Chu Thanh Tu, a 12th-grade student majoring in English at the Hanoi - Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, was awarded a scholarship covering 100 percent of tuition fees for the entire course. Each year, only four international students can access this prestigious award.

“I was surprised to learn I was chosen among around 10,000 applicants. This is the first step toward realizing my dreams,” Tu said.

Besides Monash University, Tu also gained admission to other top Australian universities, including the University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, and University of Queensland.

Supported by her parents, Tu began dreaming of studying abroad as early as middle school. Unlike her brother, who is studying in the US, Tu prefers Australia, which she viewed as a peaceful country with many world-class universities.

Her conviction grew stronger after attending a summer camp and experiencing Australia’s academic environment. “I knew this was the right place for me, so as soon as I returned, I started preparing my study abroad application,” she said.

Tu said Australian schools place heavy emphasis on academic performance. From the 10th grade, she meticulously planned to maintain an average GPA of 9.5-9.9/10. Additionally, she scored 1590/1600 on the SAT and 8.0 on the IELTS.

For extracurricular activities, Tu said her family owns a tea garden in Thach That district in Hanoi, where they host workshops on tea picking and processing. Tu often accompanied her mother to tea cooperatives in Thai Nguyen to seek tea supply. 

There, a tea artisan shared insights about the love for tea and Vietnam’s tea culture. This experience sparked Tu’s curiosity: “Why does Vietnam excel in tea production, yet tea culture is often associated with England or Japan’s matcha?”

Learning more about tea origins and production process, Tu and her brother, who was also a Hanoi-Amsterdam High School student, came up with the idea of bridging farmers and consumers by distributing tea-related products while promoting Vietnam’s tea culture to young people through workshops. They later registered a social enterprise called Mattra.

Tu noted that their entrepreneurial journey faced challenges, including operational setbacks and the risk of failure. However, the siblings persevered, exploring new sales channels and promoting their products. Through each phase, Tu gained skills in business operations, teamwork, and leadership.

All profits were used to offer scholarships of VND 1 million each to 10 students with difficult living conditions.

Last year, Tu presented this project at the INOVA Croatia international invention and innovation competition, winning a Gold Award in the Startup category. Besides her good learning record, Tu believes that the project was a highlight in her applications to Australian universities.

Like many Australian universities, Monash does not require applicants to submit essays. Instead, Tu submitted her application for review, and shortlisted candidates were invited for interviews. During her interview with the admissions panel, Tu was asked about her achievements, why she deserved the scholarship, and what she could contribute to Monash.

Tu explained that the Monash International Leadership Scholarship seeks candidates with leadership qualities, positive community impact, and outstanding academic ability. She presented herself authentically, focusing on her leadership in various projects.

“I believe these experiences are the foundation for me to take on diverse roles and responsibilities as a Monash student,” Tu said.

After securing admission to the top Australian university, Tu is now preparing for her high school graduation exams while exploring commerce-related subjects she will study in the upcoming fall semester.

“During my years in Australia, I will focus on developing expertise in commerce, continuing my tea startup, and potentially growing the business in the future,” Tu said.

Australia, along with the US and Canada, is one of the top global study destinations for Vietnamese students. 

Doslink cited the statistics from the Australian Department of Home Affairs, as reporting that there were 37,143 Vietnamese students in Australia from the beginning of 2024 to the end of April 2024, an increase of 12,270 compared to the same period last year, including students in secondary schools, universities, colleges, and other short-term academic and scientific programs.

Thuy Nga