Huynh Ngoc Minh Thi is a typical student of the Viet Nam-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education (VNUK) under the University of Da Nang. With her impressive academic achievements, Minh Thi received a full scholarship for the PhD Program in Clinical Medicine at the UK-based University of Oxford in July 2023. This is the first time, a student of the University of Da Nang has got full scholarships for masters and PhD studies at the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford which are two of the best-known universities in the world.

Huynh Ngoc Minh Thi studying at the University of Cambridge.

Minh Thi started to study Biomedical Science (Biomedicine) at VNUK based in Da Nang in 2017. During her studies at this school, Thi showcased her efforts and proved his talent. Therefore, she got an internship at the Oxford University Clinical Research Unit (OUCRU) with the help of her school’s lectures.

At that time, OUCRU only offered 4 internship opportunities and Minh Thi had to compete with strong competitors from other universities nationwide to win an internship. Even though she knew that if she failed to get an internship at OUCRU, she might graduate from VNUK later than her classmates, but she still decided to challenge herself and got success. Fortunately, good results from the university internship program at OUCRU helped Thi receive a full scholarship for Master's degree programme at the University of Cambridge in 2021.

After graduating from VNUK with a distinction, in early 2022, Thi studied a master's degree at the University of Cambridge, and worked for the Wellcome Sanger Institute - a world leader in genome research that delivers insights into human, evolutionary and pathogen biology. Thi studied the Master Program in Genomic Science which is the study of genetic material (DNA) and provides the basic information necessary for understanding the characteristics of any living organism.

“The University of Cambridge is like a dream to me as it is a great place where I can foster my research and learning skills”, shared Minh Thi.

During her studies at the University of Cambridge, Thi was active in conducting research activities and improving her knowledge, as well as seeking PhD scholarship opportunity. Thanks to her great efforts, she recently became a PhD student at the University of Oxford, with a fully funded scholarship.

“For me, Biomedical Science is one of the most challenging subjects to study because it requires me to cover lots of disciplines, take on difficult laboratory work, and clinical trials, and gain in-depth knowledge of health and medicine, thereby stimulating my creativity. The time I spent with medical records makes me more confident in the mission that I am pursuing as I can help patients indirectly by researching and reporting the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, discovering new cures and treatments for diseases and improving the quality of life, " Minh Thi said.

It can be said that as a Biomedical Science student, you will gain a sound understanding of how the human body functions in healthy and diseased states. You will study the barriers to health care and methods for treatment. According to Minh Thi, Biomedical Science degree will equip you with the knowledge and practical skills for a variety of exciting and rewarding careers.

Reporting by THIEN LAM – Translating by H.L