Scholarships of 5.5 million VND/month are available for students in key academic programs.
From September 1st, 2026, students majoring in basic sciences, key engineering, and strategic technologies will receive scholarships of 3.7 – 5.5 million VND/month, and postgraduate students up to 8.4 million VND.
Starting September 1, 2026, students in basic sciences, key engineering, and strategic technologies are expected to receive scholarships of up to 5.5 million VND per month. The support level for master's and doctoral students will reach up to 8.4 million VND per month. The government's issuance of a list of 10 strategic technology groups is creating a positive effect in the 2026 admissions season.
According to Professor Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Higher Education Department - Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry is submitting to the Government a draft Decree stipulating scholarship policies for students studying basic sciences, key engineering fields, and strategic technologies, from undergraduate and engineering students to master's and doctoral candidates.
According to the draft, students studying in 15 fields of study will have the opportunity to receive scholarships ranging from approximately 3.7 million to 5.5 million VND per month, including: biology, applied biology, materials science, earth science, mathematics, statistics, computer science, information technology, mechanical engineering and engineering mechanics, electrical and electronic engineering and telecommunications, chemical engineering - materials - metallurgy and environmental engineering, engineering physics, geological engineering - geophysics and surveying, mining engineering, and construction. At the master's and doctoral levels, the support is higher, up to a maximum of 8.4 million VND per month – enough to help students cover living expenses while studying postgraduate programs.
The Director of the Department of Higher Education stated that the scholarship levels are designed to ensure minimum learning and living needs are met, while also being encouraging. The policy's goal is not only to support tuition and living expenses, but more importantly, to create a strong enough incentive to attract and retain talented students in basic sciences, key engineering fields, and strategic technologies – areas that are crucial to national competitiveness.
The scholarship recipients are divided into two groups. The first group consists of candidates who won first, second, or third prize in national or international student competitions, with the prize winning date no more than three years prior. The second group consists of candidates with a total high school graduation exam score of 22.5 or higher in the chosen subject combination (including mathematics and two subjects from the four subjects: physics, chemistry, biology, and English), excluding priority points, bonus points, and converted English scores if the candidate used a foreign language certificate to be exempt from the graduation exam. These candidates must also be among the top 30% of candidates with the highest admission scores in the same subject group nationwide.
To maintain the scholarship throughout the entire course, students must meet requirements regarding academic performance, credit accumulation progress, study discipline, and, for postgraduate studies, scientific research capacity. Mr. Nguyen Tien Thao assessed this not only as a policy of "giving opportunities" but also as a mechanism for screening and promoting the continuous development of students.
The list of 10 strategic technology groups issued by the Government includes: digital technology (artificial intelligence, big data, digital mirroring, cloud computing, the Internet of Things, blockchain); next-generation mobile network technology; robotics and automation; advanced biotechnology and biomedical technology; advanced energy and materials; semiconductor chips; cybersecurity and quantum technology; marine, ocean, and subsurface technology; aerospace; high-speed rail and urban rail. The identification of these strategic fields of study is seen as a strong signal indicating a priority for developing high-tech human resources in the coming period.
Unlike the trend of focusing on traditional "hot" fields like economics or business administration, the 2026 admissions season sees many universities beginning to strengthen scholarship policies for strategic technology fields. Associate Professor Bui Hoai Thang, Head of the Training Department at the University of Technology – Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, believes that scholarship policies will likely not be limited to specific training institutions. According to Professor Thang, the Ministry of Education and Training may not grant scholarships indiscriminately but will set conditions regarding academic ability and commitment from students to benefit from the policy. With scholarships available, students will be more interested in strategic technology fields, thereby contributing to improving the quality of education and creating technological products to serve socio-economic development.
At Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, 10 strategic technology groups cover most of the training programs. Alongside many fields that consistently attract strong interest and high-quality incoming students, there are still some fields with low enrollment, such as geological engineering – belonging to the group of marine, ocean, and subsurface technologies. "If accompanied by good scholarship policies and abundant job opportunities, these fields will significantly improve enrollment and raise the quality of incoming students," Associate Professor Bui Hoai Thang assessed.
At the International University – VNU-HCM, Ms. Nguyen Thi Bich Ngoc, Head of Communications, stated that approximately half of the 10 strategic technology groups currently cover most of the university's training programs. Over the years, the university has had many programs with good enrollment rates, but some have faced difficulties, notably aerospace engineering – a field that requires genuine passion from students. The government's identification of strategic technology groups will contribute to creating new momentum for these fields, not only in terms of the number of applicants but also in the quality of the recruitment pool.