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THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF VIETNAM |
SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM |
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Law No. 125/2025/QH15 |
Hanoi, December 10, 2025 |
Pursuant to the Constitution of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam amended by Resolution No. 203/2025/QH15;
The National Assembly promulgates the Law on Higher Education;
This Law provides for higher education; organization and operation of higher education institutions; powers and responsibilities of organizations and individuals engaged in higher education; responsibilities of the State for management and development of higher education.
1. This Law applies to higher education institutions and relevant agencies, organizations and individuals.
2. Other educational institutions having higher education activities shall apply regulations of this Law within the scope of their higher education activities.
Article 3. Definition of terms
In this Law, the terms below are construed as follows:
1. Higher education activities mean establishment and development of training programs; maintenance of quality; admission and training associated with scientific research, technological development, and innovation; and quality assessment and accreditation.
2. “Autonomy” means the right to proactively make decisions in association with accountability according to regulations of laws on professional and academic activities, training, scientific research, international cooperation, organizational structure, personnel, funding and other education activities
3. “Accountability” means acts of providing and updating information in a public and transparent manner, receiving, processing and responding to information and recommendations given by relevant parties; submitting reports and being subject to supervision and inspection by competent authorities, organizations and the society.
4. Academic integrity means compliance with ethical standards and professional principles; assurance of honesty and respect for objective truth; and avoidance of plagiarism, distortion, falsification of data, and infringement of copyright and intellectual property rights.
5. Academic freedom means the rights to teach, learn, study, exchange, publish and critique matters in accordance with the law on the basis of professional standards and academic integrity, and in conformity with interests of the State and society.
6. Training program means a system of education and training activities planned and done to achieve training objectives and issue degrees or certificates of higher education to learners.
7. Training discipline means a category of training programs with the same purposes, professional knowledge and skills.
8. Training field means a category of training disciplines that have common knowledge and skills.
9. Higher education certificate means a certificate under the national education system, confirming the accumulated higher education learning outcomes achieved by a learner.
10. Specialized database of higher education means a collection of electronic higher education data organized and structured to be accessed, used, shared, managed and updated through electronic means.
Article 4. Higher education principles
1. Comply with the Constitution and laws.
2. Ensure autonomy, self-responsibility and accountability of higher education institutions; effectiveness of state management, and inspection and supervision by competent authorities.
3. Ensure quality, efficiency, fairness and equality in access to higher education, and promote lifelong learning.
4. Make sure that academic freedom is associated with academic integrity and accountability to the community.
5. Develop talent and connect high-level human resource training with scientific research, technology and innovation.
6. Promote cooperation and fair and transparent competition on the basis of quality and efficiency.
Article 5. State’s policies on development of higher education
1. The State shall identify higher education as a key element in development of high-level human resources and talent, promotion of science, technology and innovation; development of a modern, high-quality, flexible, and interconnected higher education system that meets requirements for socio-economic development, national defense and security, international integration, and sustainable national development.
2. The State shall play a leading role, provide financial support for public higher education institutions to train in certain fields and disciplines to achieve regional and international standards; provide partial financial support for public higher education institutions for upgradation; implement policies to support private higher education institutions in sustainable development and enhancement of competitiveness; establish mechanisms to attract and mobilize social resources for modernization of higher education; and ensure full and comprehensive autonomy of higher education institutions regardless of their financial autonomy level.
3. The State shall invest in modernization of technical infrastructure; and upgradation of facilities, laboratories, excellent training and research centers, key higher education institutions, and teacher training institutions
The priority shall be given to commission and assignment of training in key basic science, engineering, and strategic technology disciplines; and funding for research, transfer of knowledge, and innovation associated with postgraduate training and entrepreneurship shall be fully provided.
4. The State shall issue policies on training, refresher training and support for lecturers in improvement of their professional qualifications, digital skills, and foreign language proficiency; and policies to retain and attract domestic and foreign talents, scientists, and outstanding lecturers.
5. The State shall implement policies on funding, scholarships, tuition fees, preferential loans, and other support forms for learners; and give priority to policy beneficiaries and persons living in extremely disadvantaged areas, ethnic minority areas, mountainous regions and island, vulnerable groups, and postgraduate learners.
6. The State shall issue policies to promote public-private partnerships, support the effective cooperation between the State, universities, and enterprises; enhance international integration, and attract domestic and foreign resources to improve the position of Vietnam higher education.
Article 6. Responsibilities of state management of higher education
1. The Government shall uniformly perform state management of higher education.
2. The Ministry of Education and Training has the prime responsibility to the Government for state management of higher education in terms of content and tasks as prescribed by law.
