M.Sc. Economics Student Reaksa from Cambodia Shares His Journey of Studying at Capital University of Economics and Business, China

My name is Reaksa, and I’m originally from a small town in northeastern Cambodia, known for its rivers and local charm. I graduated in the top 2 percent in my country’s national high school exam, which helped kick-start my academic and professional journey across multiple global cities. I earned my bachelor’s degree in 2019 in Kunming and my master’s degree in 2021 in Beijing, both in Economics. I was selected as the commencement speaker at my graduation, representing my cohort and delivering the graduation address. I later moved to Shanghai to start my career, and I'm currently based in Hong Kong working in the technology consulting industry.

Coming from a small town, I’ve always been passionate about the world to a large extent and curious about what’s outside my immediate surroundings. Pursuing higher education overseas has been one of my goals since childhood because it is one of the most effective ways to get closer to where I want to be. To put it simply, it became my bicycle for life, a personal mindset that kept pushing me forward.

My decision to pursue degrees in Economics came from the fact that this field helped me understand the world through a macro lens, from policy making, game theory, and collective behavior, to why things happen the way they do. Studying these patterns is extremely useful and can be applied to day-to-day life, for example, making better decisions at both a personal and professional level.

Chinese Government Scholarship Details

The Chinese Government Scholarship is a prestigious award given to international students with strong academic records and potential leadership abilities. It comes with a 3,000 RMB monthly allowance, full tuition, and accommodation.

I graduated with my master’s in Economics at the CUEB School of Economics, Capital University of Economics and Business in Beijing, through an international program funded by the Chinese Scholarship Council (CSC).

How Did You Find Information About Scholarships and Institutions?

Research matters a lot when it comes to the Chinese Government Scholarship application. In China, international students can benefit from a centralized application system, as almost all key information about schools, majors, programs, language of teaching, and scholarship availability can be found on one website, which then directs you to different schools or programs once you decide where to apply.

Standardized Tests

Over the years, I made a habit of taking language exams regularly with the goal of achieving one foreign language certification per year. In my case, for the Chinese proficiency test (HSK), I started with Level 3 in 2016, then Level 4 in 2017, and Level 5 in 2018 (one level below the highest level at that time). The progress was clear and structured.

The same goes for IELTS. I planned and timed it in a way that by 2019, it would be ready and useful for my master’s degree application if required.

Chinese Government Scholarship Preparation

I began researching and reaching out to the top 3 universities of my preference and asked for confirmation on scholarship availability, program details, and application requirements. I also reached out to alumni scholarship recipients who had successfully applied to similar programs to get advice on the application, the essay, and how to prepare better to increase my chances of winning the scholarship.

What Made Your Application Stand Out?

While excellent academic records, extracurricular activities, and potential leadership ability matter, there was a combination of factors that I believe made my application stand out. One was how personal I made the essay. This has to come from you: who you are, your character, your unique journey, and what a real difference it would make for you and your community if you win the scholarship. You have passion, show it and let people feel it through your words.

The second thing was the essay structure. I asked myself how to structure my story into an easy-to-understand and coherent piece. I constructed my essay as a sequence of events that led to where I was, and how this scholarship would help me make an impact on the community I’m a part of, and what I’m trying to accomplish.

What Would You Do Differently?

Program alignment matters a lot. I made the mistake of applying to a program that was intended for a specific group of candidates with specific work experience, which led to one of my applications being rejected from my dream university. If I were to go through this process again, I would trust myself more and pick programs that fit my background better.

Advice

My advice would be preparation, preparation, preparation. I entered my bachelor’s program already thinking about my master’s program, even before graduating. I made the effort to be part of student organizations, co-founded a few organizations, gained extracurricular experience, internship experience, trust from professors, language certifications, and researched schools and cities I planned to apply to, which helped my later application go smoothly.

I would encourage scholarship applicants to think early, prepare early, research early, and reach out to alumni early so they have enough time to breathe and not panic during the application process.