QS Leadership Scholarship: 2017 Winner

We're pleased to announce that this year's QS Leadership Scholarship has been awarded to Afghan student Neelofar Rahimi. The $10,000 scholarship is awarded to outstanding candidates who have demonstrated strong leadership skills.

Neelofar is currently studying at Norasonde Adult Learning Center for Norwegian Language in Norway, where she lives with her parents and four siblings, and plans to study a master’s in International Business at Hult International Business School in the US.

Neelofar’s extraordinary life story makes her an extremely fitting recipient of this particular scholarship. Born in a country where education for women is a challenge due to religious, cultural and governmental issues, Neelofar has overcome a series of obstacles, from being shot to experiencing depression and losing her big brother, and speaks of her determination to positively impact the lives of other women through her own work ethic. Fittingly, her thesis is on Women Empowerment and Employment.

Neelofar learned of this scholarship after attending the QS World Grad School Tour in Oslo. She says: “I believe this scholarship was one that gave everyone a chance despite their nationality or race. Having been rejected elsewhere many times for these reasons, I appreciated the chance QS Scholarships was willing to give me and this scholarship will have a significant impact on my ability to continue my graduate degree. By lightening the financial burden, this scholarship enables me to shift my focus toward making progress in my studies.”

After finishing her studies in the US, Neelofar hopes to continue working to empower women around the world through business, entrepreneurship and employment.

Advice for other applicants

“Take your time searching for scholarships and read carefully through the requirements for each one. When writing application essays, be true to who you are as what you write should reflect your personality. Nothing comes easy, so make the effort to have someone experienced check your essays before you submit them. It will definitely pay off in the end!”