Rotary Foundation awards 130 fully-funded fellowships annually for dedicated leaders with work experience in peace and development. Applications are now open for the 2025-26 Rotary Peace Fellowship for Master and Professional Development Applicants who want to pursue their studies at one of the Rotary Peace Centers. At last, the fellows will get academic training, practice, and global networking opportunities to develop them as effective peace catalysts.

International applicants who want to pursue their Master’s degree or want to participate in a short-term professional development program can apply to Rotary Peace Fellowship 2025-26.

Please check the detailed information at the relevant Rotary Peace Fellowship post for a short-term professional development program with a certificate.

Important Details

Application Deadline: 15 May 2024

Endorsements Submission: 1 July 2024

Eligible Country: All

Gender: Male/Female

Number of Fellowships: 130 in total (50 for Master’s degree and 80 for professional development certificate)

Duration:

• Master’s Degree: 15 to 24 months, including 2-3-month field study along with the final thesis
• Professional Development: 1-year blended program promoting peace

Benefits of Rotary Peace Fellowship

By applying to this Fellowship, fellows will obtain the opportunity to:

• Develop their skills in:
  • Conflict resolution
  • Negotiation
  • Cross-cultural awareness
  • Peace and conflict research
  • Leadership
  • Public speaking
• Expand their global network of tomorrow’s leaders
• Gain academic training

Additionally, the Fellowship covers the following expenses:

• Tuition and fees
• Accommodation
• Round-trip travel cost
• Internship and field study expenses

Host Institutions and Countries

Where will fellows get their Master’s degrees?

Applicants who apply for a master’s degree program through Rotary Peace Fellowship 2025-26 will study at any of the following universities. Namely, these institutions have tightened their partnership with the Rotary Foundation:

• North Carolina University in Chapel Hill, USA
• Duke University at Chapel Hill, USA
• Bradford University in England
• International Christian University in Japan
• University of Queensland, Australia
• Uppsala University, Sweden

Locations where fellows will get the certificate program:

• Bahçeşehir University (BAU), Istanbul, Turkey
• Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda

Who can apply for the Rotary Peace Fellowship?

Following the set of criteria, applicants can apply for the 2025-26 Rotary Peace Fellowship:

Eligibility Criteria for the Master’s Degree

Eligibility Criteria for the Professional Development Certificate Program:

• Mid-career peace and development leader with at least five years of relevant experience
• Must have a social change initiative promoting peace and development in the program region
• A clear vision of how the fellowship and network will advance peace work and increase the impact
• Intended for working professionals, it requires 11 weeks of on-site participation
• Upon completion, fellows earn a postgraduate diploma
• Commitment to sharing work and staying connected with Rotary members

Certificate candidates must also:

• Proficient in English
• Hold a bachelor’s degree
• Possess at least five years of full-time relevant experience in peace or development work
• Strong commitment to cross-cultural understanding and peace, demonstrated through achievements and service
• Leadership skills
• Alignment of peace promotion plan with Rotary’s mission

Makerere University Candidates:

• From Africa, worked in Africa, worked with African communities/initiatives, or demonstrated interest in peacebuilding approaches in the region

Bahçeşehir University Candidates:

• From Middle East/North Africa, working in the region, working with related communities/initiatives globally, or demonstrating interest in peacebuilding approaches in the region

Additional Requirements:

• Minimum 3-year gap between completion of most recent academic degree program and fellowship start date
• Rotary Peace Fellows must wait 3 years after completing the master’s degree program or Global Grant Scholarship.
• Encouragement for applicants from diverse backgrounds and disabilities
• Ineligibility for active Rotary members or employees of Rotary entities

Required Documents for Rotary Peace Fellowship

The following are the required documents for the Rotary Peace Fellowship:

• Resume
• Academic and professional recommendations
• Personal video statements and essays
• Transcripts from postsecondary colleges and universities attended (master’s only)
• English language proficiency test scores ( IELTS or TOEFL if required) (master’s only)
• Social impact plan (certificate only)

Selection Process

Following are the selection process highlights for the 2025-26 Rotary Peace Fellowship:

• Applications screened for eligibility
• Qualified applications undergo further review
• Rotary Peace Centers Committee, including Rotary members and university representatives, evaluates top candidates and selects finalists
• Finalists notified in November

Criteria for Review:

• Qualification based on eligibility requirements
• English proficiency
• Commitment to peace and development
• Leadership potential
• Alignment with fellowship objectives and Rotary values
• Academic record and compatibility with preferred university program
• Feasibility and impact of Social Change Initiative (certificate only)

Application Procedure

Submit a complete application package, including all materials mentioned above, by midnight on 15 May, per the candidate’s local time zone.

Apply Now

Please visit the official website for more information about the Rotary Peace Fellowship.

Other Opportunities to Apply: 

Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship by the United Nations

University of Oslo Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Earth and Planetary Sciences

H.J. Heinz Fellowships of the University of Pittsburgh for Developing Countries

The Anant Fellowship for Climate Action 2024