How a Bhutanese Urban Planner and Architect Earned the ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship to Study Environmental and Resource Economics

My name is Yeshey Jamtsho, and I am an Urban Planner and Architect from Bhutan. I have long been fascinated by emerging policies, strategies, and mandates in the areas of environment and climate change. More specifically, I’ve been deeply curious about their real-world economic implications; how trade-offs and synergies are negotiated in practice. Motivated by this interest and despite having limited formal training in economics, I decided to pursue a Master of Environmental and Resource Economics at one of Australia’s leading universities: The Australian National University (ANU).

ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship Details

I was fortunate to be awarded the ANU Chancellor’s International Scholarship, which provides a tuition fee waiver of 25% to 50% for the duration of the program. The scholarship application process is straightforward; candidates are automatically assessed for eligibility upon submission of their program application. Successful applicants are notified via email. Given that tuition fees at ANU are relatively high, this scholarship represents substantial financial support for international students.

Educational Background

I believe my academic and professional background played a key role in both securing the scholarship and enabling me to thrive in this program. As an urban planner, I spent over a decade working at Bhutan’s Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport. This experience exposed me to a wide range of interdisciplinary challenges and opportunities at the intersection of natural environments, infrastructure, and economic development. I am also an avid reader and researcher, particularly drawn to environmental economics, which made the transition into this new field both exciting and manageable.

Preparation

The preparation for this academic journey was relatively smooth, as much of my past work and research aligned with the themes of the program. For prospective applicants, I highly recommend crafting a compelling statement of intent that clearly articulates how the program connects with your current expertise and how it will expand your professional capacity. Demonstrating this alignment is critical for both scholarship consideration and academic success.

Experience and Recommendation

My experience in the program has been exceptional. I have gained valuable insights into topics ranging from energy economics and climate change policy to environmental and agricultural economics. I highly recommend both the program and the scholarship to anyone passionate about understanding the economics of environmental and resource management.