TheRotary Center for International Studiesin peace and conflict resolution operates in conjunction with UNC’s Center for Global Initiatives and Duke’s Center for International Development. One of only six centers worldwide, the Center has hosted 102 fellows from 52 different countries since the program began in 2002. Rotary Peace Fellows are looked to as leaders who will promote national and international cooperation, peace and the successful resolution of conflict throughout their lives in their careers and through service activities.

Rotary Peace Fellows are fully-funded through the Rotary World Peace Fellowship (RWFP), a program of the Rotary Foundation. The funding supports a master’s degree including tuition & fees, a living stipend, a summer internship, conference & research funding, and travel to and from the home country. Ten fellows are awarded the fellowship each year at Duke-UNC, with 5 assigned to Duke and 5 to UNC.

Rotary Fellows who come to the Duke-UNC Rotary Center are accepted at either Duke, in the Master’s Program in International Development Policy (Sanford School of Public Policy), or at UNC, in one of a wide range of departments, such as Political Science, Education, Social Work, Journalism, City & Regional Planning and Public Health. The Duke-UNC Rotary Center for International Studies houses some of the world’s finest scholars who are committed to peacekeeping and problem-solving throughout the globe.

Fellowship requirements:

  • All Rotary fellows must study at a center outside of their home country (ie. our center does not have any American students)
  • Minimum of 3 years of relevant work experience, preferably more
  • Children of Rotarians are not eligible

The application process for the RWFP program is lengthy and requires about an 18-month lead time from the preparation of the application to the commencement of studies. All applicants must be sponsored by a Rotary district. Selection of fellowship winners is made through a competitive process.

Timeline:

January to June: Candidates complete the RWPF application, which will include contact with a local Rotary Club. The clubs and districts will conduct interviews during this period as well. Once a candidate’s application has been endorsed by a district, it will be forwarded to the Rotary Foundation in Evanston, Illinois.

July 1: Deadline for applications

July to October: The Rotary Foundation and Rotary Peace Centers university partners screen applications and select fellowship finalists.

Late October: The Rotary Foundation notifies districts and their candidates of the results.

Once the fellowships are awarded, we work with the applicants and the university departments to ensure completion of the university application.

For more information, contact: Susan Carroll, Assistant Director, Duke-UNC Rotary Center for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution

Tel: 1-919-613-9222 (Duke) and 1-919-843-2792 (UNC)

Fax: 1-919-962-5375