Thành Trần: from Vietnam to France through excellence

First journey to France, first discovery of Strasbourg, first journey by plane and first own flat – this term is definitely one with a lot of first times for Thành Trần. As student of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, where he originally comes from, the young Vietnamese has decided to come to study in France during his forth year. “I first heard of the Faculté des sciences économiques et de gestion (Fseg) from my friends at school who also studied abroad thanks to the Eiffel scholarship”, recalls Thành Trần. “The assignment of the scholarships by the French ministry for foreign affairs and international development, that 350 students (carefully selected out of 1500 candidates) are granted with, is bound to certain institutions”, explains Christophe Godlewski, responsible until last year for the Fseg’s master Thành will now study. The claim of the Eiffel scholarship is to confirm the French academic excellence by letting the best foreign students from emerging countries benefit from it. “During the last six years (2010-2016) as director of the master’s first year, we mostly welcomed Vietnamese students. These privileged relations developed in an informal way, basically by word-of-mouth between students and professors”, remarks Christophe Godlewski. 1181 € per month Thành receives 1181 € per month in order to study in good conditions. His plane ticket was paid for by Campus France and he had support to find his flat in the residence Paul-Apell. He is allowed to use the Eiffel scholarship during 24 months, the period his master lasts. The programme, reserved to the sectors of engineering, economy and management as well as law and political sciences also exists on doctoral level. And afterwards? Thành rather imagines “to go back to Vietnam to work in a bank for example.” Christophe Godlewski confirms that “most of the international students during their studies in France rather prefer to go back than to stay in France.” 5 Eiffel scholarships for Unistra This year, the University of Strasbourg welcomes five students who were granted an Eiffel scholarship, two of them in the finance master programme. A nice score when one is aware of the fact that an average of 68% of Eiffel scholarships concern grandes ecoles. Consequently, a nice recognition of the academic excellence of our institution but also of its “international aura”, adds Christophe Godlewski, “We have a win-win situation here, for us and for the students.” In Strasbourg, Thành wants to use parts of his scholarship to buy a bike, his favourite mode of transportation in Hanoi. He also plans to discover France, Paris, and particularly the Eiffel tower!