MOET has decided to allow some universities to admit students who will pay 100 percent of their expenses. In turn, many examinees feel the race for universities is unfair.
In late 2009, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) stated that it would not allow universities to enroll students as “non-state budget” or paying their own way. The ministry has reversed itself and decided to allow some universities to admit students who will pay 100 percent of their expenses. In turn, many examinees feel the race for universities is unfair.

In principle, the State funds university study in Vietnam. Every student must pay tuition, but the sums are only a portion of the total expenditure for their education. The phrase “non-state budget training” refers to students who do not get funding from the State and pay 100 percent of their educational expenses.

In general, non-state budget students are ones who did not obtain the score to be admitted to State budget-funded training. The scores are lower by one or two points at maximum than required.

The National Economics University, for example, considers enrolling students with 20-20.5 grades on the last university entrance exam. The Banking Academy has considered enrolling 284 students with 20.5 scores for two majors, accounting and business administration.

The University for Foreign Trade has announced the enrollment of 300 students for non-state budget training in the north and 150 students in the south. Those with marks lower by 1.5 than required can apply.

By enrolling under non-state budget training, students can still get the same university degree as subsidized students. They must pay 100 percent of training expenses, three times higher than normal tuition. The tuition set by the University of Foreign Trade is about 11 million dong per year.

Tran Manh Dung, Head of the Training Division of the Banking Academy, calculated that every student there must pay 295,000 dong per credit, which is equal to 950,000 dong per month. Le Dinh Lap, Director of the Post and Telecommunications Institute of Technology, reported that his school is collecting 720,000 dong a month.

According to Nguoi Lao Dong newspaper, many examinees have shown their dissatisfaction about the MOET decision, calling it “inconsistent.”

In theory, students without required scores must not be allowed to study at the universities where they registered. They can only seek study opportunities at other universities that require lower marks under their second choice.

Over the last many years, MOET has been applying a “quota” scheme in enrollment, under which universities are allowed to enroll certain numbers of students, depending on their material facilities, teaching staff and other conditions.

According to Deputy Minister of MOET Bui Van Ga, universities have been allowed to admit students at “full capacity” (i.e., universities must not enroll more if they want to ensure the training quality). However, some universities have permission to increase their quotas by 10-15 percent.

Source: Nguoi lao dong