Schwarzman Scholars Program 2020 for International Masters Students

February 2, 2020 Mary

About Scholarship

Every year, up to 200 Schwarzman Scholars will represent the world’s next generation of leaders — high-caliber individuals with open minds and limitless potential — a network of leaders who will serve as bridges between China and the rest of the world.

Schwarzman Scholars will be selected on the basis of not only their academic aptitude and intellectual ability, but also their leadership potential, entrepreneurial spirit, ability to anticipate and act on emerging trends and opportunities, exemplary character, and desire to understand other cultures, perspectives and positions. With the inaugural class enrolled in 2016, the program gives the world’s best and brightest students the opportunity to develop their leadership skills and professional networks through a one-year Master’s Degree at Tsinghua University in Beijing – one of China’s most prestigious universities.

All qualified candidates will have successfully completed their undergraduate degrees prior to enrollment and must be proficient in English.

Scholarship funding

The students selected to become Schwarzman Scholars will receive a comprehensive scholarship. It will include:

Tuition Fees
Room and board
Travel to and from Beijing at the beginning and end of the academic year
An in-country study tour
Required course books and supplies
Health insurance
A stipend of $4,000 for personal expenses

Schwarzman Scholars will be the single largest philanthropic effort ever undertaken in China by largely international donors.

Eligibility

Undergraduate degree or first degree from an accredited college or university or its equivalent.
Applicants who are currently enrolled in undergraduate degree programs must be on track to successfully complete all degree requirements before August 1 of their Schwarzman Scholars enrollment year. There are no requirements for a specific field of undergraduate study; all fields are welcome, but it is important for applicants, regardless of undergraduate major, to articulate how participating in Schwarzman Scholars will help develop their leadership potential within their field.
Age Requirement.
Candidates must be at least 18 but not yet 29 years of age as of August 1 of their Schwarzman Scholars enrollment year.
English language proficiency.
Applicants must demonstrate strong English skills, as all teaching will be conducted in English. If the applicant’s native language is not English, official English proficiency test scores must be submitted with the application. This requirement is waived for applicants who studied at an undergraduate institution where the primary language of instruction was English for at least two years of the applicant’s academic program. The requirement will also be waived for applicants who have studied in English for two or more years at a Master’s degree level or higher. Acceptable test options are:
- Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT). Minimum score 600.
- Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT). Minimum score 100.
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS). Minimum score 7.

For applicants using the China Application System, refer to guidelines on the Schwarzman College Admissions page.

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE NOT PART OF MINIMUM ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Marital status. Married applicants may apply and will be at no disadvantage in the application process. Spouses/partners may accompany Schwarzman Scholars to Beijing, but Scholars are expected to live in the dormitory and participate fully in the program like other students. Spouses/partners may not live in the dormitory, and no additional funding will be provided to support spouses/partners living off-campus.
There are no citizenship or nationality requirements.
Grade point average/class rank/pre-requisites. Academic excellence is a requirement for successful applicants, but there is no minimum GPA or class rank required to apply. Applicants are expected to have demonstrated excellence in their academic studies, and the most competitive candidates are among the top students in their graduating class. There are no course prerequisites for applicants to the program, although some individual classes at Tsinghua University may have prerequisites.

Schwarzman Scholars does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, veteran status, or disability unrelated to job or course of study requirements.

How to Apply

Interested candidates participate in a rigorous and thorough selection process, designed to identify the most promising young leaders from around the world. Those selected will have demonstrated their potential to produce results within their own culture and context by inspiring and guiding groups and to not only benefit from but also contribute to the Schwarzman Scholars program. The process includes an online application and evaluation as well as in-person regional interview.

The application period for U.S and Global applicants will be open between April 2020 and September 2020.

Selections will be made in November 2020. Applicants with Chinese passports apply by May 2020, with selections made in September 2020. Please review basic eligibility requirements via the link to the right.

REQUIRED FORMS AND RECORDS INCLUDE:

Online application
Resume (2 page maximum)
Transcripts/Academic Records
Essays (2)
Letters of Recommendation (3)
Video (optional)

We discourage applicants from submitting any supplemental materials that are not required, such as portfolios, writing samples, additional recommendations, etc. Such materials will not be shared with the Review Committee.

Applicants who hold passports or permanent resident cards from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao, regardless of where they attended university or reside, will apply between January 1^st and May 31, 2020 through the China application portal. If the applicant were to apply via the U.S./Global system with a Hong Kong permanent resident card, he or she runs the risk of losing the permanent resident card. The selection process for Chinese nationals shares the same principles as the U.S. and Global process and includes an online application and in-person interview at Tsinghua University in Beijing early summer 2020. Candidates will be notified as soon as admissions decisions are reached, by October 1, 2020 at the latest.

Further detail is available in the Instructions to Applicants (link below) and in the Admissions Frequently Asked Questions page.