Huynh Khuong Nguyen, 22, a senior majoring in English Language Teacher Education at the University of Da Nang, received acceptance letters from both Oxford and Cambridge in March. Oxford ranks first and Cambridge joint third in the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026.
“I was overwhelmed. I had to read the email over and over because I couldn’t understand what had happened,” Nguyen said. “Oxford hadn’t called me for an interview, even though that round is almost mandatory.”
The key to her application was an unusual research path that began with fandom. In her second year of university, Nguyen chose to study conceptual metaphors in Taylor Swift’s song lyrics, a topic that let her combine her academic field with a personal obsession she’d had since childhood.
Cognitive linguistics examines how people use and understand language based on cognitive structures and lived experience. Nguyen’s research focused on how Swift’s lyrics work not by describing things literally but by mapping emotions onto physical space: love as a journey, memory as a place, fame as a kingdom. These metaphorical patterns, Nguyen argued, explain why Swift’s music resonates across cultures and languages.
The research earned a second-place prize at the city level and an encouragement award from the Ministry of Education and Training. Nguyen later presented a related paper at the CamTESOL conference in Phnom Penh, where it was highly regarded and received funding from the organizers, a notable achievement for an undergraduate working without a supervisor in a subfield not taught in her curriculum.
That body of work became the core of her Oxford personal statement, which opens with lyrics from Swift’s “Long Live.”
Huynh Khuong Nguyen, a student at the University of Da Nang in central Vietnam. Photo courtesy of Nguyen |
“Unconsciously, the process of viewing the emotional world through the lens of physical space was the first door that led me to conceptual metaphor, a core component of cognitive linguistics,” Nguyen wrote.
She built her case around a single argument, that understanding how metaphor works in everyday language, including pop music, could transform how English is taught. Rather than drilling students on isolated grammar rules and vocabulary, teachers could use conceptual metaphor to help learners absorb the language naturally and deeply.
Beyond research, Nguyen strengthened her profile with practical experience. She served as a liaison officer at the ASEAN School Games in Da Nang and interpreted for the German team at the Da Nang International Fireworks Festival. She also taught English for free at a street children’s shelter in Da Nang twice a week, a commitment she maintained throughout her university years.
In her third year, she led a team that built a website offering teaching materials, lesson plans, and classroom games for English teachers, attracting around 12,000 uses within its first year.
Chu Cong Son, an Oxford doctoral graduate and director of D.U.T Consultant who supported Nguyen through the application process, said it was rare for candidates to be admitted without an interview.
“Her standout quality is her independent research capability,” Son said, noting that Nguyen pursued cognitive linguistics entirely on her own. “She is someone who truly believes in herself and always works hard.”
Nguyen’s GPA of 3.97 out of 4.0 also helped demonstrate her academic credentials to two of the most selective universities in the world.
She has not yet decided between Oxford and Cambridge, as she is still waiting for scholarship results. At Cambridge, she would continue deepening her work in cognitive linguistics. At Oxford, she is considering research on translanguaging, the practice of drawing on multiple languages in the classroom.
“For me, getting into Oxford or Cambridge is not the destination, it’s just a milestone,” Nguyen said. “What I want to pursue long-term is a deep understanding of language and doing something useful for English teaching and learning in Vietnam.”
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