Foreign university degrees of 40 students not recognized: Students devastated, school expresses regret.

TPO - Upon receiving news that their university degree was not recognized, the student became distraught and suffered severe depression, requiring hospitalization. Meanwhile, the London College of Fashion Design stated that it was "very sorry" that the degree was not recognized due to legal regulations.

Must be hospitalized for treatment of depression.

Regarding the case of 40 students being awarded foreign university degrees but the Ministry of Education and Training refusing to confirm them, on December 15th, in an interview with a reporter from the newspaper... According to Tien Phong newspaper, HPM (residing in Tay Ho ward) said: After receiving the news that her university degree was not verified, her family was very shocked. She herself was devastated and suffered from depression, requiring treatment at Bach Mai Hospital.

M previously attended the University of Trade Unions but dropped out to study Fashion Communication at the London College of Design and Fashion (LCDF). Because she didn't have a scholarship, she paid 100% of the tuition, amounting to 209 million VND per academic year. Only when the matter came to light did M realize that there had been many irregularities during her training at the school.

M recounted: After completing the college program, although the school offered a university transfer program, they announced that classes wouldn't start for another year. When the students refused, the school organized an online class for the two students to enroll in the university program.

VHL shared his "painful" journey of spending a lot of money and time studying but receiving a bitter outcome.

According to M, she and her family were informed that they needed to pay tuition for three semesters of the bridging program to university level. If the student wished to go to England to receive their degree, they would have to pay an additional 70 million VND. However, the family did not wish to do so and therefore did not pay the money.

Recently, M learned that her diploma was not verified. She was devastated and heartbroken, having spent hundreds of millions of dong trusting LCDF School to study there, only to receive such a bitter outcome. Seeing her exhibiting unusual psychological symptoms, her family took her to Bach Mai Hospital for examination, where she was diagnosed with depression and hospitalized. In the past few days, her condition has improved, and M has been discharged from the hospital. "Now I want the school to publicly disclose the information, apologize, and compensate the students," M said.

VHL is a former student and also a lecturer at LCDF School (who recently resigned). L believes that the school has used many tactics to recruit students.

While in 11th grade at high school, L was a talented artist and was selected to participate in the "Vietnam Where I Live" competition organized by LCDF School, where she won first prize. Upon receiving the award, she was promised a full scholarship to study at the college level at LCDF. However, after graduating from high school, she and her family inquired further and were only offered a 50% tuition scholarship because she wouldn't be starting her studies immediately. Nevertheless, trusting the school's advertisements, her family agreed to let L enroll in the college program.

After graduating from college, L worked at a private company for over a year. Unexpectedly, L received messages and calls from an LCDF staff member informing her about a university transfer program in Vietnam. After submitting her application, she was awarded a scholarship of 70 million VND. The additional amount she had to pay for the transfer program was 196.2 million VND, including the 70 million VND fee to travel to the UK to receive her degree. Later, she and other students were unable to go to the UK, and only received their money back after numerous attempts to get it back.

"During the course, the class repeatedly raised concerns about the quality of the instructors. Sometimes, during class, the teacher would disappear for ten days or more," another former student of the school recounted.

After graduating from university, she went to England to pursue a master's degree, which she is currently awaiting. Upon returning to Vietnam, L accepted a full-time teaching position in Graphic Design at LCDF School. When she took the job, L was the only lecturer in the entire department, responsible for teaching 9 students.

However, just days before the class was scheduled to begin, L received instructions from her superiors to have students from other specialized fields "temporarily" attend the class. Unwilling to accept a lesson plan specifically designed for Graphic Design being used for another field, L voiced her concerns but they were not accepted. From the beginning of October 2025, upon discovering these irregularities, L resigned from her job.

Many former students of LCDF School spoke with reporters from Tien Phong Newspaper.

“I wasted money and so many years of my youth at this school, only to end up with a 12th-grade diploma. My whole family is shocked, and I feel shattered. I don't know what my future or career will be like now that my diploma isn't recognized,” L said.

According to L, when the diploma scandal broke out, it affected the rights of many former students. However, as of December 15th, the school had not offered any apology or proposed a suitable solution. Instead, the school only issued an open letter with evasive and blame-shifting language.

What does the LCDF school report?

In a document sent to the Ministry of Education and Training, LCDF School affirmed that the UK had transferred all the curriculum and training programs of the Academy to LCDF School for use in teaching and awarding degrees to students.

The school also taught a 100% foreign curriculum and used UK qualifications for graduates in Vietnam.

"LCDF School deeply regrets that the prestigious and globally recognized qualifications of Pearson and Liverpool John Moore University are not recognized in Vietnam simply because legal regulations require students to travel to the UK for study at a much higher cost," the school stated.

LCDF also included a list of 47 graduates from Liverpool John Moores University and 2 graduates from the University of Hertfordshire.

As reported by Tien Phong newspaper, more than 40 students from the London College of Design and Fashion ( Hanoi ) received bachelor's degrees from Liverpool John Moores University after completing their university program. However, upon recently verifying their diplomas, they were shocked to discover that they were not recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training. When the matter came to light, the school washed its hands of the issue, claiming that from the initial consultation to the entire enrollment and study process, the school did not inform the students about the recognition or non-recognition of their university degrees.

The Ministry of Education and Training announced that, according to a decision by the Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs, the London College of Design and Fashion is authorized to provide vocational training at three levels: elementary, intermediate, and advanced, in the following fields: Fashion Design; Graphic Design; and Interior Decoration.

The Ministry of Education and Training affirms that, to date, LCDF School has not been granted a Certificate of Registration for joint training activities with foreign countries for any of its majors or professions.

The Ministry of Education and Training recognizes this as a complex issue, with legal entities showing signs of not complying with current regulations on international training partnerships. The Ministry plans to consider establishing a comprehensive inspection team to examine the operations of LCDF.

Source: https://tienphong.vn/vu-bang-dai-hoc-nuoc-ngoai-cua-40-hoc-vien-khong-duoc-cong-nhan-hoc-vien-suy-sup-truong-lay-lam-tiec-post1804946.tpo