certificate program

During the one-year blended learning program, experienced peace and development professionals with diverse backgrounds gain practical skills to promote peace within their communities and across the globe. Fellows complete field studies and design and carry out a social change initiative. This program is intended for working professionals. Fellows earn a post-graduate diploma upon completion of the program.

Eligibility of the Professional development certificate program

Certificate candidates must;

• Be proficient in English
• Have a bachelor’s degree
• Have at least five years of full-time relevant experience in peace or development work
• Have a strong commitment to cross-cultural understanding and peace as shown through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service
• Demonstrate leadership skills 
• Be able to explain how their plan to promote peace aligns with Rotary’s mission 
• Candidates for Makerere University: Either be from Africa, have worked in Africa, or work with African communities or initiatives outside the continent.

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.

Application Timeline

We are now accepting Rotary Peace Fellowship applications for the 2024-25 academic year. Candidates have until 15 May to submit applications to The Foundation. Rotary endorsers must submit endorsements to The Foundation by 1 July. 

Our approach

We see peace not as an abstract concept but as a living, dynamic expression of human development. Peacebuilding is a cornerstone of our mission as a humanitarian service organization and is one of Rotary’s areas of focus — the channels of activity through which our members make their mark on the world. Our programs, grants and fellowships focus on creating environments where peace can be built and maintained. Rotary believes that if concerned citizens work together to create peace locally, lasting change can happen globally.

Apply Here: https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/peace-fellowships