About Vietnam
Vietnam is an emerging study destination rather than an established one, hosting around 22,000 international students against a domestic population of nearly 2.1 million. What makes it interesting is cost and proximity. Tuition at public universities runs from about USD 1,000 to USD 4,000 a year and living costs sit between USD 400 and USD 650 a month, among the lowest anywhere in the region. A growing group of private and international institutions now deliver full degrees in English, several of them awarding foreign qualifications locally, and some offer transfer routes that let a student begin in Vietnam and finish in the United States or elsewhere at a fraction of the total cost. Students should be aware that Vietnam has no formal part time work rights for international students at present, and no dedicated post study work visa.
Tuition fees
USD 1,000 to USD 4,000 a year at public universities, higher at private and international institutions
International students
22,000+
Work rights
The Vietnam advantage
Public university tuition runs from roughly USD 1,000 to USD 4,000 a year and living costs between USD 400 and USD 650 a month. Dormitory rooms start around USD 50 a month. For students whose budget rules out Europe or Australia, Vietnam puts a full degree within reach.
A number of institutions in Vietnam deliver degrees awarded by foreign universities and taught entirely in English, so a student can earn an American or international qualification without leaving the region or paying Western tuition.
Several programmes are built so that a student completes the first two years in Vietnam and transfers abroad for the final two, on the same degree throughout. It is one of the cheapest ways to end up with an American degree.
Academic specialties
The journey ahead
This matters more in Vietnam than in most destinations. Many degrees are taught in Vietnamese, some are fully in English, and a few mix the two. Confirm in writing which language your programme uses before applying.
Apply directly to the institution with your transcripts, certificates and passport. You will need the official admission documents in hand before a visa application can begin, since the institution acts as your sponsor.
Vietnam issues a dedicated student visa under the DH code, valid for up to 12 months. Your sponsoring institution submits an application to the Vietnam Immigration Department for an approval letter. Start four to six weeks before your course begins.
Once you have started your course, your institution will normally help you apply for a DH temporary residence card, which can be granted for up to five years and saves repeatedly renewing a visa. Your passport must have at least 13 months validity left.
Common questions
Yes, but check each programme. Public universities teach mostly in Vietnamese, while private and international institutions increasingly deliver full degrees in English. Some programmes are partly in Vietnamese, so confirm the language of instruction in writing before you commit.
Public university tuition runs from about USD 1,000 to USD 4,000 a year, with postgraduate study at the upper end. Private and international institutions charge considerably more. Living costs are between USD 400 and USD 650 a month, with dormitory rooms from around USD 50.
Not formally. Vietnam has no student work allowance at present, though internships are permitted without a separate work permit and the Ministry of Education and Training has proposed a 20 hour weekly limit. Plan your finances on the basis that you will not be working.
On some programmes, yes. Several institutions run degrees where the first two years are taken in Vietnam and the final two abroad, most commonly in the United States. Confirm the transfer arrangement and which institutions accept the credits before you enrol.
The DH student visa runs for up to 12 months and is usually followed by a temporary residence card valid for up to five years of study. There is no dedicated post study work visa, so staying on to work requires an employer to sponsor a work permit.
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