Mai Vi – a girl born in Ho Chi Minh City, once thought that the dream of studying abroad was only for the privileged. For many years, what discouraged her was not a lack of academic effort, but the financial barrier.
But it was her big dream, combined with timely support from SIEC, that helped Vi turn the impossible into the possible: winning a study scholarship at the University of Helsinki, Finland, and building a stable life in Europe.
Born into a working-class family, Mai Vi understood that studying abroad was not easy – high tuition fees, expensive living costs, and complicated procedures.
“I often asked myself: Is there any chance for someone without financial means like me?”
Despite her efforts to excel in her studies, achieve outstanding results, and desire to study sustainable management in Europe, paying hundreds of millions of VND per year was not feasible for her family.
A friend introduced Vi to SIEC – a study abroad consulting company with over 20 years of experience, particularly strong in scholarship programs for studying in Finland and cost-saving pathways.
After a thorough consultation, SIEC guided Vi to apply to public universities in Finland – a country known for its tuition fee waiver policies and support for international students.
With the guidance of the SIEC team, Mai Vi received support in:
After nearly 3 months of serious preparation, Vi officially received an admission letter with a 100% tuition scholarship from the University of Helsinki, Finland – one of the top public universities in the country.
During her first days in the Nordic country, Vi had to adapt to the cold weather, a new culture, and a completely different pace of life. But it was this environment that helped her mature faster:
“Finland taught me not just knowledge but also life skills. Here, every step helped me become more independent and stronger.”
After graduating with honors, Mai Vi was offered a job by an international environmental company in Helsinki. This was the field she had loved since she was young and also an opportunity for her to apply for a long-term residence permit in Finland.
Today, she has a stable job, lives in Europe, and actively supports young Vietnamese people who wish to study in Finland like her.
“I used to think scholarships were out of reach, but with the right strategy and the right partner, all doors will open. You might be short on money, but you should never give up on your dreams.”
She also emphasized the role of SIEC:
“SIEC not only helped me find a school but also helped me believe in myself. And that is the truly great value.”
Don’t let finances stop you from pursuing your dreams. Let SIEC be your partner on your study abroad journey – from advising on school selection, supporting scholarship applications, to guiding settlement in Finland and other European countries.
