Each year, Rotary awards up to 100 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 fellows into experienced and effective catalysts for peace. The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and all internship and field-study expenses.
In just over a decade, the Rotary Peace Centers have trained more than 1,200 fellows. Many of them now serve as leaders at international organizations or have started their own foundations.
Check out the Rotary Peace Map to see where our alumni are fostering peace around the world.
Our fellowships
Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and 50 for certificate studies at premier universities.
- Master’s degree programs: Accepted candidates study peace and development issues with research-informed teaching and a diverse student body. The program lasts 15 to 24 months and includes a 2-3 month field study, which participants design themselves.
- Professional development certificate program: Experienced leaders gain practical tools for promoting peace and international development during an intensive, 3- month program, which includes 3 weeks of field study and peer learning opportunities with a diverse group.
More than 1,000 peace fellowship alumni are working in over 100 countries.
Is a peace fellowship right for me?
Peace fellowship candidates must meet these requirements:
- Proficiency in English; a second language is strongly recommended
- Demonstrated commitment to international understanding and peace
- Excellent leadership skills
- Master’s degree applicants: minimum three years of related full-time work or volunteer experience, bachelor’s degree
- Certificate applicants: minimum five years of related full-time work or volunteer experience
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Hilary Caldis
“The fellowship creates this hotbed of growth and evolution for peace and development leaders — for people advocating for social change.” — Hilary Caldis, CEO, The Female Voice
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Muyatwa Sitali
“The Rotary Peace Fellowship training in peace and conflict studies helped me understand the risks and vulnerabilities in my work in postconflict and fragile states. I also gained negotiation skills that I use almost daily.” — Muyatwa Sitali, Programs and Outreach Officer, Sanitation and Water for All
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Abdikheir Ahmed
“We are a family of peace fellows; we see ourselves as change agents in the community. And to be a change agent, you need to be able to influence society and put yourself in the loop of decision making.” — Abdikheir Ahmed, Director, Immigration Partnership Winnipeg
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Marie-Paule Attema
“It’s often individuals who have been impacted by conflict themselves who want to make a change in the world. Being given the opportunity to pursue a master’s in peace and conflict studies opened doors I never thought possible in terms of connections in the field of peace and development.” — Marie-Paule Attema, recent graduate of Rotary Peace Center at the University of Queensland
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Charlie Allen
“The fellowship opened up my thinking, created new pathways, provided a new set of tools, and most important, opened up a whole new network of people and resources.” — Charlie Allen, Director of Partnerships, Institute for Economics and Peace
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ElsaMarie D’Silva
“The Rotary Peace Fellowship program came at a point in my life where I wanted to validate my work. Some of the skills I took back from the fellowship include better communication in the nonviolent space. I feel supported by this community and can reach out to any peace fellow in the world.” — ElsaMarie D’Silva, CEO, Red Dot Foundation
Rotary Peace Centers
Master’s program
Duke University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, USA (fact sheet)
Fellows can earn a master's degree in international development policy from Duke or a master’s from various departments at the University of North Carolina. In addition, Fellows at both universities can earn a graduate certificate in international peace and conflict resolution from UNC.
International Christian University, Tokyo, Japan (fact sheet)
The ICU Graduate School of Arts and Sciences is known for its interdisciplinary program and liberal arts approach. Fellows pursue a master’s degree in Peace Studies within the Department of Public Policy and Social Research.
Fellowship recipients may not study at a Rotary Peace Center in their home countries, other than candidates from Thailand, who may attend the center at Chulalongkorn University.
University of Bradford, Bradford, England (fact sheet)
The Department of Peace Studies at Bradford is the largest in the world and offers several master’s degrees related to peace, conflict, security, and development.
University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (fact sheet)
Fellows earn a master’s degree in international studies and peace and conflict studies at the Graduate Centre of Governance and International Affairs.
Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden (fact sheet)
The Department of Peace and Conflict Research offers a master’s degree in social science. It is internationally renowned for its free and globally accessible collection of data related to armed conflict and organized violence.
Certificate program
Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand (fact sheet)
The professional development certificate is awarded to experienced leaders who complete the university’s intensive three-month program in peace and conflict prevention and resolution.
Lauren Coffaro: A Peace Fellow’s Journey (Part 1)
What it took to win a Rotary Peace Fellowship for graduate study at the University of Bradford, England.
Lauren Coffaro: A Peace Fellow’s Journey (Part 2)
A Rotary peace fellow talks about living in England and studying at the University of Bradford.
Lauren Coffaro: A Peace Fellow’s Journey (Part 3)
For her Applied Field Experience, a Rotary peace fellow travels to Guatemala and works with a Nobel laureate.
Help us create the next generation of peacemakers with a gift to the Rotary Peace Centers
Other ways to support us
Advance peace and development around the world by promoting the peace fellowship program.
Your district can support the Rotary Peace Centers by allocating at least $25,000 annually in District Designated Funds. Learn how to become a Peacebuilder District.
Related Stories and Resources
Resources & References
Police officer takes the lessons of the Rotary peace program to the streets