Professor Nguyen Tien Thao, Director of the Department of Higher Education (Ministry of Education and Training), shared his views on this issue in the Education and Times newspaper.
Retaining talent in strategic technology sectors.
- The Ministry of Education and Training is submitting a new scholarship policy for STEM fields to the Government . Could you briefly outline the objectives and significance of this policy?
- University admissions in 2026 will include new policies to support students in STEM fields. The Ministry of Education and Training is submitting to the Government a draft Decree stipulating scholarship policies for students studying basic sciences , key engineering, and strategic technologies.
The goal is not just to support students' tuition and living expenses, but more importantly, to create strong enough incentives to attract and retain talented students to pursue fundamental sciences, key engineering, and strategic technologies – fields that play a decisive role in national competitiveness…
This scholarship policy applies to Vietnamese citizens currently enrolled in full-time programs, from undergraduate and engineering students to master's and doctoral candidates.
The scholarship covers both tuition and living expenses while providing a strong incentive for students to pursue fundamental sciences, key engineering fields, and strategic technologies. The policy is expected to be implemented from September 1, 2026.
So, what are the specific conditions for students to be eligible for this scholarship?
- First, candidates must choose their undergraduate field of study within the basic sciences, key engineering, and strategic technologies. Eligible candidates for scholarship support include:
The first group consists of candidates who won first, second, or third prize in national or international student competitions (the time elapsed since winning the prize is no more than 3 years).
The second group consists of candidates with a total graduation exam score of 22.50 points or higher in the admission combination including Mathematics and two out of the four subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English (excluding priority points, bonus points, and converted English scores if the candidate uses a foreign language certificate to be exempt from the graduation exam).
The second group of candidates must also ensure they are among the top 30% of candidates with the highest admission scores in their respective fields of study nationwide. In addition, to maintain the scholarship throughout the entire course, students must meet requirements regarding academic performance, credit accumulation progress, study discipline, and, for postgraduate studies, scientific research capabilities.
It can be said that this is not just a policy of "giving opportunities," but also a mechanism for screening and promoting the continuous development of learners.
These fields of study will be included in the scholarship list.
- Could you specify which fields of study will be included in the scholarship list?
- The proposed list of fields of study eligible for scholarships includes 15 fields: Biology, Applied Biology, Materials Science, Earth Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Computer Science, Information Technology, Mechanical Engineering and Mechanics, Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Telecommunications, Chemical Engineering, Materials Engineering, Metallurgy and Environmental Engineering, Engineering Physics, Geological Engineering, Geophysics and Surveying, Mining Engineering, and Civil Engineering.
The key point here is to clearly orient human resources towards strategic foundational and technological fields, rather than spreading them thinly. These are also the areas where Vietnam needs to accelerate in the coming period to serve digital transformation, industrialization, and the development of a knowledge-based economy.
We would also like to reiterate some technical guidelines for training institutions and candidates in the process of developing admission plans and selecting the combination of three subjects from the five high school graduation exam subjects: Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English. Combinations other than these five subjects used for admission to the above-mentioned training programs are not eligible for scholarships.
- What will the monthly scholarship amount be for students, sir?
- The scholarship amounts are designed to ensure minimum learning and living needs are met, while also offering clear incentives. The scholarship amounts are projected to be divided by academic level and field of study.
At the undergraduate level, the support ranges from approximately 3.7 to 5.5 million VND per month; at the master's and doctoral levels, the support is higher, up to a maximum of 8.4 million VND per month. This scholarship amount helps students cover their living expenses while studying in these programs. The scholarship policy is also designed with a progressively increasing structure according to the level of study, accurately reflecting the research capacity and contributions of the students.
Furthermore, a noteworthy reform is that the scholarship application and disbursement process is based on existing data from the university admissions registration period, eliminating unnecessary administrative procedures for students and ensuring transparency, openness, and efficiency.
- Do you have any special advice or notes for candidates who are hoping to win this scholarship?
- With this scholarship policy, opportunities are clearly opening up for students with abilities in the fields of natural sciences and technology. Students with a strong foundation in mathematics and science subjects need to focus intensely now to achieve the best results in the upcoming exams.
With just over a month left until the 2026 high school graduation exam, students can review their exam registration forms to ensure there are no errors or mistakes, adjust their study focus, exam subjects, and university-level majors.
As you enter your 18th year, take a moment to assess your strengths in the natural sciences. If you were hesitant before, now is the time to make a decision about your future path. If you excel in math and natural sciences, this is the time to break through.
This scholarship not only provides financial support but also offers the opportunity to enter key sectors of the country for the next 10–20 years. It not only covers 10 months of the academic year but also serves as a springboard for career advancement.
Let this be your biggest motivation to choose your subjects and major right now. Choosing the right major at this time is choosing your future career path.
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Professor Nguyen Tien Thao!
According to statistics from the Department of Quality Management (Ministry of Education and Training), as of April 28, 2026, the total number of students registered for the high school graduation exam was 1,017,482, of which 969,141 were 12th-grade students (accounting for 95.2%), 48,341 were independent candidates (accounting for 4.7%), and 6,331 were exempt from the foreign language exam. From now until 5:30 PM on May 5, 2026, candidates can continue to register for the graduation exam subjects or adjust their subject choices if they wish to change them.
Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/hut-nhan-tai-bang-hoc-bong-stem-post776109.html
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