Although he studied Finance, Trong Nghia took four more Math courses at another faculty to apply for, and then won a full scholarship for, a master's degree in Economics at the National University of Singapore (NUS).
Phung Trong Nghia, a VinUniversity student, received a scholarship worth SGD 67,000 (over VND 1.2 billion), including tuition and living expenses for one year at NUS. This school is currently ranked 8th in the world, according to the QS University Rankings 2024 .
In addition, the fourth-year student majoring in Finance at the Institute of Business Administration was also accepted into five other schools in Europe, two of which offered full scholarships.
"I chose NUS because many teachers studied here. The school also has a top-quality Economics program in Asia," Nghia shared.
Nghia during a student exchange trip to Hong Kong in 2023. Photo: Character provided
On entering university, Nghia liked Finance and planned to work in this field. In his second year, the male student applied and was accepted as a research assistant of Dr. Nguyen Thi Mai Lan. Nghia's task was to support number filtering, data analysis, and report writing...
While working and studying, Nghia gradually became interested in research. The male student decided to change direction, pursue academic research, and pursue a doctorate. To achieve this goal, Nghia believes that he must have a foundation in Economics. He also wants to study abroad for a master's degree to access new research methods and theories.
According to Nghia, the biggest problem is that if you want to switch to Economics, you have to supplement your knowledge of Mathematics. Meanwhile, the current curriculum only includes two Mathematics subjects: analysis and statistics.
"I need to accumulate knowledge so that the admissions board can see that I am capable of studying," Nghia acknowledged. Therefore, Nghia registered to study four math courses including analysis, linear algebra, differential equations and statistics at the School of Engineering and Computer Science in the school. These are the four minimum courses to meet the entrance requirements for Economics majors.
Studying in two different places, when schedules overlap, Nghia will prioritize the more difficult subjects. Taking an extra subject means more homework, but the four subjects are spread out so Nghia doesn't feel overwhelmed. Because he studied math at Thang Long - Da Lat specialized school in high school, Nghia also caught up faster. He mainly studies at home, paying attention to lectures, taking notes and completing homework on time.
"I like studying. I have a goal so I try to study well," Nghia said. As a result, the male student got an A in all four Math subjects, and achieved a grade point average (GPA) of 3.83/4.0.
In addition to preparing knowledge, Nghia also self-studied for English and standardized certificates. Nghia scored 112/120 on the TOEFL and 333/340 on the GRE (graduate entrance exam).
In October 2023, Nghia started preparing his application. Nghia said that unlike university, master's essays often require getting straight to the point, instead of telling a personal story. NUS asks three questions about the reason for applying, goals, and intentions, and requires applicants to write in 500 words.
In response, Nghia said that this is a leading training program in economics, focusing on theory to help him prepare for a doctorate. Nghia's goal is to become a researcher interested in finance. The male student hopes to contribute to the research and higher education community in Vietnam, while conducting meaningful research, suggesting to policy makers.
"The essay was completed in a month," Nghia said.
As Nghia's mentor in research, Dr. Mai Lan highly appreciates his student's eagerness to learn, meticulous working attitude and never missing an appointment.
"Nghia is quiet but very smart," commented Ms. Mai Lan.
According to her, Nghia had a clear direction early on and set a roadmap, working hard to achieve his goals. When she learned that Nghia had applied to many schools, she wrote a letter of recommendation but was worried about the possibility of receiving a scholarship, since the student had not yet graduated from university. She often encouraged Nghia so that he would not be disappointed if the results were not as expected.
"Nghia is a great student. She deserves this result," said Dr. Mai Lan.
Nghia is currently working on his graduation thesis and is preparing to go to Singapore next August. From his experience, the male student believes that a good academic foundation, especially in Mathematics, is very important to pursue a research career in Economics and related fields. In addition, the opportunity to participate in research with professors is also important, helping candidates gain experience and skills.
"I know the purpose of my studies and when I am truly passionate, I will not feel tired," Nghia shared.
Dawn
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