5 tips to hunt for Canada scholarships from HSU English Language Studies student

With excellent language skills, Phan Minh Anh – a senior student majoring in English Language Studies at HSU, is not only a bilingual MC for many events at HSU but also has won numerous exchange scholarships abroad. Most recently, the ASEAN-Canada Scholarship (SEED Scholarship) from Centennial College (Canada).

Phan Minh Anh has just completed a semester of over 4 months at Centennial College – one of the top 4 largest public colleges in Canada with 47,000 students. To study here, Minh Anh went through a rigorous scholarship application process. They are one of the 5 Asian students and the only Vietnamese student to receive a scholarship from Centennial College in the fall semester of 2023.

Here are some experiences that Minh Anh has distilled and wants to share so that more and more other students have the opportunity to study abroad:

1. Good English Skills

To hunt for scholarships, the prerequisite is language proficiency. Minh Anh shared that thanks to studying English at HSU, the process of learning and presenting in English from the first year equipped you with sufficient English skills for studying abroad. “I also received support from professors in the Department of Language and International Culture at HSU in writing extremely detailed introduction letters. Furthermore, the staff at the International Cooperation Office also provided great support in preparing necessary documents and scholarship nominations.”

2. A thorough essay

Minh Anh shared about the scholarship application process, stating that most scholarships require a motivational essay, along with recommendation letters from professors or employers. Therefore, Minh Anh’s advice to students is to dedicate time to meticulously craft their essays, understand the selection criteria of the scholarship, list their strengths, and then write and revise their essays as many times as possible. “You can also seek advice from former scholarship recipients or professors to review and provide feedback, as well as to perfect and make your essay as convincing as possible.”

3. Good letter of recommendation from teachers

Besides the essay, a genuine introduction letter from your former professors also plays a significant role in building the credibility and success of your study abroad application. “Always demonstrate your openness and capabilities to your professors during your study journey when given the opportunity. Professors are always willing to support in writing recommendation letters, especially those at HSU who are extremely enthusiastic.” It is through actively participating in departmental activities, particularly in leading bilingual programs and connecting international students to study at the university, that Minh Anh has gained much affection from many professors at HSU.

4. Understanding of the scholarship type and the school you want to attend

Furthermore, with considerable experience in “hunting” for scholarships, Minh Anh shares that there are many types of scholarships with different criteria. Therefore, understanding oneself and the criteria of the scholarship being targeted helps students achieve their goals more easily. Besides academic achievements, participating in extracurricular activities is also very important. Therefore, balance between excellent academic achievements and participation in other social activities to make the application profile stand out and be more convincing.

5. Don’t give up

The message Minh Anh wants to send to fellow students who also aspire to hunt for scholarships abroad like himself is: “Luck Is What Happens When Preparation Meets Opportunity.” Minh Anh stated that before securing the ASEAN-Canada scholarship, he also faced rejection from many other scholarships. “Luck factor is also crucial in applying for scholarships. I’ve been rejected by other scholarship funds before receiving this one, so don’t give up and always prepare yourself with the necessary skills and documents for scholarship applications. When the opportunity comes, be ready to seize it immediately,” the English Language student shared.

Studying in Canada has been one of the wonderful memories of Minh Anh’s four years at university. Making friends with many other international students, experiencing the festivals, cultural activities of the maple leaf country, and being in one of the world’s top education systems have all added a new dimension to his journey of growth. Particularly, the academic environment and the friendliness of the professors in Canada were incredibly warm and welcoming. The knowledge and relationships gained during the past semester are assets for Minh Anh to continue pursuing his academic path.

Minh Anh shared that, thanks to learning English at HSU, the process of studying and presenting in English from the first year, you have been equipped with English for the study abroad journey. “I was also supported by the lecturers of the Faculty of Languages and International Cultures to write a very detailed introduction letter. Moreover, the staff at the International Cooperation Department are also very supportive in the process of preparing the necessary documents and nominating scholarships.”