Schwarzman Scholars Program: Eligibility for ASEAN Applicants at Tsinghua University

What Schwarzman Scholars is

Schwarzman Scholars is a fully funded, one year master's programme in global affairs based at Tsinghua University in Beijing. It brings together roughly 150 scholars from around the world each year for a curriculum that mixes coursework, leadership training and a required stay in China, taught entirely in English.

Eligibility for ASEAN applicants

There is no country-specific eligible list working against ASEAN applicants. Any ASEAN citizen, from Brunei to Vietnam, applies through the same general pool as applicants from the rest of the world. The core requirements:

• Aged at least 18 but not yet 29 as of 1 August of your enrollment year

• Holds a bachelor's degree, or will complete one before 1 August of your enrollment year

• Open to applicants from any academic field, not only politics or economics

• Strong English proficiency, demonstrated through a language test or waived if you studied at least 2 years in English at undergraduate or graduate level

If you submit a language test, Schwarzman Scholars accepts TOEFL (100 out of 120), IELTS (7), Cambridge C1 (185) or Duolingo (130) as minimum scores.

Selection process

Schwarzman Scholars runs a three stage review. An international committee first screens the written application. Shortlisted applicants then interview during late October and early November before a panel that includes global business and policy leaders. The committee makes final selections after interviews close.

Schwarzman Scholars does not require GRE or GMAT scores. The written application and interview carry the weight, so your essays and interview performance matter more than a standardized test score.

What the scholarship pays for

Schwarzman Scholars is fully funded, meaning admitted scholars pay nothing toward the programme itself. Funding covers tuition and fees, room and board in Beijing, travel to and from Beijing at the start and end of the programme, required coursebooks and supplies, health insurance, a laptop, and a personal stipend. In-country study tours are built into the programme and funded separately from personal expenses.

Application timeline for the Class of 2027-28

ASEAN applicants apply under the global pool timeline above, not the separate track reserved for Chinese citizens, which runs on an earlier January to May schedule.

Building a competitive application

Schwarzman Scholars looks for demonstrated leadership rather than only academic scores. Essays that describe a specific decision you made under pressure, or a project you led that changed an outcome for your team or community, carry more weight than a list of achievements. Because the cohort mixes disciplines deliberately, an application from an ASEAN engineer, journalist or civil servant sits on equal footing with one from a finance or policy background, as long as the leadership evidence is concrete.

Life at Tsinghua as a Schwarzman Scholar

Scholars live together in a dedicated residential college on the Tsinghua campus, which houses classrooms, a library and shared spaces built specifically for the programme. The curriculum core covers global affairs, leadership and China, supplemented by electives across Tsinghua's wider course catalogue and an experiential learning component that includes travel within China.

What reviewers look for from ASEAN applicants

Because the cohort deliberately mixes nationalities and career backgrounds, reviewers value a clear, specific account of leadership over a broad resume. An ASEAN applicant coming from a policy, technology, media or civil society background stands out by connecting a concrete achievement to how they plan to use the Tsinghua year, rather than listing general interest in China or global affairs.

Preparing for the interview

Interviewers probe the reasoning behind your essays rather than asking you to repeat them. Prepare concrete follow-up detail for every claim in your application, since a panel member questioning a leadership example expects specifics: what decision you made, who disagreed, and what changed as a result. Practice answering in under two minutes per question, since panel interviews move through several topics in a limited time slot.

Frequently asked questions

Does the programme fund PhD study?

No. Schwarzman Scholars is a one year master's programme only. Applicants already holding a graduate degree still apply, as long as they meet the age and bachelor's degree requirements, but the award does not extend into multi-year doctoral study.

Do interviews happen only in Beijing?

No. Interviews happen at select regional cities and online, not only in Beijing. Your interview location depends on the interview city list published for that year's cohort.

Is a second language required?

No. Instruction is entirely in English, and Mandarin is optional coursework for scholars who want it, not an entry requirement.

Do you need work experience before applying?

No formal work experience requirement exists. Both new graduates and applicants with several years of professional experience apply, since the programme selects across a range of career stages rather than one particular level of seniority.