Nguyen Le Phuong Thuy, 18, received the news four months ago.
“I was nervous because many of my friends who applied got rejected,” Thuy recalled. “When I saw the word ‘congratulations,’ I jumped up and ran to my parents to share the news.”
The University of Toronto is ranked 25th in the QS World University Rankings 2025, released in June by British organization Quacquarelli Symonds, and is rated the top university in Canada by U.S. News.
Thuy’s scholarship, the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship, is valued at over CAD$330,000 (US$243,500) for four years. The award is given to only 37 international students each year.
In addition to the University of Toronto, Thuy also received scholarships from the University of British Columbia, Canada’s second-ranked university, and the highest-level scholarship from the Institute of International Training at the National Economics University in Hanoi.
Thuy has chosen to study International Business and Management Co-op at the University of Toronto.
Her interest in business began early, influenced by her parents. Her mother runs a fruit business, and her father works in banking. Growing up in Quang Binh, where the seafood industry is a crucial economic driver, Thuy observed how business success fluctuated with natural supply, sparking her desire to study business management and explore ways to harness her hometown’s resources.
In middle school, Thuy learned about study abroad opportunities. With her strong English skills, she set her sights on earning a full scholarship during high school.
“My family could support me with a few hundred million dong (VND100 million = US$4,000), but it wouldn’t be enough for self-funded study,” she explained.
After being accepted into the English class at Vo Nguyen Giap High School for the Gifted, Thuy began researching overseas university requirements. Initially, she targeted U.S. schools and participated in English debate competitions and research projects led by students and alumni from MIT and Harvard.
Thuy also attended a pre-college program in the U.S. during the summer of her 11th grade, which cost VND150 million.
It was her first time abroad, and she faced numerous challenges.
“Too many things pushed me out of my comfort zone at once, and I was exhausted,” Thuy shared.
Despite the difficulties, the experience fueled her enthusiasm for studying abroad.
Upon returning to Vietnam, she continued her scholarship hunt and eventually realized that full scholarships to U.S. universities were highly competitive. Thuy then shifted her focus to Canadian universities, beginning her application process in August 2023. She concentrated on the Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship at the University of Toronto, which emphasizes leadership skills—a quality she demonstrated through her extracurricular activities.
The Lester B. Pearson International Scholarship is one of the most prestigious scholarships offered by the University of Toronto in Canada. It is specifically designed for international students who have demonstrated exceptional academic achievement, creativity, and leadership skills. The scholarship covers tuition, books, incidental fees, and full residence support for four years of undergraduate study at the University of Toronto.
Recipients are chosen not only for their academic excellence but also for their impact on their schools and communities. The scholarship emphasizes the potential for future contributions to society, both within Canada and globally.
In her 800-word essay, Thuy detailed her project “Tet [Lunar New Year] of Compassion,” where she organized gift-giving events for underprivileged mountain communities and reflected on the positive personal growth she experienced. She meticulously outlined, drafted, and refined her essay over a month while simultaneously preparing for the national student competition and applying to other universities during that period.
“I give my all in everything I do, so that period was extremely stressful,” Thuy recalled.
She also had to write several additional essays and complete an interview. She believed that applying for a business management scholarship, one of the university’s top programs, meant facing more rigorous rounds than other majors.
Earlier this year, Thuy received acceptance letters and scholarships from universities in Canada and Australia. Throughout her journey, Thuy frequently sought guidance from her history teacher, Hoang Thi Hai Yen, who praised her determination and self-study habits.
“Thuy is intelligent, highly determined, and incredibly serious about her goals,” Yen said.
Thuy begins her studies in Canada this month.
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