Monash University Vice-Chancellor Professor Sharon Pickering personally welcomed Hanh Truong from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, to the university this week. Hanh is one of the first students to receive a Vice-Chancellor’s ASEAN Award, Monash’s new scholarship program supporting students from Southeast Asia to study at Monash University.
The award will support Hanh’s studies towards a Bachelor of Pharmaceutical Science Advanced (Honours) in 2026.
The Vice-Chancellor’s ASEAN Awards is a $2.5 million package to support high-achieving undergraduate students from across the region by easing the cost of study through bundled tuition support, relocation assistance and funding for other associated costs. Students are selected through a competitive process, with eligibility across Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
Since the initial announcement of the $2.5 million component in August 2025, the University has committed a further $1 million to the ASEAN Pathway Awards, which support high-achieving ASEAN scholars to enrol in Monash College, a pathway institution that provides programs like diplomas and foundation years to help students transition into the University.
Hanh was selected from a highly competitive field of students commencing at Monash in 2026. She’s excited about the opportunity to study in Melbourne, a city that holds strong familial ties for her. “My father gained his Master of Digital Communication degree from Monash, and my sister currently lives in Melbourne, so I’m excited to be carrying on the family tradition,” she says.
“My experiences during the COVID-19 pandemic inspired me to one day contribute to vaccine research and development. I investigated many Australian universities, and Monash’s pharmaceutical rankings put it above the rest for me.
“I’m so thankful that this awards scheme has enabled me to pursue this career dream.”
Vice-Chancellor Professor Sharon Pickering said Hanh’s story encapsulates why Monash is committed to providing accessible world-class education to our regional neighbours.
“The ASEAN Awards are more than just financial support – the program is about recognising potential, nurturing ambition, and creating opportunities for students who will go on to make meaningful contributions in their communities and beyond. It’s also about enriching our campuses with the diverse perspectives and energy that students like Hanh bring with them.”
The Vice-Chancellor took time out to speak to Hanh in a video call, in which she welcomed them to the university, and Hanh shared their excitement about access to Monash’s state-of-the-art laboratories.
From the moment Monash opened its doors in 1961 students from Southeast Asia studied at the University. With more than 16,000 ASEAN students currently enrolled, and almost 60,000 ASEAN alumni, the awards reflect Monash’s deep and sustained ties to the region.
“Southeast Asia is a vibrant and dynamic region, rich in cultural diversity and talent. At Monash, we’re deeply committed to empowering the next generation of leaders and innovators from ASEAN countries, and to fostering a more inclusive, collaborative future across our region,” said Professor Pickering.
Monash has long pursued a purposeful engagement with Asia, with campuses in Malaysia and Indonesia, locations in China and India, and a growing alumni and research network across the ASEAN region. It has consistently led in education mobility, partnerships and student recruitment in the Indo-Pacific.
