The process, which is explained at Rotary District websites, begins with an application from an eligible person -- basically someone who is not a member or employee of Rotary, or their spouse or child. Qualifications include academic, work, and training background sufficient for a master's level of study, proficiency in more than one language, leadership skills, and a commitment to peace and international cooperation. An application is prepared and submitted to the local Rotary Club, who then forwards the application to the district level. Applicants are interviewed by the district, with the selected applicants being forwarded to the worldwide Rotary Foundation, who selects approximately 60 individuals for a 2-year master's degree.
Scholarship winners study at one of six locations around the world, with the stipulation that study cannot occur in the home country of the winner. Beginning in 2012, there will be one location in the United States -- at the Duke-UNC Rotary Center, which allows recipients to take courses at both Duke and the University of North Carolina, regardless of degree program. Other locations for World Peace scholars are Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok, Thailand; International Christian University in Tokyo, Japan; Universidad del Salvador in Buenos Aires, Argentina; University of Bradford in Yorkshire, England; and the University of Queensland, Australia. The program at the University of California at Berkeley will be discontinued with the graduating class of 2011.
World Peace scholars pursue master's degrees at UNC in areas such as anthropology, political science, journalism, history, social work and public health, or at Duke in International Development Policy, a program designed for individuals who want to dedicate their careers to policy making and public service with an emphasis on international development.