USC partners with the China Scholarship Council


By
 in

In July, USC unveiled a jointly funded program with Beijing’s China Scholarship Council that aims to provide two-year fellowships to international students looking to join a Ph.D. program at USC.

Overseen by the Office of Global Initiatives, the program hopes to provide fellowships this fall, with fellows receiving tuition and health insurance from USC. According to Anthony Bailey, vice provost of Global Initiatives, USC is the first university in the country to partner up with the CSC.

Bailey noted that China’s global impact is the main reason USC initiated the partnership.

“China has close to 20 percent of the world’s population and will greatly impact the future of humanity,” Bailey said.

Meredith Drake Reitan, assistant dean, is one of the leaders of the global fellowship programs at USC. Reitan noted that the partnership will bring bright individuals to the campus.

“With these fellowships, USC is able to attract the most highly recruited students in the world,”  Reitan said.

The university’s draw to global fellowships comes from USC’s overall academic goals for international students, according to Joyce Chao, director of USC’s Beijing Office.

“USC’s continuous rising reputation [is due to its] academic excellence, global initiatives and a well-known and welcoming environment for international students.”

Financial difficulties, however, have held back many international students. Sonia Gumuchian, a freshman international student from Canada majoring in writing for screen and television, said that scholarships are important for international students.

“Leaving home and adjusting to different financial expectations may be difficult for an international student who is unable to request financial aid,” Gumuchian said.

This collaboration with the CSC provides USC with a diverse group of doctoral candidates who have unique perspectives.

“As a global university, we are always looking to train the best minds who will solve the world’s future challenges,” Bailey said.

 

Follow the Daily Trojan on Twitter @dailytrojan