3. Ministries and ministerial-level agencies, within their functions, tasks and powers assigned by the Government, are responsible for conducting study and forecasting human resource needs in disciplines and fields within their jurisdiction; and cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training to manage higher education within their respective tasks and powers.
4. Provincial People’s Committees shall manage higher education in their provinces and within their jurisdiction as delegated; support the development of higher education institutions in their provinces; and take charge of private sector involvement in higher education to meet human resource requirements and improve the higher education quality in their provinces.
Article 7. Higher education development strategy
1. The higher education development strategy defines vision, overall objectives, and major directions for the development of higher education in each stage according to socio-economic development and national defense and security strategies.
2. The higher education development strategy includes the following main contents:
a) Orientations to development of network of higher education institutions, thereby making sure that higher education institutions are evenly distributed among regions and connecting such orientations with the objectives of socio-economic development, national defense and security;
b) Identification of priority disciplines and fields for each stage;
c) Development and increase in the capacity of lecturers, administrators, and scientific and technological personnel in higher education institutions;
d) Orientations to basic research, applied research, new technology development, digital transformation, and international integration.
3. The Prime Minister shall approve the higher education development strategy.
Article 8. Training objectives, programs, degrees and certificates
1. Higher education training objectives are prescribed as follows:
a) Undergraduate training aims to provide learners with a foundation of knowledge, professional skills, and basic competencies in research, innovation, entrepreneurship, and professional practical skills;
b) Master’s training aims to perfect learners’ knowledge and specialized skills, and increase their research, innovation, and professional practical capabilities
c) Doctoral training aims to increase learners’ capabilities of conducting independent research, creating new knowledge, and solving practical problems.
2. Degree-level training programs include:
a) Bachelor’s degree programs;
b) Master’s degree programs, integrated bachelor’s – master’s programs after which corresponding degrees are issued;
c) Doctoral degree programs, integrated master’s – doctoral programs after which corresponding degrees are issued;
d) Intensive training programs in certain fields and disciplines after which corresponding degrees are issued as prescribed by the Minister of Education and Training;
dd) Intensive postgraduate training programs in the health field after which resident physician and physician degrees are issued as instructed, issued and managed by the Minister of Health.
3. A certificate-level training program shall be designed independently or a component of the degree-level training program and recognized in the higher education system.
Article 9. Higher education institution standards
1. Higher education institution standards provide for requirements for conditions for assurance of quality and performance indicators applicable to higher education institutions; such standards are reviewed and updated periodically to ensure they are close to and gradually integrate with regional and international standards.
2. Higher education institution standards serve as the basis for planning for network, investment in development, assessment of the quality of higher education institutions, issuance and revocation of operation licenses and suspension of admission.
3. The Minister of Education and Training shall set and promulgate standards applicable to higher education institutions, provide guidance on application, and assess compliance with these standards; preside over and cooperate with the Minister of Health in promulgating higher education institution standards to provide training in health-related disciplines; and preside over and cooperate with the Minister of Justice in promulgating higher education institution standards to provide training in law-related disciplines.
Article 10. Application of technology to higher education
1. Higher education institutions shall proactively apply digital technology, artificial intelligence, and other advanced technologies in a controlled manner to management and organization of higher education activities.
2. The technology application shall meet the following requirements:
a) Comply with regulations of laws on science, technology and innovation, protection of personal data , cybersecurity and ethical principles of technology;
b) Maintain the quality of training and research;
c) Implement technical and administrative measures; ensure information safety and data confidentiality;
d) Guarantee equality in learners’ access to digital infrastructure, platforms and resources;
dd) Ensure transparency and accountability regarding technological solutions when they impact management, governance, or academic decisions;
e) Raise digital skill standards for and artificial intelligence application capabilities of lecturers, administrators, and learners;
g) Protect intellectual property rights and legitimate interests of higher education institutions and relevant individuals.
3. Higher education institutions may cooperate with enterprises, research institutes, and other educational institutions to organize training in digital skills, artificial intelligence, and advanced technologies for lecturers, administrators, and learners.
4. The Minister of Education and Training shall issue detailed regulations on the application of technology to higher education.
Article 11. Higher education institutions and other educational institutions having higher education activities
1. Higher education institutions are educational institutions under the national education system, are juridical persons, and are organized and operate in accordance with regulations of this Law and other relevant laws.
