The Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (HUIT) is offering a 50% tuition reduction for the first semester to students enrolling in 9 programs: thermal engineering; nutritional science and gastronomy; culinary science; textile and garment technology; fashion and textile business; natural resources and environmental management; environmental engineering technology; seafood processing technology; and materials technology.

Pham Thai Son, director of HUIT's Center for Admissions and Business Relations, said these fields have high recruitment demand, with a 95% employment rate for last year's graduates. However, these programs haven't attracted as many applicants as expected.

"While we meet enrollment targets for these programs, the admission scores aren't high. The tuition reduction aims to attract stronger candidates," Son said.

While detailed 2025 tuition fees haven't been released, Son said they won't increase by more than 10%. Last year, tuition was 863,000 VND per theory credit and 1.1 million VND per practical credit.

For several years, Ho Chi Minh City University of Science (HCMUS), Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, has offered 50-100% first-year scholarships to attract high-achieving students to programs like geology, oceanography, environmental science (general program), environmental engineering technology, geological engineering, and nuclear engineering. The number of scholarships and specific score requirements will be announced after the admissions process.

According to HCMUS, these fundamental science fields support sustainable development and national strategies, but face low student interest. Tuition for these programs is around 28.4 million VND annually.

High school students visit a workshop at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) in 1/2024. Photo: HCMUTE

High school students visit a workshop at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) in 1/2024. Photo: HCMUTE

Meanwhile, some universities offer scholarships specifically for women in these fields.

Can Tho University (CTU) offers a 50% first-year tuition reduction for female students enrolling in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mechatronics engineering, and control and automation engineering (general program). This year, tuition for these 4 programs is 25.9 million VND.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (HCMUTE) offers a 50% reduction for the first semester in 6 programs: manufacturing engineering technology; mechatronics engineering technology; mechanical engineering technology; construction engineering technology; transportation construction engineering; and automotive engineering technology.

HCMUTE said it will maintain these scholarships until graduation if students maintain a good academic standing (GPA of 7/10 or higher).

Tran Thanh Thuong, head of HCMUTE's Admissions and Student Affairs Department, believes that while industrial engineering fields can be demanding, female students are fully capable. He highlighted their meticulousness, attention to detail, and persuasive abilities as advantages.

He noted that in 2014, female students made up only 18% of the total student body, but that number has now increased to 26%. Fields previously lacking female representation, such as mechanical, electrical, and automotive engineering, have seen improvement. This demonstrates how scholarships and incentives can attract women to STEM fields, traditionally considered male-dominated.

HCMUTE's 2025 tuition fees haven't been announced yet. Last year, tuition ranged from 28.8 to 36 million VND annually.

Similarly, Lac Hong University (LHU) offers a 5 million VND tuition reduction for female students entering engineering programs: electrical and electronics engineering technology; control and automation engineering technology; mechanical engineering technology; mechatronics engineering technology; automotive engineering technology; and information technology.

Tuition for these programs is approximately 17.5-18.5 million VND per semester.

For the first time, FPT University is offering a "Women in STEM" scholarship worth 20 million VND for female students enrolling in IT majors such as semiconductor chip design, artificial intelligence, information security, digital automotive technology, software engineering, information systems, and digital art design.

Tuition for these majors currently ranges from 15.8 to 31.6 million VND per semester. The university said this initiative aligns with Resolution 57 of the Politburo on promoting science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation. It also aims to promote gender equality and encourage women passionate about technology to pursue these fields.

Le Nguyen