The application window for the Rotary Peace Fellowship for the academic year 2024-25 is now open. Interested candidates can submit their applications to The Rotary Foundation until May 15. Rotary endorsers must send their endorsements to The Rotary Foundation by 1st July.
Qualification Requirements Rotary Peace Fellowships
The Rotary Peace Fellowship is not available for doctoral studies, and the following individuals are not eligible to apply:
- Active members of Rotary or Rotaract members who are also Rotary members.*
- Employees of Rotary clubs or districts, Rotary International, or other Rotary entities.
- Spouses, children or grandchildren (by blood or legal adoption), spouses of children or grandchildren, or parents or grandparents (by blood) of anyone in the aforementioned categories.
- Former Rotary members and their aforementioned relatives (within 36 months of their resignation).
- Rotaract club members who are not also Rotary club members are eligible to apply.
- Applicants for the fellowship must have a minimum of three years between the completion of their most recent undergraduate or graduate degree program and their intended start date for the fellowship. Individuals currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program are not eligible to apply.
- Rotary Peace Fellows who have completed the certificate program, Master’s program, or a Global Grant Scholarship must wait three years between the end date of that program and their intended start date for the fellowship
Steps to Apply Rotary Peace Fellowships
To ensure your application receives consideration for the Rotary Peace Fellowship, follow these steps:
- First, review the qualification requirements, as there are several groups of people who are not eligible for the fellowship, and certain academic qualifications required.
- Next, research the curriculum and programs offered at each of the Rotary Peace Centers. You will need to rank your two preferred centers for the Master’s program if you meet the eligibility criteria for both.
- Engaging with Rotary is optional, but it is highly recommended to connect with a club in your area using the Club Finder. It’s a great way to learn more about Rotary’s work in your community and globally.
- Submit your application by the deadline of 15 May, including a resume, academic/professional recommendations, essays, transcripts (for master’s only), English language proficiency test scores (for master’s only), and social impact plan (for certificate only). All materials must be in English.
- After submitting your application, it will be reviewed to ensure that it meets the qualification and eligibility criteria. If it does, it will be assigned to a trained Rotary endorser, who will contact you to schedule an interview during the month of June. The Rotary endorser will then submit an endorsement decision for your application by 1 July.
- Results of the selection process will be announced via email in November. If you are selected for the fellowship, you will be informed which Peace Center you will be attending.
- Finally, if you are applying for the Master’s program, you will need to apply for admission to the university where your Peace Center is located. Keep in mind that being selected for the fellowship does not automatically guarantee admission to the university.
Procedure for Selection
The Rotary Peace Centers Committee, comprising of Rotarians and university representatives, screens the applications and selects the finalists between July and October. The committee uses the following criteria to evaluate the applications:
- Commitment to peace and development
- Leadership potential
- Compatibility with fellowship objectives and fit with Rotary
- Academic record and compatibility with the preferred university program
- Feasibility and impact of Social Change Initiative (certificate only)
The selection process is highly competitive, and only a limited number of candidates are selected. The decision of the committee is final and cannot be appealed.
If you are selected for a fellowship, you will be notified via email in November. You will also be informed about the Peace Center where you will be studying. Note that selection for the fellowship does not guarantee admission to the university. You will need to apply separately for admission to the university.
We wish you the best of luck with your application and hope that the Rotary Peace Fellowship can help you achieve your goals of promoting peace and development in the world.