HCM City (VNS/VNA) - Nguyen Canh Han, one of the thousands ofstudents who have returned to Vietnam because of the COVID-19 pandemic, plansto apply for admission to International University, one of the members of VietnamNational University-Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM).

“My parents advised me that I should apply at a university in Vietnam so that Ican continue learning. My parents are worried if I return to the US,” Han said.

Han, who completed one year of university study in the US, wants to transfer toa local university as a second-year student.

Dr Ha Viet Uyen Synh, head of the undergraduate training division atInternational University, said that admission should be based on eachuniversity's enrollment criteria and students' capabilities. Students may beable to transfer earned credits from overseas universities, but they could alsolose credits as well, depending on requirements. 

International University said it would enroll students with an internationalbaccalaureate or those graduating from high schools in other countries.

“International University will enroll them in international training programmestaught in English or in joint training programmes that we have with foreignuniversities,” Synh said.

“The university will admit these students as transfer students from theiruniversity or as students of foreign universities with which we already cooperate,”he added.

If students want to study in a different major from the one they chose abroad,they will have to pass the university’s interview round.

International University has joint training programmes in which students studyat universities in the US, Australia and New Zealand after they complete twoyears of study at the university.

The university said it had received 15 applications from overseas students.

Other members of VNUHCM such as the University of Natural Sciences, Universityof Technology, University of Economics and Law, University of Information andTechnology, and University of Social Sciences and Humanities will also admitstudents from overseas.

Speaking at an online forum on overseas students held last month, Dr Nguyen ThuThuy, acting head of the Tertiary Education Department under the Ministry ofEducation and Training, said that 352 joint training programmes would helpoverseas students continue their study in Vietnam.

Many reputable foreign universities have invested in Vietnamese highereducation and their joint training programmes meet international standards, Thuysaid.

Dr Nguyen Tien Thao, deputy head of the training division at Vietnam NationalUniversity in Hanoi, said that training programmes at the country’suniversities were the same as foreign programmes.

Because of global integration, Vietnamese universities have quickly accessednew training programmes, Thao said, adding that their joint training programmesmeet international standards.

With more than 200 universities in the country, overseas students need toidentify which university programmes are most suited to their needs.

International degrees are also offered at some universities in the country.

Vietnam National University in Hanoi said it would provide information aboutdetailed procedures and its training programmes to overseas students.

Dr Nguyen Phong Dien of Hanoi University of Technology said the university hasmany options available for overseas students./.