Application strategy
Mainstream admission runs through Vietnam's national high-school graduation exam combined with VNU's own High-school Student Assessment (HSA) aptitude test and programme-specific subject combinations, so IB, A-Levels and AP are not the standard entry route for the core Vietnamese-medium degrees. International applicants and those targeting English-taught or joint international programmes should apply through VNU's international admissions channels, where foreign qualifications and English proficiency are assessed case-by-case — confirm requirements directly with the relevant member university or the International School. Vietnamese-language proficiency is essential for most programmes; non-Vietnamese speakers should target the dedicated international/English-taught tracks or plan for Vietnamese-language preparation. Tuition is low, so check VNU and Vietnamese government scholarships for international students.
Who fits
- Vietnamese students seeking the country's most prestigious university and strongest domestic career network
- Students of mathematics, the natural sciences and physics drawn to a faculty with a genuine world-class research tradition in the field
- Economics, technology, AI/semiconductor and engineering students wanting Vietnam's leading public programmes aligned with national industrial strategy
- International students with Vietnamese-language ability (or in dedicated joint/English-taught tracks) wanting an affordable degree in a fast-growing economy
- Students of Vietnamese studies, regional social sciences or Southeast Asian humanities wanting strong area expertise
Who should think twice
- International students without Vietnamese who need a fully English-taught undergraduate degree
- Applicants prioritising a globally elite brand name or a top-ranked world university
- Students relying on IB/A-Level/AP as their admission pathway, since mainstream entry runs through Vietnam's national exam and VNU's HSA aptitude test
- Those wanting the research funding, facilities and resourcing of a wealthy developed-economy university
- Students seeking a polished, services-rich, single-campus international student experience
Visa and application system in Vietnam
- Student visa / post-study work: Student visa (DH) sponsored by the institution; no automatic post-study work visa — graduates convert via employer sponsorship
- Application system: National high-school exam + the university's own aptitude test (HSA, Vietnamese-medium) for mainstream; small set of English-taught/joint international programs