2. Higher education institutions include:
a) Universities, universities also known as academies that offer training in various disciplines at different levels of higher education; and consist of functional divisions, affiliated schools, faculties or equivalent units (hereinafter referred to as “faculties”), and departments or equivalent units that are not administrative units established or not established under decisions of higher education institutions (hereinafter referred to as “departments”);
b) Parent universities that offer multidisciplinary training at all levels of higher education; and consist of functional boards, affiliated schools, faculties, and departments;
c) National universities and regional universities that offer multidisciplinary training at all levels of higher education; and consist of functional boards, member universities, member research institutes, affiliated schools, affiliates, faculties, and departments;
d) Higher education institutions established under agreements between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and foreign governments, organized and operating in accordance with such agreements; if these agreements do not provide for establishment, organization and operation of educational institutions, regulations of this Law and other relevant laws shall apply.
3. Other educational institutions having higher education activities include:
a) Academic institutions and research institutes established by the Prime Minister and permitted to offer doctoral training;
b) Schools, schools with other names under state agencies, political organizations, socio-political organizations, or people’s armed forces that are permitted to offer training at one or some levels of higher education within their jurisdiction;
c) Organizations and units established under international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory, or under a decision of the Prime Minister, and permitted to offer training at one or some levels of higher education.
4. Conditions, procedures for, and jurisdiction over for establishment and operation of public higher education institutions, permission for establishment and operation of private higher education institutions; revocation of decisions on establishment and permission for operation; suspension of operations and admission; merger, full and partial division, dissolution, and renaming of higher education institutions shall comply with regulations of the Law on Education . The naming of higher education institutions; conditions, procedures for, and jurisdiction over recognition of national universities, regional universities, and parent universities shall comply with regulations of the Government.
Article 12. Missions and functions of higher education institutions and other educational institutions having higher education activities
1. Higher education institutions have missions and functions, including provision of training for high-level human resources, development of talent, scientific research, development of technology, innovation, transfer of knowledge, and satisfaction of demands of society, the country, and humanity.
2. Regional universities have missions and functions specified in clause 1 of this Article; gather resources, promote regional linkages, support regional socio-economic development; and contribute to the implementation of the national development strategy.
3. Other educational institutions having higher education activities conduct their missions and functions according to their assigned professional fields and tasks; serve the development of disciplines, fields, local areas and the nation as prescribed by law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory.
Article 13. National universities
1. National universities are public higher education institutions and act as key centers for high-quality training, talent development, scientific research, technological development, and innovation; they shall implement the national strategy and are prioritized for investment and development by the State.
2. National universities play a core and pivotal role in the higher education system; they develop cutting-edge training and research fields to achieve pioneering standards, lead innovation, and affirm their position in the region and in the world.
3. National universities that have appropriate organizational structure and mechanisms shall be enabled to conduct their missions and roles as stipulated in this Law and other relevant laws.
4. The Government provides for functions, tasks, powers of national universities.
Article 14. Powers and responsibilities of higher education institutions and other educational institutions having higher education activities
1. Higher education institutions have the autonomy to exercise the following powers:
a) Determine the number of learners to be admitted, select admission methods, organize training, cooperate in training and issue degrees when quality assurance conditions are met, except for teacher training, national defense and security disciplines;
b) Organize scientific research, technological development and innovation activities, legally use assets, resources, intellectual property, and engage in international cooperation;
c) Collect, spend and distribute money; manage assets, invest in development, and mobilize legal resources from domestic and foreign organizations and individuals in accordance with the law, except for higher education institutions affiliated to the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security;
d) Determine the number of employees and recruit domestic and foreign reputable scientists to work at institutions, except for higher education institutions affiliated to the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Public Security;
dd) Organize other training programs when they meet requirements of relevant laws and the Government’s regulations;
e) Exercise other powers according to this Law and relevant laws.
2. Higher education institutions shall fulfill the following responsibilities:
a) Adhere to higher education principles;
b) Ensure quality, conduct periodic assessments and reviews, and improve the quality of training, scientific research, technology development and transfer, and innovation;
c) Conduct specific missions and development strategies approved by direct superior bodies for public higher education institutions; and approved by investors for private higher education institutions, in accordance with the higher education strategy;
d) Carry out digital transformation in governance and management; build a digital higher education model, protect information safety and intellectual property rights;
dd) Fulfill all financial obligations to the State; take responsibilities towards learners and society;
e) Invest in the development of technical infrastructure and facilities; take charge of internal quality assurance, quality assessment and accreditation;
g) Disclose information truthfully and fully about organization, operations, quality, and funding; receive, process, and respond to suggestions from relevant parties; and conduct self-inspections in accordance with the law.
h) Report and update information as required by law; the private higher education institution is responsible for submitting a report to the Ministry of Education and Training when there is a decision to change the investor;
i) Train and develop lecturers and scientists;
k) Participate in development and critical review of education and training policies;
l) Protect legitimate rights and interests of learners, lecturers, employees, and relevant organizations and individuals;
m) Fulfill other responsibilities according to this Law and relevant laws.
