Schwarzman Scholars Announces Tenth Class

150 Exceptional Scholars from 38 Countries to Join Prestigious Network of 1,300+ Young

Global Leaders; Record-high Applications Indicate Growing Interest in Studying in China

Schwarzman Scholars, one of the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowship programs, today announced its milestone tenth cohort of admitted students. The 150 Scholars, representing 38 countries and 105 universities from around the world, will receive the opportunity to attend a one-year, fully-funded master’s degree program in global affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University in Beijing, China.

This year, Schwarzman Scholars received the highest number of applications in its ten-year history, with the Class of 2025-26 selected from a pool of nearly 5,000 candidates worldwide. Designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders, Schwarzman Scholars continues to be one of the most selective graduate fellowship programs in the world. The record-breaking interest in the program and the impressive caliber of this year’s admitted students demonstrate that young leaders are increasingly invested in understanding China and fostering global collaboration.

With the incoming class, the Schwarzman Scholars network now includes over 1,300 members from 104 countries and 459 institutions worldwide. Schwarzman Scholars alumni have demonstrated immense leadership capacity, trailblazing in a number of industries and collaborating to tackle pressing issues all around the world.

The Schwarzman Scholars Class of 2025-26 is comprised of many exceptional young leaders, including:

• A winner of the Singapore Prime Minister’s Book Prize
• The co-founder of a real estate technology start-up
• A Grammy award-winning flutist
• A researcher who co-invented and holds the patent for technology that detects early-stage cancerous cell production
• The patent holder and founder of an innovative footwear company
• An archaeologist who has worked on major historical projects in China
• The founder of an NGO backed by national development banks and leading companies
• A former winner of the United States National Speech and Debate Tournament
• An Obama Foundation Leader
• A recipient of the “Young Australian of the Year” award
• The founder of a leading STEM education company
• A “Diana Award” winner
• A 3-time recipient of the United States “President’s Volunteer Service Award”
• The founder of an established beverage company
• Musicians and filmmakers
• Several presidents of their universities’ student bodies
• Multiple honorees of the Forbes 30 Under 30

More information on the incoming class can be found at www.schwarzmanscholars.org/scholars. Profiles for the Class of 2026 will be posted online on Wednesday, January 15 at 10:00 a.m. EST.

“Our tenth cohort fills me with optimism for the future,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, Founding Trustee of Schwarzman Scholars. “This year’s selected Scholars are keenly interested in learning about China and broadening their understanding of global affairs, which are both now more important than ever. Our network, now ten classes strong, is already starting to make a global impact, and I am proud of our program’s continued success. I look forward to watching this inspiring community continue to grow.”

"I am excited to welcome the tenth cohort to the Schwarzman Scholars and Tsinghua University communities," said Xue Lan, Dean of Schwarzman College. “This class embodies Schwarzman College’s commitment to fostering global connections, advancing knowledge, and nurturing leaders who will address the most pressing challenges of our time. They will bring tremendous vitality and international experience to Tsinghua campus.”

Scholars are selected through a competitive application process designed to identify leadership potential, intellect, and strength of character. Close to 400 candidates were invited to interview with panels of CEOs, government leaders, university presidents, and non-profit executives, among others.

Starting in August 2025, the Scholars selected for the tenth cohort will engage in a graduate curriculum focused on leadership, global affairs, and China. The students are taught by leading faculty from Tsinghua as well as from many globally recognized international universities, and attend lectures delivered by global thought leaders. Scholars gain unique exposure to China through mentoring, internships, and experiential learning. Additionally, career development is provided to help Scholars excel in various fields upon graduation.

The program’s unique combination of coursework, cultural immersion, and personal and professional development equips Schwarzman Scholars with a well-rounded understanding of China’s changing role in the world, critically important to leadership in any field in the 21st century.

“This year’s admissions process was our most competitive yet, and the admitted members of the tenth cohort have already accomplished so much,” said Cordel Faulk, Director of Global Admissions. “We are all very excited to welcome these 150 young leaders into the Schwarzman Scholars community and look forward to seeing what contributions they make in the next year and beyond.”

About Schwarzman Scholars

Schwarzman Scholars is a one-year, fully-funded master's degree program in global affairs at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. An unparalleled learning experience, it is the first scholarship of its kind created to respond to the geopolitical landscape of the 21st century and designed to prepare the next generation of global leaders.

Each year, up to 200 candidates from around the world are selected to join a diverse cohort. Schwarzman Scholars seeks candidates with leadership qualities and the potential to foster cross-cultural understanding. Scholars come from a wide variety of industries and backgrounds, such as business, technology, science, politics, healthcare, and more. Schwarzman Scholars' dynamic curriculum—based on the pillars of China, leadership, and global affairs—is designed to provide Scholars with the knowledge, skills, and firsthand experience needed to navigate the complexities of the evolving global landscape. Through an immersive experience in China, Scholars spend a year living in Beijing, studying at the prestigious Tsinghua University under the guidance of leading academics and global thought leaders.

Schwarzman Scholars was established in 2013 by Founding Trustee Stephen A. Schwarzman. Inspired by his vision, Schwarzman Scholars aspires to create a global network of leaders who will shape the future.

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