Eligibility Criteria and the Application Process

Applicants are expected to demonstrate:

  • A strong commitment to international understanding and peace demonstrated through professional and academic achievements and personal and community service activities
  • A bachelor¿s degree or commensurate experience as a minimum, with strong academic achievement
  • A minimum of three years¿ combined paid or unpaid full-time relevant work experience (master¿s degree) or five years¿ relevant work experience with current full-time employment in a mid- to upper-level position (professional development certificate)
  • Proficiency in a second language (master¿s degree) or in English (professional development certificate)
  • Strong leadership skills

Individuals applying immediately after obtaining an undergraduate degree are generally not strong candidates for Rotary Peace Fellowships. People with disabilities and members of Rotaract clubs are eligible and encouraged to apply.

Individuals who previously participated in the Ambassadorial Scholarships program, or were  Peace Fellows  in the professional development program at Chulalongkorn University,  Bangkok, Thailand, are required to wait a minimum of three full years before applying for a master's degree fellowship. 

Individuals who participated in the Rotary Peace Centers master's degree program are not eligible for the professional development program at Chulalongkorn University. 

The following people are ineligible for Master¿s degree Rotary Peace Fellowships but may apply for the professional development certificate on an exception basis:

  • Active and honorary Rotarians
  • Employees of a Rotary club, RI district, Rotary International, or other Rotary entity
  • Spouses, lineal descendants (children or grandchildren by blood or legal adoption), spouses of lineal descendants, or ancestors (parents or grandparents by blood) of any living person in the categories above
  • Former Rotarians and their relatives as described above (within 36 months of resignation)

Application process

The fellowship application and selection process consists of three levels: club, district, and world. There is no limit to the number of qualified candidates a club and/or district may submit to the world competition.

Club level

Individual Rotary clubs initially screen and select fellowship applications to forward to the district level for competition. Club deadlines may be as early as March or as late as June for Rotary Peace Fellowships and vary by club district deadlines.

District level

Districts must allow sufficient time for interview and selection in order to meet the 1 July deadline for candidate submission to The Rotary Foundation. Because application deadlines vary by club and district, applicants must contact their local clubs and districts for specific deadline information.

World level

Each Rotary district submits candidates¿ applications to the Foundation on or before 1 July. The world-level selection committee includes Trustees-appointed Rotarians and representatives from the university partners. The Foundation will inform candidates and districts about final selection decisions in November.

For more information, contact your local Rotary club or the Rotary Peace Centers Department at The Rotary Foundation.