The scholarship committee is looking to expand the pool of possible recipients in order to gain a wider influence and recruit a more diverse range of talent from the world's most populous country, according to Elizabeth Kiss, chief executive officer of the Rhodes Trust.

"We hope to double the number of Rhodes Scholarships from China from four to eight by 2028," Kiss told China Daily in a recent interview. The plan is the culmination of a push by the trust to raise more money from philanthropists, expand the number of scholarships and broaden the program - which until recently was limited to a shorter list of countries - into something truly global.

Students traditionally pursue a second bachelor's degree, but in recent years most have enrolled in graduate degree programs, or in Mao's case, a master's-turned-PhD program.

The selection process is stringent: Applicants should exhibit their outstanding academic excellence, a mastery in various activities from sports to artistic pursuits, strong leadership, as well as a commitment to service, according to the brief description of potential candidates' qualifications published on the website.

However, in the words of Kiss, the selection committee is looking for people who are "innovators and change-makers" and have the drive to make a difference in their lives.

"We are looking for signs that, in their lives, they have demonstrated interest in other people and have gone beyond what it takes to be a successful student," she says. "It's important to give back to their society and community."

Despite getting distinction for her degrees, Mao envisioned international exposure would add her chances of getting selected. So, instead of applying for the scholarship straight after graduation in China, she took a preemptive approach by studying in the UK first and working part time in a prestigious NGO related to her field of interest.