The Rotary Foundation funds annual fellowships for peace and development professionals to study at Rotary Peace Centers. It awards up to 50 master’s fellowships and up to 120 certificate fellowships each year.
Master’s fellows study for 15 to 24 months at partner universities in the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Australia, or Sweden. Certificate fellows complete a one-year blended program linked to centers in Uganda, Türkiye, or India, including online learning, 11 weeks on site, and a nine-month social change initiative.
Benefits & funding
- The fellowship covers tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.
- Master’s fellows complete a self-designed field experience lasting two to three months.
- Certificate fellows complete a two-week online course, ten weeks on site with field studies, a nine-month social change initiative with online sessions, and a one-week on-site capstone.
Eligibility
- Applicants must be proficient in English, hold a bachelor’s degree, and demonstrate commitment to peace and cross-cultural understanding plus leadership potential.
- Master’s applicants need at least three years of full-time relevant peace or development experience, a three-year gap since their latest degree, and must study outside their home country.
- Certificate applicants need at least five years of full-time relevant experience and must connect their work or proposed initiative to Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, or Asia according to the selected center’s route.
- Applicants who are currently enrolled, or will be enrolled in the coming academic year, in an undergraduate or graduate program are ineligible.
- Active Rotary members, employees of Rotary entities, specified close relatives, and certain recent former members are ineligible; Rotaract members who are not Rotary members may apply.
- The fellowship cannot fund doctoral study, and previous Rotary Peace Fellows or Global Grant Scholars may be subject to a three-year waiting period.
Can you apply?
Here's who can apply
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Education required
Bachelor
Appears to have an age limit “up to 50”
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Application process
- 1Choose the master’s or certificate route and research the eligible Rotary Peace Centers; master’s applicants rank two preferred centers when eligible for both.
- 2Prepare a résumé, recommendations, a personal statement video, and essays; master’s applicants also submit transcripts and any required English test scores, while certificate applicants submit a social impact plan.
- 3Optionally connect with a Rotary or Rotaract club for guidance and a recommendation, which Rotary strongly encourages.
- 4Submit the English-language online application by 15 May; submitted applications are final.
- 5Await the November selection result, then apply separately for university admission if selected.
Program timeline
15 May 2026
Application deadline for the now-closed 2027–28 cycle.
Selected candidates are notified of their assigned Rotary Peace Center.
November 2026
February 2027
The 2028–29 application becomes available online; Rotary has not stated an exact opening day.