Schwarzman Scholarship

The Schwarzman Scholarship is awarded for a year of graduate study in public policy, economics and business, or international studies at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. 

Two hundred students of exceptional ability will have the opportunity to pursue a fully-funded Master's Degree at Schwarzman College in Tsinghua University. Schwarzman Scholars will study with world-renowned faculty from the U.S. and elsewhere and will also benefit from many opportunities for travel, mentorship, and leadership development. Note that prior knowledge of Mandarin is not required since core courses will be taught in English. For those students who do not know Chinese, basic conversational Mandarin classes will begin pre-semester and continue throughout the year.

Deadlines

  • U.S. and other passports: Preliminary: Aug. 1, 2022; Internal: Sep. 2, 2022; External: Sep. 20, 2022
  • Chinese passports: Preliminary: Aug., 2022; Internal: Mar. 24, 2023; External: May 2023

Who is Eligible?

Students from all majors and international students. 

Applicants must be at least 18 but not yet 29 years of age as of August 1 of their enrollment year.. No restrictions based on either citizenship or major. However, please note that applicants who hold passports from Mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Macao will apply online from January to May of the year before the program begins (i.e. January-May 2019 for study beginning in 2020). 

Adviser: Eleanor (Ellie) Stanford, Fellowship Adviser.

Selection criteria: As stated on the Schwarzman website, "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 paradigm changes, exemplary character, and desire to understand other cultures, perspectives and positions."

Although there is no GPA minimum, most strong candidates will have very strong academic records, with GPAs that would place them near the top of the course (approximately 3.8 and above). 

Application Process

Preliminary application (recommended): Complete the online internal application.

Official internal application: Leadership essay and Statement of Purpose

Official external application: The application includes the following major elements:

  • Online application
  • Statement of Purpose (up to 500 words)
  • Leadership essay (up to 750 words)
  • Three letters of recommendation. One must be from someone who can speak to the experiences you discuss in your leadership essay. Schwarzman does not require an institutional nomination.
  • Uploaded transcripts.
  • Resume
  • Strongly recommended: one-minute video introducing yourself.