3. Other educational institutions having higher education activities shall exercise their powers and fulfill their responsibilities within the scope of higher education activities as prescribed in clauses 1 and 2 of this Article and other relevant laws.
4. The Government shall elaborate this Article.
ORGANIZATION AND ADMINISTRATION
Article 15. Organizational structure of higher education institution
1. Organizational structure of a higher education institution is prescribed as follows:
a) Director and vice-directors of a parent university and equivalents; principal and vice-principals of a university and equivalents;
b) University council of a private parent university; school council of a private university (hereinafter referred to as “private school council”) school council of a higher education institution established under an agreement between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and a foreign government;
c) Science and training council; and other advisory councils;
d) Member university of a national university/regional university that is a higher education institution and operates according to regulations on organization and operation of the national university/regional university and relevant laws;
dd) Affiliated schools, campuses, faculties and departments (if any);
e) Research centers and institutes, training units, science and technology organizations;
g) Divisions, boards and other units;
h) Business and production establishments, service providers and other units according to regulations of relevant laws.
2. Higher education institutions must have Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) organizations; political and social organizations; and organizations representing learners and employees as prescribed by law.
3. Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) organizations in public higher education institutions exercise direct and comprehensive leadership of higher education institutions.
4. The organizational structure of a higher education institution is specified in the rule for organization and operation of the higher education institution. The rule is issued by the parent university’s director, the university’s principal, or an equivalent body, in accordance with the guidance provided by the Minister of Education and Training and other relevant laws.
Article 16. Director and vice-directors; principal and vice-principals
1. Director of a parent university or principal of a university or equivalent (hereinafter referred to as “principal”) is a legal representative of a higher education institution; he/she shall meet standards and exercise the rights and fulfill the responsibilities as prescribed by the Minister of Education and Training.
2. The principal shall be responsible for managing and administrating operations in accordance with the law and the rule for organization and operation of the higher education institution.
3. The Prime Minister appoints, dismisses, removes from office, transfers and assigns directors of national universities; direct superior bodies appoint, dismiss, remove from office, transfer, and assign principals and vice-directors of public parent universities and vice-principals of public higher education institutions; school councils appoint and dismiss principals, vice-directors of private parent universities and vice-principals of private higher education institutions.
4. Higher education institutions established under agreements between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and foreign governments shall appoint, dismiss, transfer and assign principals and vice-principals as agreed by the parties. If these agreements do not provide for appointment, dismissal, transfer and assignment, regulations of this Law and relevant laws shall apply.
5. The Government shall elaborate this Article.
Article 17. Private school council
1. A private school council is a governing body that represents relevant parties, decides development orientation and organizational structure, uses resources, and supervises the implementation of the strategy and accountability of the private higher education institution.
2. The private school council operates collectively and democratically and makes decisions by majority rule; it is responsible to the law and relevant parties for its decisions; and it does not directly manage or operate the private higher education institution.
3. The private school council includes the investor’s representative, the higher education institution’s leaders, lecturers, learners, employees, and relevant parties to maintain representativeness, objectivity and appropriateness to the institution type.
4. The investor shall elect, appoint and dismiss the president and members of the school council of the higher education institution.
5. The Minister of Education and Training shall prescribe structure and membership standards applicable to school councils, tasks, powers, and term of office; procedures for electing, appointing, and dismissing presidents and members of private school councils; and their operational and supervisory mechanisms.
Article 18. Science and training council
1. Science and training council is an organization responsible for advising academic expertise, training orientation, quality assurance, scientific and technological research, lecturer development, international cooperation, and academic integrity of a higher education institution.
2. The science and training council shall be established by the principal, operate collectively and take responsibility to the principal for provision of advice.
3. The council comprises representatives of the higher education institution, lecturers, scientists, enterprises, employers, alumni, local authorities, and some experts as decided by the principal.
4. Organization, operation, and procedures for establishment of the council are specified in the rule for organization and operation of the higher education institution.
Article 19. Affiliated schools, faculties, departments and training units
1. Schools affiliated to higher education institutions are not juridical persons, and are delegated to manage and perform tasks related to training, scientific research, technology development, and innovation.
