LookAtVietnam – Private universities are costly. Students are choosing to attend less expensive, state-owned institutions if they can.

Registering for studying at the HCM City Polytechnique and Technology University

In Vietnam, the students, who fail to score enough points to enter their first choice universities, still have second and/or third opportunities to study at other universities (if they have obtained the scores required).

After the first round, HCM City Economics and Finance University still had space for 500 new students. Nguoi Lao Dong reports that by September 8 the school had only received 200 applications.

High costs mean lowered standards

“Our university combines high quality training with modern teaching methods. We have invested heavily in teaching technology. However, students lose interest as soon as they hear that our tuition is 45 million dong (just under $3000) per annum on average,” said Nguyen The Loc, an officer in the Training Division of HCM City Economics and Finance University.

Saigon International University is prepared to enroll 800 students, but has received only 200 applications thus far. Its tuition ranges from 36 million to 41 million dong per annum.

The Huu Nghi Technology and Management University in Hanoi faces the same obstacle. Though they hoped to enroll 300 students and offer need-based scholarships, the number of applications is still lower than the modest target.

The university will have to accept students making a third choice round of applications in order to enroll enough students.

Bac Ha International University was ready to enroll 600 students under the second choice, but only 250 students applied. An enrollment officer explained that this year it could be more difficult to enroll students because many state-owned universities have lowered their own qualifying exam scores.

To fill classes, many state-owned institutions chose to accept scores at or near the floor mark for the 2009-2010 academic year (The floor mark is the minimum score that students must have to be eligible for enrollment at any university).

However, the enrollment officer also admitted that Bac Ha’s relatively high tuition level of 18 million dong (for economics study branches) and 20 million dong (for polytechnical branches) is a real barrier for students, especially students from rural areas.

Third choice schools and students

Those students who have not been admitted to their second-choice universities still have the chance to study at other universities which require lower marks. Private and people’s universities that have not found enough students still have the chance to meet their enrollment goals.

Most of people’s and private universities said that they will still accept students who register with them as their third choice. These will be students who have failed to gain admission at state-owned universities.

Hong Bang, Hung Vuong and Van Hien Universities have all reported low numbers of second round applications. Van Hien University has received 1,000 applications and needs 700 more students. Hong Bang International Private University has 2,000 of the 4,000 students it needs.

Tran Huu Nghi, Vice President of the Hai Phong University, which is not a state-run school, admitted that the school has enrollment difficulties and must admit students who fail state-owned university exams.

HCM City Polytechnical and Technology University Vice-President Luu Thanh Tam reported that only 20-40 applications have been made to some departments, including English and electronics-telecommunications. They too will have to lower their standards.

VietNamNet/NLD