Ha Thuong Thao

Name: Ha Thuong Thao
Country: Vietnam
Course: Bachelor of Commerce

Monash University student Ha Thuong Thao is following in her mother's footsteps by travelling to Australia in pursuit of a world-class education.

Thao's mother studied a masters degree in Australia before returning to Vietnam to open her own business. That success inspired Thoa to undertake a similar journey.

At the age of 16, after completing year 10 at Thang Long High School in Hanoi, Thao accepted a place at Kardinia International College, in Geelong, Australia, a town located around 70km south-west of Melbourne.

Thao excelled at maths, science and English, which allowed her to qualify for a place at an Australian university.

She chose Monash.

"I choose Monash because it offers a lot of new courses like double degrees and I got a feeling that the people here have new ideas and are more creative than those at other universities," Thao said.

"To me they are the new trend, the new wave. And Monash has a very good international reputation for business."

The prestigious Monash Faculty of Business and Economics is the largest in Australia. Its scale, diversity and achievements have made it a central player in business education and research throughout the Asia-Pacific region.

That strong reputation is what attracted Thao to Monash. The University is a member of the prestigious Group of Eight and one of the world's most international universities with campuses in Malaysia, South Africa, a PhD partnership with an elite Indian institution and a centre in Prato, Italy, as well as six Australian campuses.

Thao has enrolled in a Bachelor of Commerce with major studies in accounting and finance, and said Monash was an exciting environment.

"The first thing I am getting from this course is knowledge," she said.

"The course is very up to date, it reflects what is really happening out in the business world."

Thao's story of international travel in pursuit of a world-class education is not unique.

Monash University's 56,000 students come from more than 100 countries and include more than 17,000 international students.

And while Thoa admits it was hard to leave her mother and family in Vietnam, she is confident she made the right decision.

"At first I really missed home, but it has become a lot easier as I have made many friends," she said.

"There is a strong Vietnamese community in Melbourne, and it can be fun to talk to them, speak in Vietnamese and share stories about home."

Thoa is unsure in which area of business she will specialise. The Monash Faculty of Business and Economics offers more than 20 specialised business degrees in areas such as marketing, management, accounting, finance, business law and international commerce, and high-achieving students are able to transfer between courses.

However while Thao remains uncertain which direction she wishes to follow in her business life, she is certain Monash is the right place to begin her journey.