Schwarzman Scholars Master’s at Tsinghua University

Written by Keagan HendricksStaff Writer (Unisa Alumnus)

Reviewed & verified by Naledi KhumaloSenior Admissions and Bursaries EditorVerified

Schwarzman Scholars is a fully funded, one-year master’s degree in global affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University, in Beijing. The programme takes up to 200 scholars a year and was modelled on the Rhodes Scholarship. South African graduates apply in the global round, and the next one opens in April 2027 and closes in September 2027, for the class that starts in August 2028. The window for the class of 2027-2028 has already closed.

A year in Beijing with every cost covered

Schwarzman Scholars charges no application fee, and the programme pays for:

• tuition and fees
• room and board
• travel to and from Beijing at the start and end of the academic year
• in-country study tours
• required course books and supplies, and a Lenovo laptop
• health insurance and a personal stipend

Candidates invited to interview also have economy airfare or train fare, meals and, if needed, one night’s hotel stay arranged and paid for by the programme. For a South African finalist that removes the cost of flying to an interview abroad.

China, leadership and global affairs in the curriculum

All scholars take a shared core in the first semester: a global affairs course, a course on institutional and social transformation in contemporary China, and at least four credits of leadership courses, some taught by practitioners. They then choose electives, including China-focused courses and courses from other English-language master’s programmes at Tsinghua in law, public health, public policy, business, education and environmental studies. The year ends with a capstone project, which can be a case study, policy analysis, industry analysis or field research report. A graded one-week Deep Dive field trip takes scholars to companies, government agencies and cultural sites in another region of China.

All teaching is in English. Scholars do not need to speak Mandarin or to have studied Asian studies, economics or international relations; the programme says it has had many successful applicants from science, engineering and the humanities.

Under 29 on 1 August 2028

The programme is open to all nationalities. Its three formal requirements are:

1. An undergraduate degree in any field. Final-year students may apply if they will complete every degree requirement before 1 August of the enrolment year.
2. Age: at least 18 and not yet 29 on 1 August of the enrolment year, which for the class of 2028-2029 means 1 August 2028.
3. Strong English. Applicants whose first language is not English submit a test score (TOEFL 100, IELTS 7, Cambridge C1 Advanced or C2 Proficiency 185, or Duolingo 130), unless they studied for at least two years of their undergraduate degree, or two years at master’s level or higher, in English.

There is no minimum mark or class rank, but the programme expects the most competitive candidates to be among the top students in their graduating class, and it assesses marks against each country’s grading system. It does not favour particular universities. Applicants who already hold a master’s degree may apply. About 40% of each class comes from the United States, 20% from China and 40% from the rest of the world.

Two essays, three references and a one-minute video

The online application, completed in English, needs:

• a CV of no more than two pages
• a 750-word leadership essay and a 500-word statement of purpose
• scanned transcripts from every degree-granting institution attended (a registrar-produced record, not a screenshot of a student portal)
• three letters of recommendation submitted online by the recommenders: one academic, one on leadership, and a third that best fits the applicant’s profile
• a video self-introduction of no more than one minute

The leadership essay carries weight. The programme asks for sustained examples, such as founding an organisation or reviving one, and advises against describing routine work tasks, short travel episodes or simply winning an election to a student body. Reference letters that arrive after the deadline are not accepted, and portfolios or extra letters are not passed to the committee.

Global applicants invited to interview are told in mid-October, and interviews take place in late October and early November in three cities around the world, usually the one nearest the candidate. Details are on the Schwarzman Scholars admissions page and in the programme’s FAQ, where prospective applicants can also join the mailing list for the 2027 opening.

South African graduates weighing other fully funded master’s programmes abroad can compare the Gates Cambridge Scholarship and the Chevening Scholarship, or look for local funding in the postgraduate bursaries list.

FAQs