Vietnam has become a lively centre for education in Southeast Asia, with modern facilities and generous funding from private companies and international branch campuses. The main focus for the 2026/2027 school year is on STEM, innovation, and digital transformation.
1. Scholarships from VinUniversity and Vingroup
The Vingroup conglomerate administers these top private scholarships in the country. They’re meant for “global talent.”
- • The Vingroup Science and Technology Scholarship:
- Nature: A full-ride scholarship for Vietnamese and international students to study STEM fields at the Master’s and PhD levels.
- • The benefits of the scholarship include full tuition, a monthly living allowance, health insurance, a round-trip plane ticket, and visa fees.
- • Deadlines for 2026: Applications for the main track of the 2026/2027 cohort usually close in April 2026.
- VinUniversity Merit Scholarships:
- The Award: Pays for 50% to 100% of tuition for the whole time you are in school.
- 2026 Special Call: “VinUni Excellence Scholarships” for international students usually have a final deadline for the late application round around August 15, 2026.
- Requirement: Candidates are judged on their “A-B-I-G” (Ability, Benevolence, Inspiration, and Grit).
2. Scholarships for Graduate Students at Tonne Duc Thang University (TDTU)
TDTU is always one of the best universities in Vietnam, and it has a very well-organised scholarship program for international graduate students.
- The Prize:
- Full Scholarship: 100% of the cost of tuition, the cost of living in the dorms, and the cost of admission.
- Partial scholarship: 25% to 50% of costs covered, depending on GPA.
- Selection Criteria: Your CGPA is the main factor (at least 3.0/4.0 for partial and 3.4/4.0 for full).
- The main deadline for the Autumn 2026 intake is May 15, 2026.
- 2027 Cycle: The application portal usually opens in September 2026 and closes in November 2026 for the Spring 2027 intake.
3. RMIT University Vietnam (International Branch)
In Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi, RMIT Vietnam offers an education that meets Australian standards. They also offer special scholarships for international students who do well in school.
- PhD Research Grants:
- The prize is a full tuition waiver and a monthly payment of 14,000,000 VND.
- Deadlines for 2026 and 2027:
- Cycle 1 starts in October 2026, and applications closed in August 2025.
- Cycle 2 (starting in 2027): Expressions of Interest (EOI) for the 2027 round usually open on June 1, 2026 and close on August 30, 2026.
- Undergraduate Excellence: Often provides international students with great high school grades a 25% to 50% discount on their tuition.
4. Programmes run by the government and two countries
Vietnam gives out several scholarships based on diplomatic ties, and the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) usually handles them.
- Vietnam Government Scholarship (VGS): In the past, it was mostly for students from Laos, Cambodia, and other countries in Africa and Eastern Europe that worked with Vietnam.
- Benefits: It pays for tuition, a monthly allowance of about $100 to $200, and a year of Vietnamese language preparation.
- Timeline: The Vietnamese Embassy in the applicant’s home country usually processes applications between March and June.
5. Tips for 2026 Applicants on How to Be Strategic
- The Language Factor: Most public universities in Vietnam, like TDTU or Vietnam National University, require a Vietnamese Language Preparatory Year for their 2026/2027 scholarships. The only exception is if the program is specifically marked as “English Medium.”
- NIN and Identity: Make sure that your National Identity Number (NIN) is the same on all of your documents for the visa and residency process in 2026. Vietnam’s digital immigration portal for international students now checks ID information against letters of acceptance from universities.
- Legalising your documents: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in your home country and then the Vietnamese Embassy must both legalise your transcripts and degrees. MOET requires this process for the “Recognition of Degrees.”
In conclusion
The Tonne Duc Thang University (TDTU) scholarship is the best chance right now. It is open until May 15, 2026. If you’re a student who wants to do research and is aiming for 2027, you should get your Expression of Interest ready for RMIT Vietnam before June 1, 2026. If you missed the April science tracks, you should now focus on the August 15 late round for VinUniversity.
