Apply, then sit back, cross your fingers and pray

Matthew Knowles, 30, from the United States received a full Chinese Government Scholarship for a one-year performing arts program at the Beijing Film Academy in 2013.

I first learned about the scholarship from my friend, Grant. We met while filming a TV show in China, and he told me that he was the first Caucasian to study in the performing arts program at China's Central Academy of Drama.

He was on a full government scholarship there. I told Grant about my background in film, and he recommended that I apply for a scholarship for the BFA because no non-Asian had ever graduated from the acting program there.