CEIBS QS Global Significance Scholarship: 2020 Winner

QS and CEIBS are delighted to annouce the inaugural recipient of the CEIBS QS Global Significance Scholarship is Iulian Victor Zănoagă.

The scholarship awards one tuition fee waiver of up to 100 percent to an applicant from non-Chinese origin who has previously connected with CEIBS at a QS event and who will apply, or has applied, for the MBA intake.

We caught up with Iulian to find out more about the impact the scholarship will have for him and to get his top tips for any future scholarship application.

Why did you choose to study at CEIBS?

I chose to study at CEIBS in order to learn more about China’s economy and prepare myself for the future disruptive trends in finance. Throughout my professional experience I noticed that China is ubiquitous in today’s world economy and I believe that a deep knowledge of China will be an invaluable asset for my future career.

What do you hope to gain from your degree? How will it affect your career plans?

I am very interested in digital payments. I believe that future developments in this area will shape the global financial world. Through CEIBS' MBA program, I will get access to a plethora of valuable courses, as well as key industry know-how, unique learning experiences and important relationships.

I am confident that the knowledge acquired throughout this MBA program, together with the invaluable reputation of CEIBS, will open up important work opportunities. This will enable me to make a major contribution towards changing the payments system in traditional banking.

How did you find the scholarship application process?

The application process was straight-forward and easy to complete.

I was thrilled to see that CEIBS was offering, via QS, a full scholarship for the MBA program I a was interested in. I have also applied for a few other scholarships, mainly offered by the university itself. However, once I found out that this CEIBS QS Global Significance full scholarship is available, I gave my very best to win it.

What difference will this scholarship make to you?

Receiving this scholarship gives me the opportunity to avoid costly student loans that could take many years to repay and enables me to fully focus on studying. It also gives me the flexibility to attend different events and conferences and participate in other group activities during my education.

Without the financial support I would need to plan how to best secure the necessary resources. A postponement of my application for the following year might have happened.

What advice do you have for other prospective students who are applying for scholarships?

I think it's very important to choose the right program from the very beginning and fully focus on it. Applying for a scholarship is much easier if the program is what you truly wish for. With regards to the essay, I recommend them to be honest, genuine in their writing and not to underestimate the value that self-reflection brings to their story.