The Rotary Foundation (Rotary International)

Fully funded

Rotary Peace Fellowship (Master's Degree at Duke University and UNC-Chapel Hill)

The Rotary Foundation (Rotary International), United States

Scholarship overview

The Rotary Peace Fellowship is a fully funded graduate award from The Rotary Foundation for leaders with work experience in peace and development. Rotary awards up to 170 funded fellowships a year across its eight peace centers: up to 50 for master's degrees and up to 120 for the professional development certificate.

In the United States the master's fellowship is held through the Rotary Peace Center at Duke University and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Fellows can earn a master's degree in international development policy from Duke or a master's from various departments at UNC. Fellows at both universities can also earn a graduate certificate in international peace and conflict transformation from UNC.

Master's programmes last 15 to 24 months and include a two- to three-month applied field experience that fellows design themselves, plus a workshop series and a final seminar where they present their master's research. Fellows must study at a peace center outside their home country.

Award Information

  • Bachelor's degree.
  • Proficiency in English.
  • At least three years of full-time relevant experience in peace or development work.
  • Strong commitment to cross-cultural understanding and peace, shown through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service.
  • Potential for leadership; early-career candidates with a record of peacebuilding achievements are preferred.
  • At least three years between completing your most recent degree (undergraduate or graduate) and the intended fellowship start date.
  • Not currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate programme, and not enrolling in the upcoming academic year.
  • Former Rotary Peace Fellows (certificate) or Global Grant scholars must wait three years after their programme ends.
  • Active Rotary members and employees of a Rotary club, Rotary International or another Rotary entity are not eligible. Rotaract members who are not also Rotary members can apply.
  • Master's fellows cannot study at a Rotary Peace Center in their home country.
  • Tuition and fees.
  • Room and board.
  • Round-trip transportation.
  • Internship and field-study expenses.

The 2027-28 application is closed. The 2028-29 application opens online in February 2027. Application deadlines for that cycle are not yet published.

  1. Check eligibility with the online tool on the Rotary Peace Fellowship application page.
  2. Rank the peace centers in order of preference.
  3. Complete the online application in English, with the essays, a CV and recommendations.
  4. Apply separately for admission to the designated university once selected, and meet its admission requirements.

Official links

Documents you will need

  • Academic transcripts and test scores required by the preferred universities.
  • CV or resume.
  • Two letters of recommendation.
  • Required essays.
  • TOEFL or IELTS scores for non-native English speakers; GRE is required for UNC and highly recommended for Duke.

How selection works

Candidates are interviewed by Rotary district representatives and endorsed by their district; selection is made by the Rotary Peace Centers Committee. Selection does not guarantee university admission, which each university decides.

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