In this context, direct financial support for students is expected to boost the appeal of STEM disciplines while elevating the quality of recruitment and training in priority fields.
Government Decree No. 179/2026/ND-CP (Decree 179), which takes effect on July 15, launches a scholarship scheme for students pursuing basic sciences, key engineering disciplines, and strategic technologies. The policy signals a shift from providing support to higher education institutions to offering direct assistance to students.
Under the decree, students admitted to eligible programmes who meet the required entrance score criteria — or are admitted through direct admission — and rank among the top 30% of entrants by admission score will qualify for Government scholarships. These scholarships will be renewed annually based on academic performance and personal conduct.
The Ministry of Education and Training has released a list of academic programmes in the fields of basic sciences, key engineering disciplines, and strategic technologies that qualify for the scheme.
The scholarship policy forms part of a broader strategy to broaden the scope of STEM education — covering Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics — while elevating the quality of student intake for strategically important disciplines.
According to Nguyen Tien Thao, Director General of the Higher Education Department under the Ministry of Education and Training, Viet Nam currently has 771,475 students enrolled in STEM fields, representing approximately 29% of total higher education enrolment. Of these, 475,833 full-time students are pursuing degrees across the 15 disciplinary groups covered by Decree 179.
The Government aims to raise the proportion of STEM students to 35% by 2030 to fulfil the country's science, technology, and innovation needs.
To achieve this goal, the Ministry is rolling out a range of programmes to cultivate high-quality human resources and has approved 90 talent development programmes at 23 universities, integrating education with scientific research and strategic technology development.
For the 2025 university admissions cohort, an estimated 22,250 students will qualify for Government scholarships from September 1, 2026. In 2026, around 30,000 students are expected to secure scholarships, with an annual budget of approximately 1.3 trillion VND.
Beyond creating greater opportunities for students, the new policy is also expected to transform university admissions and training.
According to Professor Dr Nguyen Van Hieu, Vice President of Phenikaa University and Rector of the Phenikaa School of Engineering, Decree 179/2026 is likely to trigger a significant shift in students' perceptions and programme choices. Science, engineering, and technology disciplines will no longer be viewed merely as academically demanding or unappealing, but increasingly recognised as strategically important fields offering broad career prospects and opportunities to contribute directly to national development. The scholarship scheme is expected to elevate the quality of incoming students by drawing more talented pupils with strong backgrounds in mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology, and computer science, as well as a passion for scientific research and technological innovation.
Recently, Ha Noi University of Science and Technology announced an enrolment target of 9,700 students for 68 academic programmes in 2026, of which 55 programmes qualify for scholarships under Decree 179/2026. Under the policy, students enrolled in eligible programmes will secure financial support ranging from 3.7 million VND to 5.5 million VND per month, depending on the programme.
At the National Economics University, programmes eligible for Government scholarships include Data Science, Artificial Intelligence, Information Systems, Information Technology, Cybersecurity, Software Engineering, Computer Science, and Applied Mathematics. These disciplines are among the university's strategic priorities in its evolution into a smart university, digital university, and innovation ecosystem.
While welcoming the significance of the scholarship policy, many experts believe that cultivating a highly qualified workforce will require comprehensive investment tailored to the specific characteristics of different disciplines.
According to Associate Professor Dr Tran Manh Cuong, Vice Rector of the University of Science under the Viet Nam National University, Ha Noi, STEM covers a broad range of disciplines. Although technology and engineering programmes enjoy strong labour market demand, many basic science and mathematics programmes continue to encounter recruitment challenges despite their fundamental importance to the country's long-term development. Therefore, alongside scholarship support, continued investment is needed in academic staff, facilities, equipment, and laboratory systems to elevate the quality of education, research, and the development of scientific and technological talent.
Minister of Education and Training Hoang Minh Son stated that strengthening foundational education in basic sciences and key engineering disciplines would enable students to adapt more quickly to, master, and further develop strategic technologies in the future.
The Government's scholarship policy not only makes it easier for more students — particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds — to pursue studies in science and technology, but also helps elevate the quality of higher education and cultivate the skilled workforce required to support the development of Viet Nam's industrial sector and strategic technology industries.
