The Ministry of Education and Training announced on 28/6 the list of 111 fields eligible for scholarships under Decree 179. The Ministry stated it would consider updates if new fields emerge within these categories.
This scholarship policy, issued by the Government at the end of May, aims to develop human resources in the nation's priority sectors. It ensures minimum study and living needs are met and applies to students admitted from 2025.
Depending on the field, students will receive 3.7-5.5 million VND per month. This support extends for up to 4 years for bachelor's programs and 5 years for engineering programs. Master's and doctoral students receive annual support for their program's standard training duration. The specific monthly support levels are as follows (million VND/month):
| Field, program | Bachelor's | Master's | Doctoral researchers |
| Semiconductor microchips, fundamental sciences | 4,5 | 6,3 | 8,4 |
| Key engineering, strategic technologies | 3,7 | 5,5 | 7,4 |
| Talent programs | 5,5 | 7,4 | 8,4 |
The 111 fields eligible for scholarships are detailed below:
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High school students visit science laboratories and practical sessions at Ho Chi Minh City University of Science, January. *HCMUS* |
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Currently, Vietnam has over 770,000 students in STEM fields, representing 29% of the total student population. This figure is lower than regional and global averages, such as Singapore (46%) and Malaysia (50%).
The Ministry of Education believes this scholarship policy will motivate high school students, regardless of their economic background, to pursue STEM fields. This initiative is expected to lead to a more abundant human resource pool in these sectors nationwide in 3-5 years, aiming to reach 35% of students by 2030.
Eligibility conditions for scholarships in the 111 science and technology fields:
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Le Nguyen
