Schwarzman Scholars Attracts Three Thousand Applications for First Year
Initial Class to be 100 Students; Program is Among the Most Selective in the World
BEIJING AND NEW YORK, October 13, 2015 – Schwarzman Scholars, the fully funded one-year Master’s degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, today announced that it received more than 3,000 applications from 135 countries for its first class. These candidates are competing for 100 positions and as a result, the Schwarzman Scholars program is one of the most selective in the world.
300 semifinalists will be invited to interview during two weeks in November in one of four cities – Beijing, Bangkok, London and New York. They will participate in a panel interview process that will yield the program’s inaugural class of 100 scholars who will receive the fully funded scholarship. In 2016, this first class of Schwarzman Scholars will enroll at Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University, the dedicated state-of-the-art academic and residential building being constructed for the program.
“We are thrilled by the outpouring of interest in this important, groundbreaking program,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, the program’s founder. “The sheer number of interested candidates for our first class speaks to the highly unique attributes of the program and the international reputation of Tsinghua University under President Dr. Qiu Yong’s leadership.”
The more than 3,000 candidate applications will first be reviewed by a distinguished team of readers from around the world who will narrow the pool based on an extensive set of guidelines. A strong emphasis will be placed on candidates’ leadership potential and personal characteristics, along with their academic credentials. To evaluate candidates across a globally diverse applicant pool, we will rely on readers from many different regions and backgrounds who can provide insights to identify the highest level of leadership and academic excellence.
The 300 semi-finalists will then go before panels of distinguished figures comprised of CEOs, former heads of state, university presidents, non-profit executives, journalists and other leaders from around the world. This exceptional group of interviewers will help Schwarzman Scholars identify its first cohort of 100 Scholars and future leaders who will be notified by November 25th.
Drawing on the best traditions of Tsinghua and support from top academic institutions around the world, the Schwarzman Scholars curriculum bridges the academic, professional and extracurricular domains to offer unrivaled leadership training and a first-hand look at China’s expanding role in the world. The program, entirely taught in English, was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship and is designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders for the challenges of the 21st century and beyond.
“We look forward to having an inaugural cohort of exceptionally talented, diverse and passionate Schwarzman Scholars joining our dynamic learning community,” said Tsinghua University President, Dr. Qiu Yong. “The outpouring of interest from candidates around the globe should not only be attributed to the attraction of Tsinghua University. It also demonstrates the increasing appeal of Chinese higher education on the global stage.”
“We are thrilled that the program has attracted such an astonishing number of talented applicants from around the world in its first year,” said Rob Garris, Global Director of Admissions. “We look forward to working with experienced colleagues in academics, business, politics and non-profit organizations to review applications in the coming weeks and select an outstanding pool of semi-finalists for interviews.”
Contact
Christine Anderson
Schwarzman Scholars
(o) +1 646-313-6500
(m) +1 917-697-8795
About Schwarzman Scholars
Schwarzman Scholars was inspired by the Rhodes Scholarship, which was founded in 1902 to promote international understanding and peace, and is designed to meet the challenges of the 21st century and beyond. Blackstone Co-Founder Stephen A. Schwarzman personally contributed $100 million to the program and is leading a fundraising campaign to raise an additional $300 million from private sources to endow the program in perpetuity. The endowment will support up to 200 scholars annually from the U.S., China and around the world for a one-year Master’s Degree program at Tsinghua University in Beijing, one of China’s most prestigious universities and an indispensable base for the country’s scientific and technological research. Scholars chosen for this highly selective program will live in Beijing for a year of study and cultural immersion, attending lectures, traveling, and developing a better understanding of China. Applications opened in Spring 2015, with the first class of students in residence by the summer of 2016. Learn more at www.schwarzmanscholars.org.