Vietnam: What type of undergraduate degree is required for a Master's program with a research orientation?

What type of undergraduate degree is required for a Master's program with a research orientation?

According to Clause 1, Article 5 of the Regulations on enrolment and training for master’s degree issued together with Circular 23/2021/TT-BGDDT of the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, the regulations on enrollees and enrolment eligibility are as follows:

Enrollees and enrolment eligibility

1. Eligibility for enrolment:

a) Having graduated or eligible for recognition as university graduates (or equivalent or higher) in appropriate majors; in case of research orientation programs, graduating in good category or higher or making scientific publication in major that learners will study and/or conduct research;  

b) Obtaining level 3 foreign language proficiency according to Foreign Language Proficiency consisting of 6 levels in Vietnam;

b) Satisfying other requirements of standard training programs issued by Ministry of Education and Training and requirements of training programs.

2. Appropriate majors specified under Clause 1 of this Article and other Articles hereof mean majors in university level (or equivalent or higher) that equip learners with necessary specialized basis to pursue master training degree of the respective majors and are specified in enrolment standards of master training degree; education institutions shall prescribe cases where additional academic requirements are to be satisfied prior to enrolment. For administration, management, and training majors in oriented application master program, appropriate majors in university level include majors directly related to administration and management majors.

According to the regulations, candidates for the master's degree research-oriented program must have a bachelor’s degree with a grade of good or higher or have scientific publications related to the field of study and research.

Thus, candidates for the master's degree program must have a bachelor’s degree with a grade of good or higher, or if not, they must have scientific publications related to the field of study and research.

What type of undergraduate degree is required for a master's research-oriented program? (Image from the Internet)

When do master's degree program applicants meet the Level 3 foreign language requirement?

According to Clause 3, Article 5 of the Regulations on enrolment and training for master’s degree issued together with Circular 23/2021/TT-BGDDT, enrollees satisfying requirements under Point b Clause 1 of this Article when they obtain any of the following:

- University degree or higher in foreign language majors; or university degree or higher in programs delivered primarily in foreign languages;

- University degree or higher provided by education institutions within 2 years in which graduation standards of the program satisfy foreign language level 3 in the Foreign Language Proficiency consisting of 6 levels for Vietnam;

- Any degree or certificate for foreign language equivalent to level 3 in Foreign Language Proficiency consisting of 6 levels for Vietnam under Annex hereof or other equivalent certificates publicized by Ministry of Education and Training and valid by the date of enrolment.  

What degrees or certificates are required for applicants to meet the foreign language requirement for master's programs taught in a foreign language?

According to Clause 5, Article 5 of the Regulations on enrolment and training for master’s degree issued together with Circular 23/2021/TT-BGDDT, for training programs delivered in foreign languages, enrollees must satisfy foreign language requirements, to be specific, obtain any of the following certificate or degree:

- University degree or higher in foreign languages used in teaching; or university degree or higher where education program is provided primarily in languages used in teaching; 

- Any degree or certificate for language used in teaching equivalent to level 4 in Foreign Language Proficiency consisting of 6 levels for Vietnam under Annex hereof or other equivalent certificates publicized by Ministry of Education and Training and valid by the date of enrolment.  

How long in advance must the admission announcement for the master's degree program be published?

Based on Clause 3, Article 6 of the Regulations on enrolment and training for master’s degree issued together with Circular 23/2021/TT-BGDDT, the regulations are as follows:

Enrolment and learner acknowledgement

1. Enrolment shall be organized one or multiple times in a year when education institutions satisfy quality assurance requirements for master training programs as per applicable provisions.

2. Methods of enrolment shall be decided by education institutions, including examination, consideration, or a combination of both; guarantee transparent, fair, objective, and truthful assessment of knowledge and capacity of enrollees.  Education institutions may organize online enrolment when satisfying quality assurance requirements to guarantee reliable and fair assessment results.

3. Notice of enrolment shall be publicized on website of education institutions at least 45 days before the date on which the education institutions cease to receive application for enrolment and consist of:

a) Enrollees and eligibility for admission;

b) Enrolment quotas by training programs and training format;

c) List of appropriate majors of each training program and cases where additional study is required;

d) Application for enrolment;

dd) Enrolment plans and methods;

e) Tuition, fees for enrolment services, and fees for other services for each school year, and for the entire course;

g) Other necessary information.

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Thus, the admission announcement for the master's degree program must be publicly posted on the training institution’s website at least 45 days before the application deadline.