2. Affiliated schools, faculties, departments, and training units shall be directly responsible for training, scientific research, technological development, and innovation, and serve the community within the scope of their assigned functions and tasks; they shall be established in accordance with regulations of this Law and other relevant laws, and in the forms of association, cooperation, and investment stipulated in Articles 43 and 44 of this Law.
3. The establishment, full and partial division, merger, dissolution, and delegation of management of schools, faculties, departments, and training units shall be specified in rules for organization and operation of higher education institutions, this Law, and other relevant laws.
Article 20. Training locations and campuses of higher education institutions
1. Training locations of higher education institutions in Vietnam include:
a) Head offices where higher education activities are organized and which perform administrative and operational functions in accordance with regulations of this Law and rules for organization and operation of higher education institutions;
b) Campuses where higher education activities are organized and which may or may not have management apparatuses as decided by higher education institutions; are not juridical persons; and perform a part of administrative and operational functions as delegated and authorized and according to rules for organization and operation of higher education institutions.
c) Other training locations where all or part of training programs are organized under the comprehensive and direct management of higher education institutions and which meet quality assurance conditions, and include locations owned by higher education institutions, locations legally used, joint training locations, and practical training locations.
2. Campuses and representative offices of Vietnam higher education institutions in foreign countries are not part of domestic higher education institutions as specified in clause 1, Article 15 of this Law; they must meet operation conditions in accordance with the host country’s laws; and they must report to the Ministry of Education and Training when doing training activities.
3. Campuses of foreign higher education institutions in Vietnam are established, organized, and operate in accordance with regulations applicable to private higher education institutions established by foreign investors, according to legal operation conditions.
4. The Government shall elaborate conditions, procedures, and jurisdiction over establishment, issuance of operation licenses, cessation of admission, suspension of operations, and dissolution of campuses; and shall prescribe criteria, standards, and conditions for assurance of the quality of training locations.
Article 21. Issuance of licenses for higher education
1. Higher education institutions and other educational institutions having higher education activities (hereinafter referred to as “training institutions”) must be issued with higher education licenses by competent authorities in accordance with the Government’s regulations.
2. Higher education license covers education level, disciplines, fields, campuses, head office; and online training activities.
3. Other training institutions may only conduct higher education activities within the scope of their licenses; their licenses may be suspended or revoked in case of violations against conditions for higher education or other relevant laws. The jurisdiction to issue and revoke licenses for higher education shall be exercised according to the Law on Education.
Article 22. Training program standards
1. Training program standards prescribe general requirements for development and implementation of training programs, including objectives, input standards, output standards, structure, minimum learning volume, principles of testing and assessment, and quality assurance conditions.
2. Training program standards shall meet the following requirements:
a) Meet requirements of each corresponding level as stipulated in the Vietnamese National Qualifications Framework.
b) Maintain interconnection among qualification levels, disciplines and interdisciplinary connections, and up-to-dateness;
c) Integrate research and application of science and technology into design and implementation of training programs;
d) Apply flexible training organization methods, and facilitate lifelong learning;
dd) Conduct periodical reviews and assess and improve training quality.
3. The Minister of Education and Training shall be responsible for:
a) prescribing and issuing undergraduate, master’s and doctoral training program standards applicable to disciplines and fields; presiding over and cooperate with relevant ministries and central authorities in establishing and issuing training program standards applicable to health and law disciplines;
b) presiding over and cooperating with relevant ministries and central authorities in prescribing conditions for assurance of the quality of undergraduate, master’s and doctoral training programs in fields related to health, law, culture, arts, sports, national defense, and security;
c) inspecting and supervising compliance with training program standards.
Article 23. Training program development and establishment
1. The training program is designed as a single-discipline or interdisciplinary program in the List of Training Disciplines; some higher-level modules may be integrated to assist learners to develop their foundational competencies and transition to the next training level according to the Vietnamese National Qualifications Framework.
2. The training program is reviewed, updated, and improved on a periodical basis to ensure that it is appropriate to practical needs and workforce demands of the labor market.
3. Training institutions shall proactively establish training programs in accordance with training program standards; develop talent training programs and other training programs as prescribed by this Law and other relevant laws.
The Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Security shall issue training programs in the field of national defence and security.
4. The Minister of Education and Training shall be responsible for:
a) issuing the List of Training Disciplines at all higher education levels;
b) prescribing requirements and procedures for establishing, appraising and issuing training programs by training institutions;
c) prescribing procedures for compiling and issuing teaching and learning curricula and textbooks for compulsory subjects and modules shared among training programs at all higher education levels.
