Truong Thanh Xuan, a mathematics student at the University of Science under Vietnam National University, Hanoi, has been awarded a prestigious scholarship following a personal interview with Fields Medal-winning mathematician Professor Ngo Bao Chau.

According to the Vietnam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics (VIASM), Xuan is among nine outstanding students selected for the highest scholarship tier under its Mathematics Talent Development Program.

The Sigma Gold scholarship provides VND15 million (approximately US$570) per month and covers 100% of tuition fees.

The monthly allowance is paid for 10 months each year throughout the standard duration of the academic program. Recipients can retain the scholarship for their entire course if they continue meeting the required academic standards.

From International Mathematical Olympiad medalist to scholarship recipient

Xuan attracted national attention in 2025 when she became the only female member of Vietnam's six-person team at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO).

Then an 11th-grade student at Bac Ninh High School for the Gifted, she won a bronze medal at the prestigious international competition.

She had been selected from 48 candidates competing for six places on Vietnam's national team.

Since Vietnam first participated in the IMO in 1974, nearly 270 students have represented the country, with Xuan becoming only the 14th female contestant.

Before her selection, Vietnam's IMO teams had consisted entirely of male students for five consecutive years.

Speaking with VietNamNet, Xuan expressed her excitement and gratitude at receiving the scholarship.

"As one of the first students to receive this scholarship, I feel both delighted and a greater sense of responsibility to work harder," she said.

The selection process involved a written examination, an essay on a favorite mathematical topic and a personal interview with Professor Ngo Bao Chau.

During the interview, the professor asked Xuan detailed questions about her essay, her passion for mathematics and her future academic ambitions.

She told him that she hoped to pursue a career closely connected to mathematics, potentially in either pure or applied mathematics.

Xuan plans to use the scholarship to cover living expenses and develop additional skills, including programming and English.

Mathematics is a challenge, not a barrier for women

Xuan recognizes that studying advanced mathematics requires considerable effort and perseverance.

As mathematical knowledge becomes increasingly complex, students must develop a strong understanding of foundational concepts before progressing to more advanced subjects.

However, her enthusiasm for the discipline helps her embrace those challenges.

"Male students face the same difficulties. They are not unique to women," Xuan said. "If you are genuinely passionate about something, these difficulties are challenges to overcome, not barriers that should stop you."

She has already noticed significant differences between university-level mathematics and what she studied in high school.

The curriculum is much broader, introducing concepts such as matrices and multidimensional spaces rather than focusing primarily on real numbers.

For Xuan, adapting to these new areas is part of the excitement of pursuing mathematics at a higher level.

She believes women are just as capable of succeeding in advanced mathematics as men.

"I don't think there is a major difference between men and women when it comes to studying and pursuing mathematics," she said. "With enough passion, female students can compete on equal terms."

Finding beauty in mathematics and inspiration from her mother

As a mathematics major, Xuan spends much of her day studying.

She acknowledges that mathematics and the natural sciences demand substantial time and dedication, but she does not believe that an intensive academic schedule makes life monotonous.

Outside mathematics, she enjoys reading books and collecting stones.

She finds beauty in different forms, from the emotional and intellectual richness of literature to the physical appearance of rocks and jewelry.

Mathematics, she believes, has its own distinctive elegance.

"Beautiful theorems and mathematical problems have a sense of harmony. Everything fits together perfectly," Xuan explained.

She also values mathematics for helping her develop logical reasoning and analytical thinking.

"I have always found mathematics fascinating. The question is whether we can fully understand and appreciate its beauty," she said.

One of the most important influences on her mathematical journey has been her mother.

Speaking ahead of Vietnamese Women's Day on October 20, Xuan expressed gratitude to her mother, whom she described as her first advanced mathematics teacher.

Her mother was once a mathematics student at Nguyen Hue High School for the Gifted in Hanoi and encouraged Xuan to explore the subject from an early age.

She bought advanced mathematics books for her daughter, supported her participation in mathematics competitions during primary school and helped create opportunities for her to develop her abilities.

Even after Xuan entered university, her mother continued offering guidance and advice on her studies.

"My mother has been a major source of inspiration for me," Xuan said.

Alongside her university coursework, Xuan also works as a private tutor, sharing her mathematical knowledge and competition experience with younger students.

Looking ahead, she hopes to successfully complete the talented bachelor's program in mathematics at the University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Her longer-term ambition is to pursue further studies in mathematics overseas.

Thanh Hung