Vietnam Offers Monthly Scholarships Up to VND 8.4 Million for Students in Key Fields

Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training has announced that scholarships ranging from VND 3.7 million to VND 8.4 million (approximately USD 155 to USD 350) per month will be awarded to students in 91 fields of basic science, key engineering, and strategic technology. This initiative aims to strengthen the cultivation of high-caliber talent crucial for the nation's future. The scholarship program, based on a list released on September 21, 2023, saw a reduction of 20 disciplines compared to an earlier announcement in June. This adjustment is part of the ministry's efforts to reorganize and streamline the list of university training disciplines for greater efficiency. Under the new regulations, undergraduate students in these priority fields will receive VND 3.7 million to VND 5.5 million per month, while master's and doctoral students will be eligible for VND 5.5 million to VND 8.4 million. The scholarship duration is capped at four years for bachelor's programs and five years for engineering programs. Graduate students will receive support for their entire standard program duration. These scholarships are expected to be implemented for new students enrolling from 2024 onwards, with specific academic criteria to be applied for those entering in 2026. As of late August, over 121,000 out of more than 633,000 students who confirmed their enrollment this year are in the 15 groups of disciplines related to basic science, key engineering, and strategic technology, making them eligible for the scholarship program. This policy is considered a vital measure to support Vietnam's ambition to become a strong nation in science and technology and to fuel its economic growth, as espoused by the Communist Party of Vietnam.