Article 24. Approval and organization of implementation of training programs
1. Principals of training institutions shall approve training programs, except those specified in clauses 2 and 3 of this Article, and organize the implementation of training programs for disciplines and fields approved and licensed.
2. The Minister of Education and Training shall prescribe the approval of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral training programs for teacher training disciplines and health fields on the basis of cooperation with the Ministry of Health, and for law fields, on the basis of cooperation with the Ministry of Justice.
3. The Minister of Education and Training shall be responsible for:
a) prescribing conditions and procedures for approval, suspension and termination of implementation of undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral training programs;
b) prescribing approval of doctoral training programs for disciplines and fields other than those specified in clause 2 of this Article.
1. The admission must be fair, objective, public, and transparent; a suitable roadmap for adjustments must be formulated to protect the rights of candidates.
2. Training institutions shall determine the number of admitted learners and admission methods in accordance with regulations of the Minister of Education and Training. The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Public Security shall decide the number of admitted learners and admission methods for training institutions in the fields of national defense and security.
3. The Minister of Education and Training shall be responsible for:
a) issuing admission regulations to higher education programs, including sources, admission criteria, principles, requirements, admission procedures, admission methods, and suspension of admission;
b) prescribing criteria, principles, procedures and methods for determination of the number of admitted learners;
c) prescribing admission criteria applicable to teacher training disciplines and health fields on the basis of cooperation with the Ministry of Health and law fields on the basis of cooperation with the Ministry of Justice;
d) deciding the number of admitted learners for teacher training disciplines.
Article 26. Training organization and issuance of degrees and certificates
1. Training shall be organized flexibly in order to meet the diverse learning needs and lifelong learning requirements of learners.
2. Training forms include:
a) Formal training conducted on a full-time centralized basis at training locations licensed;
b) Continuing training conducted on a flexible schedule at training locations licensed and meeting quality assurance requirements.
3. Training methods include:
a) in-person;
b) distance;
c) a combination of in-person and distance training.
4. Digital higher education is a training model based on digital platforms, updated with new technologies, and developed through training forms and methods prescribed in clauses 2 and 3 of this Article; data and open educational resources must be connected and shared between training institutions and relevant parties, beyond spatial and temporal constraints
5. Higher education degrees and certificates have legal validity for certification of levels and competencies of learners, and are issued as follows:
a) Higher education degrees shall be issued to learners after they complete corresponding training programs.
b) Higher education certificates shall be issued to learners after they complete modules or part of training programs.
6. Principals of higher education institutions, or heads of other educational institutions having higher education activities, shall be responsible for issuing higher education degrees and certificates.
7. The accumulated learning outcomes of learners shall be recognized and may be transferable among levels, forms and methods of training. The validity period of the learning outcomes shall be prescribed by the Minister of Education and Training.
8. The Minister of Education and Training shall issue regulations on training at various levels of higher education; conditions for development of various forms and methods of training and higher education certificates; digital higher education model; and exploitation and use of open educational resources for higher education activities.
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY AND INNOVATION IN HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS
Article 27. Science, technology and innovation
1. Higher education institutions issued with certificates of registration of science and technology organization shall be entitled to rights and preferential policies as prescribed by the laws on science, technology, innovation and intellectual property.
2. Science, technology and innovation in higher education institutions shall be associated with training and development of lecturers, researchers, scientists, and learners.
3. Science, technology and innovation in higher education institutions include:
a) Basic research, applied research, new technology development, development of new technologies, and forecast about scientific and technological development trends.
b) Transformation of research outcomes into training programs, development of high-quality and interdisciplinary training, and integration of research into innovative entrepreneurship;
c) Training, refresher training and development of science and technology human resources, including lecturers, scientists, postgraduate students, and talented undergraduates in basic science, key engineering and strategic technology fields;
d) Performance of scientific, technological and innovative tasks; provision of advice, criticism, and knowledge transfer for socio-economic development, national defense and security;
dd) Cooperation with enterprises, research institutes, and local authorities in transfer of technology, commercialization of research outcomes, and promotion of innovation ecosystem;
e) Dissemination of knowledge, public announcement of research outcomes, copyright registration or protection, access to and development of intellectual property;
g) Application of digital technology, artificial intelligence and data analysis tools to research, technology development, and innovation management.
4. The Government shall provide for science, technology and innovation in higher education institutions.
Article 28. Development of science, technology and innovation potentials
1. Higher education institutions may establish science and technology organizations, innovation organizations, science and technology enterprises, enterprises managing intellectual property and investment in science and technology enterprises in accordance with the law; develop research groups and receive domestic and foreign support resources in accordance with the law.
