Tiếng Việt
Every young person who cherishes the dream of studying abroad carries their own story. Some choose Japan as their destination out of love for its culture, others are drawn to its high-quality education system, and many see Japan as a place where they can turn their personal aspirations into reality.
For Minh Chau – an alumna of the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), her journey of pursuing her dream of studying abroad began with a passion for… tea.
Among the many prestigious universities and countries where she was accepted, Minh Chau chose Japan – a country where the tradition of tea culture is deeply embedded in everyday life. And within Japan, she decided on Kyoto University, a place that embraces both global perspectives and traditional values.
Through Minh Chau’s short interview with Jellyfish below, we hope students will find additional inspiration to pursue their own journeys to study in Japan and to write their unique stories.
Interview with Nguyen Phu Minh Chau – One of the Vietnamese representatives admitted to Kyoto University – October 2025 intake
Please introduce yourself!
“Hello everyone, my name is Chau. I just graduated from the High School for Gifted Students in Social Sciences and Humanities in Hanoi. I am fortunate to have been admitted to the Faculty of Economics, Kyoto iUP Program at Kyoto University – a school I have long dreamed of attending.”
We heard that you received offers from many prestigious universities in Japan. Why did you decide to enroll at Kyoto University, particularly in the Kyoto iUP program?
“Yes, I did receive offers from a few other universities, but Kyoto holds a special meaning for me. Kyoto is the land of tea, and tea is closely tied to my academic plans and long-term career path. I want to study Economics so that one day I can contribute to sustainable development and bring Vietnamese tea to the world. Kyoto, with its tea culture and spirit of preserving tradition, is the ideal place for me.
With the bilingual curriculum at Kyoto, I can study economics in English while gradually integrating into Japanese language and culture.”
You succeeded in gaining admission to several top universities and secured a full scholarship. Could you share some of your key tips for preparing and applying?
“I started preparing quite early, around 11th grade, once I knew I wanted to study in Japan. Academically, I achieved IELTS 8.0 and SAT over 1500, which served as an important foundation for my application. But beyond test scores, I believe the university values genuine experiences: I joined community projects, wrote humanities research papers, competed in international academic contests, and participated in extracurricular activities related to sustainability.
In my essay, I told my personal story about why I love tea and why I want to integrate traditional culture into economic development. For the Kyoto iUP interview, it wasn’t too stressful – they mainly wanted to know whether I was truly serious and had my own unique story. I answered sincerely, sharing about my family, my journey with tea, and why Kyoto was the right fit.”
Finally, what message would you like to send to other students who are dreaming of studying in Japan?
I want to encourage all of you: believe in your own story. No matter what your scores or activities look like, the most important thing is that you genuinely want to pursue that path. I believe that if you persevere, you will surely find the right opportunity for yourself. Good luck to everyone! 🌸”.
Minh Chau’s story is a testament that every dream can become reality if you remain persistent and believe in your chosen path. From a simple love of tea, she opened the door to Kyoto University – one of Japan’s leading universities, highly ranked on the global stage.
At Jellyfish, we believe that within every student lies a “small flame” that lights the way. Dare to dream, dare to take the first step, and keep working patiently – you will find the right opportunity for yourself. And on that journey, Jellyfish will always be by your side to help you achieve your dream of studying in Japan.
About Kyoto iUP – Kyoto University
To provide talented international students the opportunity to study under Japan’s world-class education system, Kyoto University has launched the International Undergraduate Program (Kyoto iUP) – a bachelor’s degree program taught in English.
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A 4.5-year bilingual program (6 months of preparatory courses + 4 years of undergraduate course)
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No prior Japanese language proficiency required at the outset – students receive language training during their studies
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Choose from a wide range of faculties
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Tuition exemption up to 100% & monthly scholarship of JPY 120,000
As the exclusive communication partner of Kyoto University in Vietnam, Jellyfish Vietnam is committed to delivering accurate, up-to-date information on scholarships and admissions to students and parents.
Kyoto University has now announced admissions for the October 2026 intake of Kyoto iUP 👉 See details here: https://jellyfish-vn.com/kyoto-iup-full-scholarship/.
