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Schwarzman Scholars Announces its Eleventh Cohort, the Class of 2026-2027: 150 Incoming Scholars from 40 Countries to Join Prestigious Network of 1,500+ Global Leaders; Record-high Applications Indicate Sustained Interest in Studying in China

January 15, 2026

NEW YORK, NY, USA and BEIJING, CHINA Jan. 15, 2026 — Schwarzman Scholars, one of the world’s most prestigious graduate fellowship programs, today announced its eleventh cohort of admitted students. The 150 Scholars, representing 40 countries and 83 universities from around the world, will 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 history, with the Class of 2026-27 selected from a pool of just over 5,800 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 1,500 members from 107 countries and 490 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 2026-27 is comprised of many exceptional young leaders, including: A published author and winner of a rising scientist award Multiple Guinness World Record holders A Time Fellow working on combatting aging-related diseases An internationally-ranked table tennis player A Diana Award Winner A One Young World BP Net-Zero Scholar The founder of a clean energy start-up A Policy advisor in Thailand’s parliament An award-winning journalist Multiple Mastercard Scholars A member of Hong Kong’s national soccer team A Presidential Leadership Scholar The founder of a leading European custom apparel company A Mongolian Young Person of the Year Award winner An international project manager in China’s Ministry of Commerce Multiple members of Forbes’ 30 under 30 “Our eleventh cohort is a truly impressive group that fills me with optimism,” said Stephen A. Schwarzman, Founding Trustee of Schwarzman Scholars. “. I am hopeful that their interest in China and global affairs, coupled with their leadership potential, will create opportunities for collaboration and dialogue at Schwarzman College and beyond. As we move into our second decade, our network’s impact continues to grow and I am proud of Schwarzman Scholars’ continued success.” "We are thrilled to welcome the eleventh cohort to Schwarzman College at Tsinghua University," said Xue Lan, Dean of Schwarzman College. "Their remarkable accomplishments herald a promising group of future leaders. I am eager to see them advance our commitment to global collaboration and transformative knowledge, as they work together to tackle this century's greatest challenges and enrich our entire community." “It has been immensely gratifying to shape this class through our dynamic admissions process and to see so many emerging leaders eager to deepen their understanding of China and contribute to global collaboration,” said Amy Celico, Executive Director of Schwarzman Scholars. “I am excited to welcome them into the Schwarzman Scholars network.” 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. The eleventh cohort unites 150 brilliant, inspiring and innovative leaders of impact who are already driving change across the globe,” said Wyatt Bruton, Director of Global Admissions. “I’ve truly enjoyed getting to know them through our selection process, and I am confident their contributions will strengthen our growing network of Schwarzman Scholars collaborating across sectors, time zones, and borders. Starting in August 2026, the Scholars selected for the eleventh 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. More information on the incoming class can be found at www.schwarzmanscholars.org/scholars 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. ### For more information, please contact: [email protected] ****** 清华大学苏世民书院2026级学者名单正式公布 1月15日，清华大学苏世民书院第十一届学者名单正式公布。新一届的150名苏世民学者来自全球40个国家和地区的83所大学。随着新学者的加入，苏世民学者全球校友网络目前已汇聚来自107个国家和490所大学的超过1500名成员。 今年录取的学生综合素质十分出众，创历史新高的申请人数也充分表明，全球青年对了解中国的兴趣和促进全球合作的信念正在不断增强。这群优秀的青年中，有致力于攻克老龄化疾病的《时 代周刊》奖学金获得者、英国“戴安娜奖”获得者、奥巴马基金会项目领导者、欧洲领先定制服装企业创始人、蒙古年度最佳青年奖获得者、中国商务部国际项目负责人以及多位《福布斯》“30岁以下精英榜”上榜成员等。（详细学者信息，可点击“阅读原文”查看。） “第十一届学者令人眼前一亮，我非常看好他们。”苏世民学者项目创始理事苏世民（Stephen A. Schwarzman）直言赞道。“我希望他们能够秉持对中国和全球事务的探索兴趣，充分发挥自身的领导力才能，在苏世民书院及更广阔的平台上，为全球协作与对话创造更多机会。在苏世民学者项目步入第二个十年之际，我们的校友网络影响力持续扩大，我为苏世民学者项目的稳步发展深感自豪。” 苏世民书院院长薛澜表示：“我们很高兴即将迎来清华大学苏世民书院的第十一届学者。他们已取得的成就昭示着未来领导群体的崛起。我期待看到他们践行全球合作与知识变革的使命，携手应对这个时代最为紧迫的挑战，并为书院这个集体带来更多的活力和丰富的经验。” 苏世民学者项目执行总监谢安敏（Amy Celico）表示，“随着如火如荼的招生工作圆满收官，我们成功吸纳了新一届的全球优秀学者。看到这么多新锐领导者有志加深对中国的了解，愿意为全球合作做出贡献，我感到非常欣慰。很高兴苏世民学者项目再次迎来一批新鲜血液。” 学者遴选依托竞争性申请流程开展，旨在发掘候选人的领导潜力、学术能力与品格素养。近 400 位候选人获邀参加面试，面试官阵容涵盖首席执行官、政府领导、大学校长以及非营利机构高管等各界人士。 全球招生主任吴华（Wyatt Bruton） 对于新一届学者同样赞不绝口，“第十一届学者汇聚了 150 位才华出众、朝气蓬勃的创新型人才，他们用自己的力量持续推动全球变革，是真正具有巨大潜在影响力的青年领导者。在遴选过程中，我有幸结识了每一位学员，也坚信，他们的加入将为我们这个跨越行业、时区与国界的苏世民学者网络注入更强动力。” “本届学者汇集了不同学术与专业背景的杰出青年，”清华大学苏世民书院招生部主任梁冰表示，“他们丰富的人生经历、多元的视角以及强烈的公共责任意识，将为书院的学习交流注入更深层次的内涵，并提升全社区的集体学习体验。” 2026级苏世民学者将于 2026 年 8 月正式入学，开启以领导力、全球事务与中国发展为核心的研究生课程学习。清华大学以及多所国际顶尖高校的杰出教授将为学者们带来高质量的教学指导。同时，全球各地的思想领袖也将通过专题讲座与学者们展开深入的交流与探讨。在导师的悉心指 导下，通过行业实习和实践学习，学者们将有机会从多个角度全面而深入地了解中国。此外，书院还为学者们准备了丰富的职业发展资源，旨在帮助他们在毕业后能够在各个领域取得卓越的成就。 苏世民书院将课程学习、文化体验、个人成长与职业发展有机融合，这种独特模式让学者们能够全面理解中国在世界格局中不断演变的角色，对致力于未来引领各行各业发展的青年尤为重要。