2. Higher education institutions develop science, technology and innovation potentials through the following forms:
a) Cooperating and attracting domestic and foreign experts and scientists;
b) Building and developing networks for research and technology transfer associated with training and development of scientific information systems, specialized journals, and intellectual property;
c) Deciding incentives, appointing managerial positions, employing and retaining domestic and foreign reputable scientists;
d) Carrying out valuation, establishing ownership, using, contributing capital, sharing benefits from intellectual property, research outcomes and technology transfer in accordance with the law;
dd) Investing in and upgrading technical infrastructure, research equipment, creative spaces, laboratories, and developing and connecting scientific and technological databases to serve research and innovation.
3. Higher education institutions shall be responsible for science, technology and innovation through the following forms:
a) Connecting research with training, ensuring quality, efficiency and transparency; adhering to ethics and integrity principles applicable to scientific research;
b) Being responsible for internal governance and management of science, technology and innovation within the scope of autonomy, in accordance with regulations of law;
c) Effectively managing and utilizing assets, resources and results of science, technology and innovation;
d) Establishing and operating Funds for Science and Technology Development according to regulations of law;
dd) Publicly announcing competencies and results of science, technology and innovation; annually updating information on the National Digital Platform for Science, Technology, and Innovation Management and specialized higher education database.
LECTURERS, ASSISTANCE PERSONNEL AND LEARNERS
Article 29. Lecturer position and title
1. Lecturers are individuals who teach at higher education institutions and meet training standards as required according to the Law on Educators.
2. Lecturers include permanent lecturers, co-permanent lecturers, lecturers working under full-time contracts after their retirement and guest lecturers.
Co-permanent lecturer is a public employee holding a doctoral degree, working for a public science and technology organization (excluding higher education institutions), and assigned to teach and conduct scientific research as a permanent lecturer at a public higher education institution.
3. Lecturer titles include associate professor, professor and other titles. To be specific:
a) Professor is the highest academic title, reflecting competence, scientific prestige, and the role of a professional leader who pioneers and creates new knowledge;
b) Associate Professor is the academic title immediately below Professor, characterized by deep expertise in a specific scientific field;
c) Other titles according to the Government’s regulations.
4. The Government shall provide for policies for professors, associate professors, and other titles; and employment, management, and policies for co-permanent lecturers.
5. The Minister of Education and Training shall prescribe standards, conditions, and procedures for appointment and dismissal of professors and associate professors.
6. Higher education institutions shall be responsible for appointing and dismissing professors and associate professors.
Article 30. Rights and obligations of lectures
1. Permanent lecturers shall exercise the rights and fulfill the obligations according to the Law on Educators and relevant laws.
2. Co-permanent lecturers shall exercise the rights and fulfill the obligations according to relevant laws and regulations of training institutions.
3. Lecturers working under full-time contracts after their retirement and guest lecturers shall exercise the rights and fulfill the obligations according to regulations of the Minister of Education and Training and training institutions.
Article 31. Assistance personnel
1. Assistance personnel include the persons stipulated in the Education Law and the following persons:
a) Assistant that is a title immediately below lecturer, and responsible for assisting the lecturer in teaching;
b) Researchers that carry out scientific research, technological development and innovation tasks; assist lecturers and learners in practical works, experiments, and other research activities in higher education institutions;
c) Teaching assistance personnel that assist lecturers in practical works, experiments and other professional activities.
2. The Minister of Education and Training shall prescribe standards, conditions, working regulations, appointment, and salaries for assistance personnel in accordance with this Law and other relevant laws.
1. Learners shall exercise the rights, fulfill the obligations and be entitled to policies according to the Law on Education, this Law and relevant laws.
2. Learners may select training programs appropriate to their personal competencies when meeting admission requirements; they can participate in teaching assistant activities as regulated by training institutions; and they shall be enabled to participate in practical training and internship at enterprises and employers during their learning.
3. Learners can participate in scientific research, technological development, innovation, and entrepreneurship; and they shall receive assistance in registration of protection of intellectual property rights, inventions, utility models, works, and research outcomes at training institutions.
QUALITY ASSURANCE AND ACCREDITATION
Article 33. Internal quality assurance system
1. The internal quality assurance system is aimed at maintaining and developing quality culture; continuously improving quality; disclosing information transparently and publicly; and enhancing accountability during higher education.
2. The internal quality assurance system includes dedicated units or departments; quality policies and enforcement documents; quality assurance toolkit and procedures and systems for collecting and analyzing evidence; mechanism for feedback from relevant parties; management information system; and necessary physical and financial conditions for effective operation.
