Nguyen An Khanh, a former student of class 12D at the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted, won the Japanese government's MEXT scholarship to study economics at Kyoto University on 8/8. In the 2026 QS World University Rankings, Kyoto University is ranked 57th globally and 2nd in Japan.
"I feel relieved and at peace. All my efforts have finally paid off," Khanh said.
In the acceptance letter he received in July, the university recognized Khanh as an outstanding candidate and recommended him for the MEXT scholarship. The scholarship covers his full tuition for 4.5 years, airfare, and living expenses of approximately 120,000 JPY (over 21 million VND) per month.
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Nguyen An Khanh. Photo: Provided by the subject |
Nguyen An Khanh. Photo: Provided by the subject
Khanh explained that he has always enjoyed competition and sought opportunities for advanced studies, envisioning studying abroad, particularly in the US.
However, he later developed an interest in Japanese manga and music. While taking Japanese classes at Le Quy Don Secondary School, he deepened his understanding of Japanese language and culture, even winning second prize in the city's Japanese language competition for students. He then passed the entrance exam for the Japanese language program at the Hanoi-Amsterdam High School for the Gifted.
After researching studying abroad in the US, Australia, and the UK, Khanh realized the financial burden it would place on his family and shifted his focus to Japan.
He began planning his study abroad journey in 10th grade. After achieving a 1540/1600 SAT score, he took the Japanese-Language Proficiency Test (JLPT), achieving N2 level (N1 is the highest). Khanh also retook the IELTS exam, maintaining a score of 8.0.
At the beginning of 12th grade, he prepared his application, including his grades, extracurricular activities, certificates, and essays, which he sent to four universities: Nagoya, Keio, Waseda, and Kyoto. Khanh applied to English-taught programs, feeling more confident in his English abilities. Recognizing the essay's importance, he dedicated significant time to brainstorming ideas that connected to his chosen field of study.
In his 1,000-word essay for Kyoto University, Khanh shared his father's story to explain his choice of major and future aspirations. He admitted that he initially lacked a specific career path in mind, but through his father's experiences, he became familiar with concepts like cash flow and capital. His father, once a disadvantaged student, faced numerous business failures before finding success in the insurance industry.
"I was impressed by my father. Despite his setbacks, he never gave up, persevered, and ultimately found his career. This inspired my interest in business, and I want to pursue this field," Khanh shared.
He aspires to become a strategic, operational, and human resources consultant for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Khanh believes Vietnam is in a period of rapid development and innovation. Amidst global economic fluctuations, he hopes to advise domestic companies, reducing their reliance on foreign investment. While this profession is common in many countries, it's still undervalued in Vietnam.
To achieve this, Khanh plans to focus on subjects like econometrics and probability and statistics. He also mentioned two professors whose research aligns with his interests: developing markets and business organization and operations.
The essay took two weeks to write and underwent dozens of revisions. A few months after submitting his application, Khanh was invited for an online interview with Kyoto University in February, conducted in English.
In addition to revisiting the information in his essay, the four professors also asked him to solve math problems. Familiar with the concept of derivatives, Khanh chose a question on this topic. The problem, presented in two parts and involving exponential equations, required calculations, simplification, and derivation within 10 minutes.
"Thanks to my solid understanding, I applied the correct formula and arrived at the solution," Khanh said, adding that he wasn't surprised as some Japanese universities often include this type of assessment.
During the question-and-answer portion, he hesitated briefly when asked about his impressions of any SMEs in Kyoto. Khanh expressed his willingness to learn more about them later.
He described the 30-minute interview as relatively relaxed. Because Kyoto University nominated him, he was exempted from the MEXT interview.
According to Vu Thanh Thao, his homeroom teacher in class 12D, Khanh is typically quiet and reserved in class. However, when focused and determined, he achieves his goals quickly. Therefore, she wasn't surprised by his acceptance.
"His application stood out with his proficiency in English and Japanese. His essay was well-written and not formulaic. His writing skills are excellent, and he is extremely confident," Thao commented. She added that Khanh achieved a perfect score in the JLPT listening section, one of the most challenging parts for Vietnamese students.
Khanh will embark on his study abroad journey at the end of September. He will have six months of preparatory study before officially starting his program. He is currently continuing his Japanese studies to facilitate a smoother transition into the new environment.
"I plan to work abroad for a while after graduating to gain experience before returning to Vietnam to develop my own career," Khanh said.
Binh Minh
