Tips for Improving Your Rotary Peace Fellowship Application
Being qualified is not enough to be selected. It is essential you use the application to demonstrate how you are qualified and how your experience applies tothe field of peace and conflict resolution. You can demonstrate this through the following application components:
Resume/CV
Be certain to put the month and year for each job, internship, or volunteer experience in order to fully represent your work experience. For the master's
degree program, there is a minimum requirement of three years of relevant work experience. For the certificate program, the requirement is at least fiveyears. We consider full-time work to be more than 30 hours per week in one position. This can be paid or unpaid and does not need to be in consecutiveyears. Relevant work experience could be something directly related to peace building or conflict resolution. It can also be work in other areas such as
resource and environmental issues, education and literacy, women’s rights, journalism, public health and disease prevention among others. The Rotary
Peace Fellowship also considers international experience, working with a non-profit or multilateral institution, working in a developing country, working withyouth, or volunteer work either locally or abroad as relevant experience. If you have work experience that you believe is relevant, but might not seem
relevant to someone outside of your particular field of employment, show the connection to peace and conflict resolution as you describe your primary
responsibilities in that role. Additionally, we recommend that you also enrich your explanation of this connection within your essays.
EssaysYour essays are your opportunity to set yourself apart from other applicants. Use examples to demonstrate your commitment to the field of peace andconflict resolution. Here are some easy-to- follow tips for writing great essays:• Make clear, detailed points on how the Fellowship will help you achieve your long-term goals. The selection
committee strongly considers future plans and goals, so clearly state how this fellowship will affect your future aspirations. Don't assume that theperson reading your essay will automatically make the connection between your goal and what the fellowship offers.
• For the master’s degree program, thoroughly research each center using the links on our website, and explain in detail
why you prefer your top two choices. A successful candidate for one center may not be a successful candidate for another. University
representatives from your top choice university/universities will review your application to determine if you would be a good fit for their program.
Reviewers are looking for reflective and critical thinkers who have the passion and skills necessary to excel in this field.
• Read the questions carefully and be sure to answer each of them clearly.
• Be honest. Every applicant has a story and a reason for wanting to dedicate their life to peacebuilding. Essays that are honest and tell a true
story are the ones that come alive and best engage the reader.
• Don’t use lists. Instead of listing a lifetime of accomplishments, focus on the achievements that tell your story best. Elaborate on how youreached your goals and the impact this had on others.
• Organization is important. Make an outline of key points you'd like to convey, and use that as a guide.
• Always review your writing for spelling and grammar mistakes.
Recommendations
Choose references who can articulate why you are a strong applicant for the program.
Academic: Applicants to the master's degree program must submit a recommendation from an academic reference. This person does notnecessarily have to be a professor; rather they should be someone who can attest to your ability to succeed within the classroom. Please notethat classmates are very rarely able to provide a strong academic recommendation.
Professional: You can select colleagues, supervisors, and employers as your professional reference(s). A professional reference shouldknow why you are applying to the fellowship program and how you are a good fit.
When choosing a reference, look at the recommendation form carefully and consider whether the person you have in mind would be able to answer all
pertinent questions. You are encouraged to ask your reference to write thorough examples. This increases the quality of your recommendation and showsthat the reference is a reliable resource when determining your candidacy for the fellowship.
English Proficiency
All courses are conducted in English. While professional development certificate candidates aren't required to submit a TOEFL or IELTS score, master's
degree candidates who are non-native English speakers must submit one of these two scores (scores are valid for 2 years after the test date). Each partner
university has minimum scores, which are listed on the application instructions. If you are a non-native English speaker, but for any reason believe that you
are exempt from submitting a TOEFL or IELTS score, please contact your top choice university to confirm they will grant you an exemption. If the score you
received doesn't meet the minimum score of the partner universities, we highly recommend that you take time to further study the English language, improveyour proficiency, and retake the appropriate exam.