The U.S./Global application for the ninth cohort of Schwarzman Scholars officially opened on April 12. Recently, we also celebrated an important milestone as April 21 commemorated the announcement of this program to the world ten years ago. It was a historic moment for Schwarzman Scholars, as President Xi Jinping and President Obama each provided a written endorsement of our program, which were both read at a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People.

On this momentous occasion, we thank you for recognizing the importance of the vision to develop an international community of future leaders committed to global impact. This mission—to ensure young leaders understand the importance of mutual understanding and the role China plays in global affairs—is even more relevant today. We are grateful for your tremendous support and contributions to the success of the Schwarzman Scholars program over the past decade. Now more than ever, the world needs Schwarzman Scholars.

Since we founded the program, we have admitted over a thousand young leaders to Schwarzman Scholars, and we are more committed than ever before to educating them on the importance that mutual understanding plays in tackling geopolitical challenges. As we continue to grow, I wish to ask for your help and support with sharing the news of our application launch with compelling candidates for our program: exceptional young people with integrity, character and a drive to lead.

With applicants from top institutions around the world each year, we continue to be one of the most prestigious graduate fellowships globally, with admission rates consistently around 5%.

Please invite candidates to visit our website at www.schwarzmanscholars.org to access the application and learn more. The deadline for U.S. and other non-China candidates is September 19, 2023. Interviews will be held in late October and early November, and candidates selected for admission will be notified in mid-November 2023 and announced to the public in mid-December 2023.