A student of energy engineering in Hanoi has been awarded fully funded PhD scholarships from top-ranked universities in Singapore, Australia, and the United States for his research in semiconductor materials, all prior to completing his undergraduate degree.
Nguyen Van Thang, aged 22, has opted to pursue his PhD at Virginia Tech in the US, declining offers from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and the University of Sydney in Australia, both of which are ranked among the world's top 20 universities.
"I'm researching semiconductor materials and think the U.S. presents more opportunities for me in this field," Thang said.
His PhD program includes full tuition coverage and a monthly living allowance.
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Nguyen Van Thang at the 2023 National Congress of the Vietnamese Students' Association. |
Thang grew up in a rural area on the outskirts of Hanoi and initially aimed to attend the Foreign Trade University in the capital. However, after being rejected, he enrolled at the University of Technology in Hanoi in 2021. From the beginning, he set a goal to rank among the top four students in his class in order to secure a scholarship. Once he reached that goal, he planned to pursue a master's degree and eventually a PhD abroad.
At the time, I thought that with just a bachelor's degree, I might end up being employed on construction sites for VND7-8 million ($274-314) a month," Thang said. "That was less than what I made by tutoring online. To get a better job, I had to continue my studies.
To prepare for studying abroad, Thang conducted extensive research on online forums and university websites, identifying three key areas to concentrate on: achieving a high academic performance, enhancing English language skills, and participating in research activities.
Through diligent effort and determination, Thang achieved a 3.8 GPA and scored 7.0 on the IELTS. He also secured second place in the National Physics Olympiad for Students and received several domestic scholarships.
Thang embarked on his research journey in his second year, when he joined a professor's research team. At first, he was given simple tasks such as maintaining equipment and weighing samples, but he eventually learned to write and submit research papers. As he worked on each project, he thoroughly reviewed hundreds of studies to refine his research approach.
"I felt stuck at times, but giving up was never a possibility," he stated.
His dedication bore fruit. Thang co-authored four research papers on semiconductor materials in top scientific journals, including Ceramics International and Materials Today.
In October 2024, Thang started applying for PhD scholarships, initially making NTU his top priority. His application consisted of a research statement, future goals, and letters of recommendation. He also went through multiple rounds of interviews, where professors thoroughly assessed his knowledge, technical abilities, and dedication to the field.
My professors asked me very specific questions about my research to make sure I understood the subject and could apply my technical skills," Thang said. "In my research team, I was only surpassed by my professor, so I felt quite confident in my responses.
After securing an offer from NTU, he expanded his applications to universities in the United States and Australia.
His interview at Virginia Tech was particularly intense. Expecting a brief discussion, he prepared a 10-slide presentation. However, the professor stopped at each slide to ask in-depth questions, turning what he thought would be a short conversation into a three-hour interview.
Impressed by his academic achievements and research accomplishments, Virginia Tech granted him a full scholarship.
Thang's classmate and research partner, Phi Ngoc Tuan, described him as highly disciplined and extremely focused.
He always puts in his best effort whether he's studying, researching, or even playing video games," Tuan said. "It's impressive to see him manage multiple responsibilities simultaneously, such as establishing a tutoring center.
The energy engineering program at Hanoi's University of Technology usually requires four to five years to complete. However, Thang made a concerted effort to graduate a semester ahead of schedule, which allowed him to start his PhD in August. He is also learning programming and machine learning, a recommendation made by his professor, as these skills would be beneficial for his future research.
"I will diligently acquire knowledge and gain experience in order to make meaningful contributions to the field of semiconductor material research," Thang said.