2026 Rotary Peace Fellowships

The Rotary Peace Fellowship is designed for leaders with work experience in peace and development. Rotary fellows are committed to community and international service and the pursuit of peace. Each year, The Rotary Foundation awards up to 50 fellowships for master’s degrees and up to 120 for certificate studies at premier universities.

There are 2 programs:

• Master's degree programs
• Professional development certificate program

Table of Content

• Summary
• Benefits
• Requirements
• Application Deadline
• How To Apply

Summary

• Application DeadlineMay 15, 2026
• ValueFully Funded
• Study LevelPostdoctoral Fellowships
• SponsorRotary
• Eligible CountryAll Countries

Benefits

• The fellowships cover tuition and fees, room and board, round-trip transportation, and internship and field-study expenses.

Requirements

Master’s degree candidates must also:

• Be proficient in English
• Have a bachelor's degree
• Have a strong commitment to cross-cultural understanding and peace as shown through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service
• Have the potential for leadership
• Have at least three years of full-time relevant experience in peace or development work

Master's candidates must have a gap of at least three years between the completion of their most recent academic degree program (undergraduate or graduate degree) and their intended start date for the fellowship. Candidates currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or who will be enrolled in the upcoming academic year, are not eligible to apply.

Certificate candidates must also:

• Be proficient in English
• Have a bachelor’s degree
• Have at least five years of full-time relevant experience in peace or development work
• Have a strong commitment to cross-cultural understanding and peace as shown through professional and academic achievements and personal or community service
• Demonstrate leadership skills 
• Be able to explain how their plan to promote peace aligns with Rotary’s mission 
• Candidates for Makerere University: Either be from Africa, have worked in Africa, work with African communities or initiatives outside the continent, or demonstrate a compelling interest in learning about peacebuilding approaches within the region.
• Candidates for Bahçe?ehir University: Either be from the Middle East or North Africa, have worked in the region, work elsewhere around the world with communities or initiatives related to the Middle East or North Africa, or demonstrate a compelling interest in learning about peacebuilding approaches within the region.
• Candidates for Symbiosis International University: Either be from Asia, have worked in Asia, work with communities or initiatives outside Asia, or demonstrate a compelling interest in learning about peacebuilding approaches within the region.

Candidates currently enrolled in an undergraduate or graduate program, or who will be enrolled in the upcoming academic year, are not eligible to apply.

Application Deadline

May 15, 2026

How To Apply

Are you qualified and interested in this opportunity? Kindly go to Rotary on my.rotary.org to apply

• If you know a potential candidate, use the referral form so they can receive more information.

For more information, kindly visit Rotary scholarship webpage.