How a Scholar from Macau Secured the Fully Funded Schwarzman Scholarship for a Master's in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University

Hello, nice to meet you! My name is Christy Un from Macau SAR. After completing my bachelor’s study in politics and international relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE), I was keen to pursue a master’s that gives me a more balanced worldview on international relations with a Chinese perspective. This also coincided with my time working in ICT for development research at the United Nations University Institute in Macau (UNU Macau), during which I was convinced about the importance of having a master’s in furthering my career path in research and having a more diverse perspective on international development. As a result, I submitted my application and was accepted to the Schwarzman Scholars program at Tsinghua University in China and focused my study at the intersection of Chinese approach to international development, public crisis leadership, and technology policy in developing countries.

Schwarzman Scholarship Details

The Schwarzman Scholars program is a one-year, fully funded leadership program and master’s in global affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. It is the first scholarship created in response to the geopolitical landscape of the 21^st The academic curriculum is comprised of the three pillars of leadership, global affairs and China.

Each year, up to 150 scholars worldwide are selected for the program, which has an acceptance rate of <5%. The scholarship covers tuition and all aspects of living ranging from flight tickets and semi-annual living stipend to housing and food support.

Educational Background

Prior to my study at Schwarzman College, I had completed my three-year BSc in Politics and International Relations at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) with an Upper Second Class Honours. Some relevant courses I took were China and the Global South, global public policy, and international organizations.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for Tsinghua University?

As I did my undergraduate studies in an academic institute that uses English as its teaching language, I did not undertake another English language exam.

How Did You Prepare to Apply for the Schwarzman Scholarship?

Having actively learned about the scholarship program around two months before the application deadline for the Chinese scholars’ cycle, I started preparing for my application materials a month in advance and drafting my essays two weeks before the application deadline.

For my references, I reached out to contacts from both my academic institution and workplace and created a slide deck to them that explained my motivations for the program and the program details. I believe this helped to reflect my comprehensive character under different settings and also provided my referees with a better understanding of my application.

As for preparing for the short essay prompts, I made sure to make use of the limited word counts to feature different aspects of my character, work and leadership under a coherent narrative.

What Do You Think Made Your Application Stand Out?

I think what made my application stand out was that I demonstrated my grassroots leadership as sustainable development advocacy NGO co-founder and vice project lead in a student club, while my intention of furthering my international development career was highlighted in my sharing of experiences at UNHCR and UNU Macau. I believe it is important to focus on quantifying or demonstrating your work impact and your future aspirations.

Ultimately, I wrote my application under the intention and framing of localizing and advancing sustainable development through digitalization and effective resource mobilization. Furthermore, I made efforts to integrate the three pillars of the academic program – leadership, China and global affairs – into my application and also how these three pillars could propel my career forward. For example, I linked my motivation to the specific courses under the Schwarzman Scholars program as well.

What Would You Have Done Differently if You Are Going Through the Process Again?

I wish I could have believed more in myself earlier and prepared for the application prompts way in advance. As the short essays required a lot of in-depth self-introspection, I would advise seeking application feedback and opinions of you from trusted peers and even Schwarzman Scholars alumni. In fact, I wish I had been less shy and been more proactive in reaching out to alumni to ask about their program experiences and how they prepared for their applications.

What Advice Would You Give for Those Looking to Apply for a Similar Scholarship?

I would say that believing in yourself is key. I did not have sufficient confidence in myself when I first looked at the short bios of the current scholars. I was very grateful to my colleague and friend who first introduced me to the program and encouraged me to apply. Given my time constraint with the application, he was the only person who gave feedback on my application materials and thankfully, he also got into the program months after I did under the international scholars’ cycle – so we also became classmates! I would advise future applicants to seek feedback from trusted friends and peers who know you well, so that you can better highlight your narrative and strengths in your application.