The policy, issued on May 20, will apply to students enrolled from 2025 onwards, with scholarship payments beginning on September 1.
A research laboratory at Phenikaa University (Photo: Minh Nhat).
Under the decree, eligible recipients include university students enrolled in talent development programmes, semiconductor microchip training programmes, or courses classified under basic sciences, strategic technologies and key engineering fields.
The 15 eligible subject groups include biology, applied biology, physical sciences, earth sciences, mathematics, statistics, computer science, information technology, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, electronics and telecommunications, chemical engineering, materials, metallurgy and environmental engineering, engineering physics, geological engineering, geophysics and surveying, mining engineering, and construction.
To qualify, students must meet one of two conditions. Applicants must either win first, second or third prize in national or international academic competitions, or achieve combined scores in mathematics and two out of four subjects, physics, chemistry, biology or English, placing them among the top 30 per cent of successful university entrants nationwide in their discipline group, with a minimum score of 22.5 out of 30.
Students enrolled in talent programmes or semiconductor microchip courses are exempt from these entry conditions.
According to the decree, undergraduate students in talent programmes will receive VND 5 million (approximately USD 192) per month.
Students studying semiconductor microchips and basic sciences will receive VND 4.2 million (approximately USD 161) monthly, while those in key engineering and strategic technology fields will receive VND 3.7 million (approximately USD 142) per month.
Scholarships will be paid for 10 months each academic year, with support available for a maximum of five years provided students maintain required academic performance.
For master’s students, scholarships will range from VND 5.5 million to VND 7.4 million (approximately USD 211 to USD 284) per month.
Doctoral candidates in talent programmes, semiconductor microchips and basic sciences will receive the highest level of support at VND 8.4 million (approximately USD 323) per month, while doctoral students in strategic technology and engineering fields will receive VND 7.4 million (approximately USD 284).
Postgraduate and doctoral scholarships will be paid for 12 months each academic year, with maximum support periods of two years for master’s students and three years for doctoral researchers.
Under the new rules, scholarship approval and payment will be processed automatically through university admissions and academic performance databases, meaning students will not need to submit separate applications or complete additional administrative procedures.
