Rotary World Peace Fellowship Program

Beginning in 2021

In these uncertain times, there is a growing demand for well-trained international leaders to promote national and international cooperation and peace throughout their lives, in their careers, and through service activities.  The challenges of the 21st century require people skilled in the art of peacebuilding, diplomacy, mediation, and conflict prevention.  The Rotary World Peace Fellowship Program was developed to meet this very need.  Rotary is seeking non-Rotarian professionals interested in expanding their knowledge in international relations, public administration, sustainable development, peace studies and conflict prevention, or a related field.  Each year, up to 100 Rotary Peace Fellowships (50 master’s degree fellowships and 50 professional development certification fellowships) are offered on a competitive basis at seven prestigious Rotary Centers around the world.

Participation in the master’s degree program provides the following:

  • Two years of Rotary-funded graduate study toward a master’s degree in peacebuilding and conflict prevention at one of five Rotary Centers.
  • Training in the root causes of conflict, theories of international relations, and effective models of cooperation, conflict prevention/resolution, and negotiation.
  • Employment of committed alumni in diplomacy, government, non-governmental organizations, and private corporations.

These Rotary-sponsored master’s degree fellowship programs are offered at the following university centers:

University of Queensland, Australia
International Christian University, Japan
Uppsala University, Sweden
University of Bradford, United Kingdom
Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA
(open only to non-US citizens)

Candidates already working in the field of peacebuilding and conflict studies may opt for the one-year professional development certificate program at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand or Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda.  Both fellowship programs require, at minimum, a bachelor’s degree in a related field as well as three years of relevant work experience for admission to the master’s degree program and five years or related work experience for admission to the professional development certificate.  The certificate program at Makerere University is open only to persons from Africa or who have worked in Africa.

Alumni from the Ambassadorial Scholarship, Group Study Exchange, and the University Teachers programs make excellent candidates for the Rotary Peace Fellowship.

The fellowship award covers all tuition, fees, related educational expenses, room and board, transportation relating to the program of study, and round-trip airfare from the student’s home to the university where the program is offered.  Neither the recommending district or an endorsing club has any financial obligation whatsoever in supporting the peace fellow.

If the fellowship is not for you, you may know someone who would be an excellent candidate.  Please share this information with alumni, as well as business associates, local universities, service organizations, religious institutions, and community groups that may know of individuals interested in conflict prevention and diplomacy.  For eligibility and application information, prospective applicants should click here.

Rotarians and kin of Rotarians are not eligible to apply to this fellowship program. Rotaract members are eligible to apply if they meet the other eligibility requirements.

Candidates applying to begin a two-year master’s program in fall 2021 or the certificate program in 2021-22 should send their completed applications to a local Rotary club no later than May 1, 2020.  After completing a successful interview with members of the local Rotary club, applications that have been endorsed by a local club president and are sent to the following address no later than May 31, 2020:

Melvin Platt
Chair, Rotary District 6080 Peace Fellowship Committee
712 Eastlake Drive
Columbia, MO 65203
[email protected]

Members of the District Peace Fellowship Committee will review the application and assist with revising the application (if needed).  Thereafter, the committee will interview the applicant (preferably in person).  If the applicant is endorsed by the District 6080 Peace Fellowship Committee, an online application must be submitted to Rotary.org no later than July 1, 2020 for those beginning study abroad in fall 2021.

Additional information about the World Peace Fellowship Program is available on this webpage and on the Rotary Foundation website above.  Specific questions can be directed to the above address or to Rotary Foundation personnel at [email protected].