Rotary International - Educational Programs :

Rotary's educational programs promote international understanding by bringing together people from different countries and cultures.

Rotary Foundation Ambassadorial Scholarships is the world’s largest privately funded scholarship program. While students in Rotary's peace programs learn conflict resolution skills.

Learn more about how you can get involved

Ambassadorial Scholarships

Ambassadorial Scholarships, The Rotary Foundation's oldest and best-known program, was founded in 1947. Since then, nearly 38,000 men and women from about 100 nations have studied abroad under its auspices. Today it is the world's largest privately funded international scholarships program. Nearly 800 scholarships were awarded for study in 2005-06. Through grants totaling approximately US$500 million, recipients from about 70 countries studied in more than 70 nations

The purpose of the Ambassadorial Scholarships program is to further international understanding and friendly relations among people of different countries and geographical areas. The program sponsors several types of scholarships for undergraduate and graduate students as well as for qualified professionals pursuing vocational studies. While abroad, scholars serve as goodwill ambassadors to the host country and give presentations about their homelands to Rotary clubs and other groups. Upon returning home, scholars share with Rotarians and others the experiences that led to a greater understanding of their host country.

Generous contributions from Rotarians worldwide represent a continued faith that today’s Ambassadorial Scholars will be tomorrow's community and world leaders

Click Here to apply for Ambassadorial Scholarships.

Peace and Conflict Studies

The Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program was established to provide professionals from around the world with the opportunity to be trained in conflict resolution and mediation strategies. The program also can help participants become better equipped to prevent and resolve conflict and to foster policies and create settings that ensure peace worldwide. Offered in English, the program is aimed toward mid- to upper-level professionals in governments, nongovernmental organizations, and private corporations

The intensive three-month course, which was started in July 2006, is housed at Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand. Rotary will accept up to 30 program participants per session for two sessions annually. Each session will include both academic learning and practical fieldwork components. The program aims to -

• Inspire people to work for a culture of peace and tolerance while enhancing their capacity, knowledge, and skills in this area, in part by generating interaction between practitioners and academics
• Offer advanced international educational opportunities to Rotary Peace and Conflict Studies Program participants chosen from different countries and cultures on the basis of their potential as government, business, education, media, and other professional leaders
• Provide a means for The Rotary Foundation and Rotarians to increase their effectiveness in promoting greater tolerance and cooperation among peoples, thereby leading to world understanding and peace.

Click Here to apply for Ambassadorial Scholarships.

Rotary Centers for International Studies in peace and conflict resolution

Rotary Centers provide Rotary World Peace Fellows with the opportunity to pursue a master’s degree in conflict resolution, peace studies, international relations, and related areas.

Each year, up to 60 Rotary World Peace Fellowships are offered on a competitive basis at six Rotary Centers, which operate in partnership with seven leading universities

Coursework at the Rotary Centers focuses on preventing and resolving conflict by addressing its root causes ? for example, responding to hunger with food security, disease with health care, illiteracy with education, poverty with sustainable development, and environmental degradation with conservation. Fellows put classroom lessons into practice through an applied field experience, when they work with a variety of governmental and nongovernmental organizations worldwide.

The fellows are chosen from countries and cultures around the globe based on their potential as leaders in government, business, education, media, and other professional areas. Learn more about program eligibility and deadlines .

Rotary Centers alumni have demonstrated their ability to further global understanding and peace in their work for United Nations agencies, the World Bank, European Parliament, the Organization of American States, and other nongovernmental organizations, along with national governments and international businesses.

Rotary Grants for University Teachers

Higher-education faculty can teach abroad through Rotary Grants for University Teachers.

The program builds international understanding and fosters development while strengthening higher education in low-income countries. It also aims to establish ties between higher-education institutions, leading to the exchange of ideas and information worldwide.

Grant recipients must teach subjects relevant to the local population’s needs and contribute to the area's socioeconomic development. Each year, about 20 grants are awarded.

Click Here to apply for Rotary Grants for University Teachers