Rotary Peace Fellowship 2028–29 Deadline and Timeline
Rotary runs one application window a year, from February to 15 May. The 2027–28 round is closed. The 2028–29 round opens in February 2027 — here is how the year lays out.
ScholarshipUnion Editorial
2 min read
Updated Oct 6, 2026
On 6 October 2026 the official application page reads: the 2027–28 application is closed, and the 2028–29 application will be available online in February 2027. Applications are submitted “between February and 15 May”. Exact opening day has not been announced.
Expected 2028–29 timeline
Rows marked “expected” follow the pattern of the 2027–28 cycle; Rotary has not yet confirmed them for 2027.
| When | What happens | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Oct 2026–Jan 2027 | Check eligibility, choose a track, contact a Rotary club or district, book English tests (master’s) | Your preparation |
| February 2027 | 2028–29 online application opens | Announced |
| Feb–May 2027 | Write essays, record video, collect recommendations and transcripts | Your preparation |
| 15 May 2027 | Application deadline | Expected (based on the 2026 cycle) |
| Mid-2027 | Eligibility screening, then review; top candidates may be interviewed by a university | Expected |
| November 2027 | Selected candidates told which Peace Center will host them | Expected |
| Late 2027 onward | Apply for admission to the host university | Required step |
| 2028 | Certificate cohorts and master’s programmes begin | Expected |
What happened in the 2027–28 cycle
The 2027–28 window ran from February to 15 May 2026. Rotary’s February 2026 announcement for the new Symbiosis centre confirmed that applications were accepted through 15 May 2026, with the first Pune cohort arriving in early 2027. That suggests a certificate fellow selected in November can be on site within a few months.
When fellowships start
Start dates depend on the centre. The Duke–UNC centre says its master’s fellows start in August on a 21-month programme (centre overview). Other master’s centres follow their own academic calendars, and certificate centres run their own cohort dates. Expect your centre to confirm dates after the November notification.
Working back from 15 May
- 8+ weeks before: ask recommenders. They must finish before you can submit.
- 6–8 weeks before: request transcripts from every university (master’s). International transcript requests are often slow.
- 6 weeks before: sit your English test if you need one, so scores arrive in time.
- 4 weeks before: full essay drafts and a first video take. Show them to your district contact if you have one.
- 1 week before: final read-through. Remember submission is final.
Rotary has not published a closing time for 2027. Do not plan to submit on 15 May itself; aim to finish several days early so a slow upload or a missing recommendation does not cost you the year.
If you miss the window
There is one round a year. If you are not ready by 15 May 2027, the next window should open in February 2028 — use the time to build the experience or project that will make your file stronger. Recheck the official application page in January 2027 for confirmed dates.