Current trends in international education

In the context of increasingly deep globalization, international education is becoming an inevitable trend. Vietnam is actively integrating with many cooperation and investment policies. At the same time, the trend of studying abroad is also changing clearly, in which Australia is emerging as a leading ideal destination for Vietnamese students.

1. Vietnam accelerates international educational integration

Over the past decade, the Government has promoted educational development through international training programs to meet the globalization trend. According to Government Newspaper, Vietnam’s education sector has now established cooperative relations with more than 100 countries and international organizations, from ASEAN countries to global organizations such as UNESCO, UNICEF, APEC or SEAMEO.

Vietnam is operating more than 500 foreign investment cooperation projects in the education sector, with a total registered capital exceeding 4 billion USD. Of which, there are more than 600 international training joint programs implemented at universities across the country, creating opportunities for students to study in an international standard environment right in Vietnam. In the United States alone, the number of joint programs currently operating has exceeded 50 programs.

At the undergraduate level, as of June 2024, there were 62 universities with joint training programs with foreign countries with 369 programs, including 285 undergraduate programs, 74 master’s programs and 10 doctoral programs (Statistics of the Ministry of Education and Training, 2024).

2. Australia is a country that attracts a large number of Vietnamese students

According to the latest data from Thanh Nien Newspaper, by the end of 2023, Vietnam had more than 230,000 international students studying in more than 50 countries. Of which, Australia, the US and Canada are the three English-speaking countries leading in the number of Vietnamese international students.

Specifically, the number of Vietnamese students studying in Australia reached 32,948 in 2023, a sharp increase of 46% compared to 2022 – recording the highest increase in a year. This is the first time Australia has surpassed the US to become the country with the largest number of Vietnamese international students.

The land of kangaroos is becoming the leading attractive study abroad destination for Vietnamese students

3. Preparing for an international education environment

To confidently conquer an international learning environment and study abroad, English proficiency and financial planning are two key factors that students and parents need to prepare carefully.

a. English

Proficiency in English is a solid stepping stone to help students access knowledge and quickly integrate into an international academic and living environment. Most universities require standardized English certificates such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE… with a minimum score of 6.0–6.5 or higher. If they do not meet the English entry requirements, students are required to attend the school’s supplementary English courses before entering the main course. Therefore, students should be aware of practicing English early, specifically from grade 10, to save time and study costs.

b. Finance 

The financial problem is always a concern for most parents when considering sending their children to study in a foreign environment.