The University of Science and Technology of Hanoi -USTH (also called Vietnam France University) proudly has 6 out of 11 masters gaining the prestigious Excellence Scholarship awarded by the French government, destined for doctoral students.
On April 13th, 2018, one day after the 45th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations and five years of strategic relations between Vietnam and France, the list of 22 Vietnamese candidates who won the Excellence scholarship of the school year 2018 has been announced. Impressively, among the 11 PhD candidates in the country, there are 6 master students who graduated from USTH, including:
· Nguyen Ngoc Duc, Master in Advanced Materials Science and Nanotechnology
· Nguyen Duy Tung, Master in Water – Environment – Ocean
· To Duy Thai, Master in Water – Environment – Ocean
· Luu Thi Bich, Master in Pharmacological, Medical and Agronomical Biotechnology
· Pham Thuy Ha, Master in Pharmacological, Medical and Agronomical Biotechnology
· Tran Quang Hieu, Master in Pharmacological, Medical and Agronomical Biotechnology
The French Government’s Excellence Scholarship Program is an annual programme aiming to identify and support potential applicants who wish to pursue Master 2 and PhD degrees at reputed French universities.
Vietnamese applicants from various disciplines such as Agriculture, Environment and Earth Sciences, Health, Transportation, Logistics … are encouraged to apply for the scholarship. Four priority areas of study are Science, Economics and Management, Engineering and Law. The Scholarship is valid for 12 months for Masters 2 and 36 months for PhD. In addition to excellent academic results, the candidates must demonstrate their motivation as well as their passion for research to persuade the Council through an interview in mid-March 2018.
Aside from receiving a monthly living allowance, applicants for the Excellence Scholarship also enjoy a variety of benefits, including direct social insurance, homestay assistance, visa grants, exempt registration fees as well as tuition fees when studying at French universities. In particular, PhD students will receive a round-trip international air ticket from the French Embassy.
Notably, the research areas of the candidates from the USTH are not in the four priority fields offered scholarship. Although these areas have not been common in Vietnam yet, but in the today’s society, they are greatly developing, especially in industrialized countries such as France, England, Switzerland and the United States. In addition, the participation in research projects with lecturers throughout their school years also plays a vital role in the dossier of USTH applicants.
Furthermore, foreign language ability is another “secret weapon” to be mentioned. In fact, the candidates may choose the language of the scholarship interview, depending on the course they wish to pursue in France. USTH candidates chose to interview in English. Still, during the interview, the Council would ask a few questions in French. Having a program that is fully taught in English enables USTH candidates to confidently answer specialized questions as well as to express their own abilities. Additionally, the French communication skills acquired through the French language classes at the school are also considered as a plus in the interview, showing the thorough preparation for the integration in the West.
Along with the Eiffel Scholarship, the Excellence Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships sponsored by the French Government for excellent candidates in Vietnam. With this result, the USTH is increasingly asserting the effectiveness and practicality of its program in the nurture and the development of Vietnamese future talents.
