Hanoi University of Science and Technology (HUST) announced on 22/3 that it will waive tuition fees for all PhD students, effective this academic year. This initiative provides scholarships equivalent to 80-100 million VND per student.

Associate Professor Nguyen Phong Dien, Vice President of HUST, stated that this marks the first cohort of PhD students at the university to receive a full tuition waiver. "This is a concrete step to realize the Politburo's directives on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and national digital transformation," Dien said.

This new policy represents a significant shift from previous years. Typically, doctoral studies span 3-4 years, with tuition for the most recent cohort set at 26 million VND annually. In the past, HUST only awarded scholarships to a limited number of PhD students with outstanding publications, such as four individuals last year.

This year, HUST is admitting 145 doctoral candidates across 27 majors. Control and Automation Engineering recruited the highest number of students (25), followed by Mechatronics Engineering (15), Computer Science (10), and Computer Engineering (10).

Applicants must hold a master's degree or an excellent bachelor's degree. They are required to demonstrate research experience through a master's thesis, published articles, scientific reports, or by having two or more years as a lecturer or researcher. Additionally, candidates must meet foreign language proficiency requirements equivalent to level 4/6 (B1) or higher.

Associate Professor Nguyen Phong Dien (second from left) and leaders from the School of Materials Science at Hanoi University of Science and Technology awarded degrees to new PhDs in 11/2025. Photo: HUST

Tuition waivers for PhD students are common globally. In countries such as the US, South Korea, and Singapore, these students not only receive tuition exemptions but also benefit from scholarships sufficient to cover living expenses, thesis completion, and salaries for teaching assistantships or research collaboration with their supervisors.

However, in Vietnam, few training institutions are equipped to implement such comprehensive support. Some universities do offer tuition waivers along with living stipends or remuneration for PhD students, including: Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics, Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Phenikaa University, and the University of Engineering and Technology - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.

Duong Tam