Is it possible to retake a Master's thesis defense in Vietnam?

Is it possible to retake a Master's thesis defense in Vietnam?

Based on Article 12 of the Regulation on Master's Degree Admission and Training issued together with Circular 23/2021/TT-BGDDT, the evaluation of the thesis is regulated as follows:

Recognition of Graduation and Awarding of Master's Degree

1. Conditions for students to be recognized as graduates:

a) Completed all courses in the training program and successfully defended the thesis or project;

b) Have a foreign language proficiency that meets the output standard of the training program before the graduation evaluation time; evidenced by one of the diplomas or foreign language certificates equivalent to Level 4 according to the 6-level Foreign Language Competency Framework for Vietnam stipulated in the Appendix of this Regulation, or other equivalent certificates announced by the Ministry of Education and Training, or a bachelor's degree or higher in a foreign language, or a bachelor's degree or higher in another major in which the program is entirely conducted in a foreign language;

c) Completed responsibilities as prescribed by the training institution; not being prosecuted and not during the period of disciplinary action or suspension of studies.

2. The training institution shall organize the evaluation and issue the graduation recognition decision within 2 months from the date the student successfully defends the thesis or project; a maximum of 3 additional months in case a thesis or project evaluation is required.

3. The training institution shall award the master’s degree to students within 1 month from the date of the graduation recognition decision.

4. The content recorded on the diploma and the diploma supplement shall follow the rules stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training, in which the diploma supplement clearly states the research orientation program or application orientation program.

5. For students who do not meet the graduation conditions within the study time prescribed in Clause 2, Article 3 of this Regulation, the principal or the head of the training institution (hereinafter collectively referred to as the principal) shall issue a certificate of results of the courses the student has accumulated in the training program.

6. The regulation of the training institution specifies the method for calculating the average grade for the entire course, the process of graduation evaluation and recognition; the reservation, and issuance of a certificate of accumulated study results for students who have not yet met the graduation conditions.

Therefore, a failed master's thesis defense can be retaken. If a master's thesis defense fails the first time, it can be revised and supplemented to be evaluated again within 3 months from the date of the first evaluation council meeting.

Is it possible to retake a Master's thesis defense in Vietnam? (Image from Internet)

What is the minimum time limit for conduction of a Master's Thesis in Vietnam?

According to Article 8 of the Regulation on Master's Degree Admission and Training issued together with Circular 23/2021/TT-BGDDT:

Thesis Guidance

1. Students in a research-oriented program must conduct a research topic with a volume of 12 to 15 credits, the results of which are expressed in the thesis. Students must conduct their thesis for a minimum of 6 months.

2. The thesis is a scientific report that aggregates the main research results of the student, meeting the following requirements:

a) Contributes to theoretical, academic, or technological development and innovation; demonstrates the student's research capability;

b) Conforms to the cultural, ethical norms, and customs of Vietnamese people;

c) Adheres to the training institution's regulations on academic integrity and the current legal regulations on intellectual property.

...

Therefore, students must conduct their master's thesis for a minimum of 6 months.

What are regulations on disciplinary actions for students in Vietnam for improper citations in their Master's Theses?

According to Article 16 of the Regulation on Master’s Degree Admission and Training issued together with Circular 23/2021/TT-BGDDT:

Handling Violations by Students

1. Students committing fraud in exams, tests, and assessments will be disciplined for each breached course.

2. Students taking or asking others to take exams on their behalf will be suspended for 1 year for the first violation and expelled for the second violation.

3. Students committing any of the following violations will be expelled; the master's degree if awarded will be revoked and annulled according to the Ministry of Education and Training's regulations:

a) Committing fraud in admission, studies, thesis or project defense, or falsifying documents to obtain diplomas or certificates;

b) Using results of others or improperly citing in the thesis or project and being concluded by the assessment council that if those parts used, cited improperly are removed, the thesis or project does not meet the requirements;

c) Asking or hiring others to do the thesis or project on their behalf.

4. The regulation of the training institution specifies in detail the handling of violations by students.

Therefore, students improperly citing in their master's theses will be expelled.

In cases where students have already been awarded the master's degree, the degree will be revoked and annulled according to the Ministry of Education and Training's regulations.