Every year, QS offers a range of exclusive scholarships, currently worth US$1.7 million, to support those applying to study a master’s, PhD or MBA program internationally.
These include scholarships to support postgraduate studies at specific institutions, as well as several awards that can be used towards tuition fees at any university, anywhere in the world. Among these is the QS Academic Excellence Scholarship, worth US$10,000, awarded each year to an applicant who displays outstanding academic achievements and ambitions.
This year’s winner is Kasparas Spokas. Born in Lithuania, Kasparas was raised and educated in Canada, and is now preparing to commence postgraduate studies in the US, at prestigious Ivy League member Princeton University. The QS Academic Excellence Scholarship will help provide PhD funding for a program during which Kasparas will pursue academic research on the environmental impact of “fracking”, the controversial process used to extract natural gas from deep in the ground for use in energy supply.
Securing PhD funding and a place at Princeton
Having recently completed his bachelor’s degree at Canada’s McGill University, Kasparas says he’s amazed to think how much he’s already developed during his time at university – both within the classroom and beyond. “In addition to learning fundamental sciences, the biggest reward of attending McGill University was its ability to broaden my perspectives and believe I was capable of achieving anything I set my mind to.”
He foresees more of the same all-round development and stimulation once he enters the academic community at Princeton. “There is so much knowledge at a university like Princeton that I am most excited to simply have conversations with the leading researchers in many different disciplines. Aside from my own PhD project, I know my conversations and experiences at Princeton alone will broaden my understanding and scope.”
As well as providing a useful source of PhD funding, Kasparas says the scholarship has served to validate his achievements so far, while boosting his future academic and career prospects. “It is immensely gratifying to have your hard work be justified by a scholarship or an award. It serves as motivation to keep striving for the best results as I enter a new chapter in my life… Moreover, having scholarships on your résumé is never a negative when applying for jobs in the future.”
Combining academic research with practical application
As Kasparas points out, an offer of a place at Princeton is not easy to turn down. However, he says he kept a fairly open mind while searching for programs and institutions, focusing on finding a course that would provide exposure to leading academics in his field. “I simply began searching for the best researchers in my discipline; the university name was less of a factor. However, when applying to a school like Princeton, it is almost a guarantee that your supervisor will be a very strong researcher. Thus when the opportunity presented itself, it was an easy decision.”
After completing his PhD, which will investigate the impact of fracking operations in North America and suggest more environmentally favorable practices, Kasparas hopes to spend some time gaining practical experience as a consultant in this field. He ultimately intends to return to academia, but believes spending some time in a more ‘hands-on’ role will help him to conduct academic research that is more relevant and applicable.
Finally, he’s keen to encourage others to apply for scholarships, believing many students simply lack the confidence or self-belief to do so. As he says, “Many opportunities arise if you simply take the first step and show interest.”
