Schwarzman Scholarship

Students will receive a comprehensive scholarship that includes:

• Tuition Fees
• Room and board
• Travel to and from Beijing at the beginning and end of the academic year
• An in-country study tour
• Required course books and supplies
• Lenovo laptop and smartphone
• Health insurance
• A modest personal stipend of $3,500

• Undergraduate degree or first degree from an accredited college or university or its equivalent. 
  Applicants who are currently enrolled in undergraduate degree programs must be on track to successfully complete all degree requirements before orientation begins. There are no requirements for a specific field of undergraduate study; all fields are welcome, but it will be important for applicants, regardless of undergraduate major, to articulate how participating in Schwarzman Scholars will help develop their leadership potential within their field.
• English language proficiency. 
  Applicants must demonstrate strong English language skills, as all teaching will be conducted in English. If the applicant's native language is not English, official English proficiency test scores must be submitted with the application. Acceptable test options are:
  • Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL PBT)
  • Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL iBT)
  • International English Language Testing System (IELTS)
  • Pearson’s (PTE Academic)

  This requirement is waived for applicants who graduated from an undergraduate institution where the primary language of instruction was English for at least three years of the applicant’s academic program.

• Age.
  Applicants must be at least 18 but not yet 29 years of age by the start of the program.

The following items are not part of minimum eligibility requirements:

• Marital status. Married applicants may apply and will be at no disadvantage in the application process. Spouses/partners may accompany Schwarzman Scholars to Beijing, but Scholars are expected to live in the dormitory and participate fully in the program like single students. Spouses/partners may not live in the dormitory, and no additional funding will be provided to support spouses/partners living off-campus.

• There are no citizenship or nationality requirements.

• Grade point average/class rank/pre-requisites. Academic excellence will be a requirement for successful applicants, but there is no minimum GPA or class rank required to apply. Applicants are expected to have demonstrated excellence in their academic studies, and the most competitive candidates will be among the top students in their graduating class. There are no course prerequisites for applicants to the program, although some individual classes at Tsinghua University may have prerequisites.

Students who are considering applying for the Schwarzman Scholarship should email Cindy Stocks, Director of Student Fellowships and Research, and request access to the "National Fellowships that Support Graduate Study" Canvas course. Cindy will then give you access to the course so you can learn more about the opportunities that fund graduate study, including the Schwarzman Scholarship, and begin to get your thoughts down on paper.

Gaining access to the Canvas course doesn't commit you to applying; rather, it is one of several tools to help you figure out whether this opportunity is a good fit for you. After reviewing the Canvas course and answering some preliminary questions, you should schedule a meeting with Cindy in March or April (before applying in the fall) to explore more deeply whether the Schwarzman Scholarship is the right fit for you.

The goal is for you to have a finalized list of which national fellowship(s) you want to apply to before the end of classes, so you can work on your application(s) over the summer. 

By the Initial Bowdoin Deadline, (see above), applicants must submit to the Office of Student Fellowships and Research:

• A copy of their Schwarzman application
• Unofficial academic history from Workday
• Signed and witnessed "Permission Form and Waiver"

All materials should be saved as a PDF and electronically submitted to gpappas@bowdoin.edu.

The Committee will review these materials and interview all applicants deemed competitive.

Applications for the Schwarzman Scholarship must be submitted electronically by the official Schwarzman deadline (see above).

Please also submit a copy of your final application to the Office of Student Fellowships and Research by this deadline. Applications should be saved as a PDF and electronically submitted to gpappas@bowdoin.edu.

Additional information about the selection process:

Finalists will be notified in mid-October if they are invited to interviews. Interviews will take place in three locations around the world, with candidates being invited to the closest geographical location. Admissions decisions will be made by mid-November.

Schwarzman Brochure

News Article in the New York Times