Alumnus Awarded Schwarzman Scholarship to Study in Beijing

Awarded a highly prestigious graduate fellowship from the Schwarzman Scholars program, University of Texas at Austin alumnus Sebastian De Beurs (B.A. ‘19, government) is preparing to earn a master’s degree in global affairs in Beijing, China.  

Chosen from a pool of more than 4,000 applicants, this year’s cohort of Schwarzman Scholars encompasses 150 students from 43 countries and 114 universities worldwide. Each scholar partakes in a fully funded, yearlong graduate program at Schwarzman College, Tsinghua University in Beijing. 

A Presidential Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa and Plan II honors graduate from the Netherlands, De Beurs had learned about the Schwarzman Scholars program during his time as an undergrad at UT Austin. He subsequently worked closely with the Undergraduate College’s Office of Distinguished and Postgraduate Scholarships to prepare his application and said UT Austin helped bolster his future career.  

“UT sparked my American dream,” said De Beurs. “As a newcomer who grew up in a small town in the Netherlands, I found a warm entrepreneurial community at UT. Above all, the Forty Acres taught me that we can shape our future. I’m excited to take that with me to China as a Schwarzman Scholar.” 

The Schwarzman Scholars program offers a year of cultural immersion and expansive learning opportunities across China, and De Beurs — who founded a neurotherapeutics company after graduating — hopes to use his further experiences as a scholar to bring a greater global perspective to the development of medicine.  

“I believe international education and exchanges are so valuable to making the world a more connected, safer place,” said De Beurs. “I hope my story can inspire prospective and current UT students to pursue international education opportunities.” 

Read more from the Undergraduate College.