Schwarzman Scholars Program

Schwarzman Scholars: At a Glance

Eligibility:

• Fourth-years (fellowships process starts in third year) and recent alumni
• Age: 18-28
• English language proficiency

Selection Criteria:

• Demonstrated leadership experience
• Academic excellence (average GPA is 3.8 for Schwarzman Scholars)
• Rationale for pursuing a MA in Global Affairs in China

Candidates for the Schwarzman Scholars program can affirm the following statements:

• I have had leadership experiences in my college years that demonstrate initiative, ability to work with a team, concrete results, and ambition for others.
• I can demonstrate that a particular social, cultural, business, policy, or global issue has been a focus of academic, professional, and/or personal interest to me.
• I can explain how pursuing a MA in Global Affairs in China specifically makes sense for my long-term professional interests and goals.

Extensive Description

• Read more about the 2024 UChicago Schwarzman Scholars
• Read more about the 2021 UChicago Schwarzman Scholars
• Read more about the 2020 Schwarzman Scholar, Ozan Beran Akturan
• Read more about the 2018 Schwarzman Scholar, Devshi Mehrotra
• Read more about the 2016 UChicago Schwarzman Scholars

Schwarzman Scholars is an unparalleled graduate program, designed to ready the next generation of leaders to drive change. It is anchored in a fully-funded 10-month Master’s Degree in Global Affairs at Beijing’s Tsinghua University. The experience encompasses unique opportunities in and outside the classroom, providing Scholars with extensive leadership training, a network of senior mentors, opportunities to engage in high-level interactions with Chinese leaders and visiting speakers, optional internships, career development guidance, and travel seminars around China. Scholars learn about China’s importance on the global stage through a rigorous and dynamic core curriculum, delivered by world-class faculty and guest speakers. Schwarzman Scholars readies young leaders for careers in which they will join a growing alumni network of leaders who are working to foster dialogue and build global understanding.

As individuals who want to have a positive impact on the world, the Scholars are selected based on their record of demonstrated leadership and their academic credentials. Scholars spend the year focusing on one of three academic disciplines: public policy, economics and business, and international relations. Taught in English, all courses are designed specifically for an elite class of students, drawing on some of Tsinghua University’s most accomplished professors as well as visiting scholars from the world’s leading schools. 

Eligibility Requirements

• Undergraduate degree from an accredited college or university. Applicants who are currently enrolled in undergraduate degree programs must be on track to successfully complete all degree requirements before the end of July of their Schwarzman Scholars enrollment year. There are no requirements for a specific field of undergraduate study; all fields are welcome, but it will be important for applicants, regardless of undergraduate major, to articulate how participating in Schwarzman Scholars will help develop their leadership potential within their field.
• Candidates must be at least 18 but not yet 29 years of age as of August 1 of their 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:
  • 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
• Please consult the Eligibility page on the Schwarzman Scholars website for more information.

Application Process

CCRF encourages Schwarzman Scholars Program applicants to follow the steps below in order to put forward a competitive application for the 2025-2026 award year.

Please note that CCRF does not offer advising, writing support, application support, or draft review for the Schwarzman Scholars Program. CCRF will provide interview preparation and support for national finalists.

• Review the updated "Schwarzman Scholars: Information Session & Application Guide" presentation which is available in the CCRF Resource Library. This presentation provides updated and comprehensive program information and selection criteria for the current award year, as well as guidance for essay development and revision. [Recent alumni should email Johanna Best (bestjl@uchicago.edu) if they are having difficulty accessing the presentation in the CCRF Resource Library. In this situation, please be sure to include graduation year, major, and former UChicago email address in your message.]
• In addition to the presentation in the CCRF Resource Library, we also encourage applicants to actively consult the resources available on the Schwarzman Scholars Program website, including admissions information, application instructions, and FAQs.
• Submit your complete and final Schwarzman Scholars Program application by the applicable national deadline. Please note that application to the Schwarzman Scholars Program does not include University endorsement.
• CCRF will provide interview support and preparation for any current students in the College or College alumni who are notified by the Schwarzman Scholars Program that they have been invited to interview. If you are an applicant who has been invited for an interview, please reach out directly to Johanna Best (bestjl@uchicago.edu) within several business days of notification.

Please note: Applicants who hold passports from China, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan have an earlier application process and deadline (May 2024). Please see the application portal for Chinese passport holders here: http://en.sc.tsinghua.edu.cn/admissions/index.jhtml.