Academic achievement and new opportunities: Phoujing's Global Talent Scholarship Story

30 September 2026

As a recipient of the Global Talent Scholarship, Phoujing received the award after meeting the academic threshold for international students studying the International Baccalaureate. She shares what that recognition meant as she began university in a new country, and the opportunities she has since taken to develop her skills and experience. 

 

What did receiving the Global Talent Scholarship mean to you personally? 

"Receiving the Global Talent Scholarship was very meaningful to me because it felt like recognition of the hard work I had put into my International Baccalaureate studies. I received the scholarship after meeting the academic threshold for international students studying the IB, and knowing that my academic performance had met that standard was incredibly rewarding. 

It also motivated me to continue working hard after arriving at Queen Mary. The scholarship made me feel that the university recognised the effort I had already put into my education and believed that I had the potential to succeed here. It is encouraging to see that my efforts are valued. 

I was also particularly pleased that the scholarship was awarded automatically to students who met the eligibility criteria, without requiring an additional application. This made the recognition feel especially rewarding because it was based directly on the academic results I had already achieved. 

Receiving the scholarship gave me confidence as I began my university journey in a new country. It encouraged me to set higher goals for myself and to keep building on the academic foundation that had helped me receive the award in the first place."

 

Looking back, what opportunities or experiences at Queen Mary have had the biggest impact on you?

"The opportunities and experiences at Queen Mary that have had the biggest impact on me are becoming a Student Ambassador and undertaking a micro-internship. 

Firstly, through my Student Ambassador experience, I have improved my collaboration and organisation skills. I work with and communicate with other Student Ambassadors to arrange events and coordinate scheduling. I have also improved my communication skills because I can now communicate much better with large and diverse groups of students. This has helped me develop my professional speaking skills and become more confident when communicating with different audiences. 

Secondly, my micro-internship programme has given me a taste of real-life work experience. I have enjoyed it because I get to work alongside another micro-intern and work together to complete the given project. It was rewarding to complete the project and feel like I had helped make an impact on the organisation I worked with. 

Both experiences have helped me understand what it is like to work with other people, take responsibility for my work, and contribute to something outside of my academic studies. They have also made me feel more prepared for entering the workplace after my studies."

 

- Phoujing Chea, BSc Marketing and Management student and Global Talent Scholarship recipient 
Queen Mary University of London 

 

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