Georgetown Qatar students earn elite global affairs awards in China

Two students from Georgetown University in Qatar have secured places in the highly selective Schwartzman Scholars programme, marking a notable academic milestone for the Doha-based campus and underscoring the growing links between Middle East institutions and leading centres of study in China.

Kingwell Ma and Zarrish Ahmed have been awarded fully funded, one-year master’s degrees in Global Affairs at Tsinghua University in Beijing, where the Schwarzman Scholars programme is hosted. The award covers tuition, accommodation, travel, and living expenses, and is designed to prepare future leaders for careers shaped by China’s expanding role in global affairs.

Two Qatar-based students clinch global China fellowships is how the achievement has been described within the university community, reflecting both the competitiveness of the programme and the international profile of the recipients.

The Schwartzman Scholars programme, launched in 2016, draws thousands of applicants each year from across the world, selecting a small cohort based on academic excellence, leadership potential, and commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding. Scholars live and study together at Schwarzman College, engaging in a curriculum that combines public policy, economics, international relations, and leadership training, alongside intensive exposure to China’s political, economic, and social landscape.

Ma and Ahmed are currently students at Georgetown University in Qatar, which operates as a branch campus of Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service. The Qatar campus has steadily built a reputation for producing graduates who move into diplomacy, international organisations, policy research, and global business, aided by its location in a country that has positioned itself as a hub for education and dialogue.

According to university officials, both students demonstrated strong academic records and leadership experience during their time in Doha. Their applications highlighted engagement with international issues, cross-border research interests, and extracurricular initiatives that aligned with the programme’s emphasis on global citizenship and practical leadership.

Ma’s academic focus has centred on international political economy and East–West relations, with particular attention to how emerging powers shape global governance structures. Ahmed’s work has explored global development and security issues, including the social dimensions of international policy-making. Faculty members familiar with their work have described both as analytically rigorous and capable of translating theory into practical insight, qualities that the Schwartzman selection committee prioritises.

The award comes at a time when interest in China-focused graduate programmes has been rising among students from the Middle East and South Asia. Universities and policy institutes in the region increasingly view direct exposure to China’s institutions as essential for understanding shifts in trade, technology, diplomacy, and global governance. The Schwartzman Scholars programme has positioned itself at the centre of this trend by offering an English-taught curriculum while immersing students in Beijing’s academic and policy environment.

For Georgetown University in Qatar, the selection of two students in the same cohort reflects the campus’s broader strategy of encouraging students to compete for global fellowships and scholarships. Previous cohorts from the university have gone on to win awards such as Rhodes, Fulbright, and Marshall scholarships, reinforcing its standing among international branch campuses.

Administrators at the Qatar campus noted that the success also highlights the role of Education City in Doha, where multiple international universities operate under a shared vision of fostering globally engaged graduates. The presence of students moving from Doha to Beijing for advanced study illustrates the increasingly interconnected pathways shaping higher education.

The Schwartzman Scholars programme itself has drawn attention for its emphasis on leadership development alongside academic study. In addition to coursework, scholars participate in mentorship programmes, internships, and cultural activities designed to deepen their understanding of China’s society and its interactions with the wider world. Alumni of the programme have gone on to roles in government, multinational companies, non-governmental organisations, and academia.