Vietnam Proposes Expanding Government Scholarships for Top Science and Tech Students

The Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam has proposed expanding government scholarships beyond national and international competition winners to include students who rank among the top 30% of excellent performers in basic sciences, key engineering, and strategic technology fields nationwide. This proposal, based on Government Decree No. 179/2026/NĐ-CP on government scholarships effective from 2026, specifically aims to enhance support for students pursuing STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines. Notably, the University of Science will see 27 programs eligible, and a total of 111 undergraduate and graduate programs related to basic sciences, key engineering, and strategic technologies across the country will be covered by this government scholarship. This policy is positioned as part of Vietnam's national strategy to become a science and technology-driven nation. Under its one-party system, Vietnam has continued to achieve economic growth and has recently accelerated the upgrading of its manufacturing sector and the transition to a digital economy, making the cultivation of highly specialized talent an urgent priority. In particular, with increasingly complex economic and geopolitical relations with China, enhancing domestic technological capabilities and self-reliance is a crucial strategic element. The expansion of government scholarships is expected to be a significant step in creating an environment where talented youth can focus on their studies without financial burdens, thereby securing future talent for Vietnam.