3. Training institutions shall be responsible for establishing, operating, supervising and developing internal quality assurance systems according to domestic or international quality standards.
Article 34. Quality accreditation and assessment standards
1. Higher education quality accreditation and assessment standards serve as the basis for determination of the extent to which higher education quality has been achieved.
2. Quality accreditation and assessment standards include:
a) Standards applicable to higher education institutions;
b) Standards applicable to training programs at all levels.
3. The Minister of Education and Training shall issue regulations on and provide guidance on compliance with higher education quality accreditation and assessment standards; and recognize higher education quality accreditation and assessment standards established by accreditation organizations.
Article 35. Quality assessment
1. Training institutions shall carry out quality assessments by the following methods:
a) Periodic self-assessments;
b) Self-assessment on the basis of periodic audits
2. Training institutions can carry out self-assessments of quality or employ appropriate professional consultants to carry out quality assessment.
3. Quality assessment results may be used for quality improvement, information disclosure, accountability, and quality accreditation in accordance with regulations.
4. The Minister of Education and Training shall provide for assessment of quality.
Article 36. Quality accreditation
1. Subjects of periodic accreditation include:
a) Higher education institutions;
b) Training programs for teacher training disciplines and health and law fields; training programs for other disciplines and fields prescribed by the Minister of Education and Training.
2. Training institutions shall select accreditation organizations authorized or recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training to operate in Vietnam, and apply assessment and accreditation standards as follows:
a) Domestic accreditation organizations may apply standards issued or recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training;
b) Foreign accreditation organizations may apply their standards recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training.
3. Accreditation organizations shall ensure independence in terms of professional operations, organization, and f in accordance with the law.
4. Higher education institutions affiliated to the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security, and training programs related to national defence and security are not subject to mandatory quality accreditation but education quality assurance activities must be organized as prescribed in Article 33 of this Law and regulations of the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Security.
5. The Minister of Education and Training shall provide for accreditation of higher education institutions, accreditation of training programs, accreditation standards, guidelines for content, procedures and cycle of accreditation; public announcement about accreditation results; issue regulations on accreditors, organization and operation of education quality accreditation organizations; regulations on supervision and assessment of accreditation organizations and appraisal of accreditation results.
1. Training institutions shall proactively select ranking systems appropriate to their development orientation; and they are responsible for the accuracy and truthfulness of data provided for ranking organizations and for publicly announcing ranking results.
2. Ranking organizations must be juridical persons, have independent professional competencies, and publicly announce methods, criteria, and data sources used; and must be responsible for the truthfulness, transparency, and objectivity of ranking results.
Article 38. Funding mechanism for higher education institution
1. State budget expenditures on higher education shall be financed according to the principles specified in the Law on Education and on the basis of specific missions, quality and efficiency in operations conducted by higher education institutions.
2. The state budget shall fully or partially cover funding for provision of training for human resources in some disciplines and fields as follows:
a) The state budget shall fully cover funding for provision of training for teachers and talents; and learners in artistic and athletic talent fields;
b) The state budget shall partially cover funding for training in basic science disciplines, special academic disciplines and necessary disciplines for national development that are unpopular;
c) Scholarships shall be awarded to learners participating in doctoral training programs and learners in key engineering, strategic technology and core technology fields;
d) The state budget shall cover funding for commission and assignment of training for learners in prioritized fields
3. The Government shall elaborate this Article and the following contents:
a) Eligibility, scholarships and tuition subsidization rate;
b) Commission and assignment of training;
c) Eligibility for aid and sponsorship policies for higher education;
d) Public higher education institutions’ autonomy in terms of funding, assets and investment, including mobilization, receipt, management, and use of domestic and foreign legal resources; preferential mechanisms as prescribed by law; and responsibilities for public announcement, accountability, and transparency.
Article 39. Public higher education institution’s funding
1. A public higher education institution’s funding sources include:
a) State budget;
b) Lawful sponsorships, aid, or donations given by domestic and foreign organization and individuals;
c) Revenues from training, scientific research, technology transfer, education support services, production, and business;
d) Legitimate domestic and foreign loans;
dd) Other revenues as prescribed by law.
2. Public higher education institutions shall incur facility development investment expenditures in accordance with the law on public investment and other relevant laws; and expenditures on commission and assignment of tasks as prescribed by the Government.
3. Public higher education institutions have the autonomy in terms of funding, use of legal revenues for training, scientific research, staff development, infrastructure investment, and other higher education activities. To be specific:
a) Deciding expenditures covered by tuition fees and other non-business revenues within their financial capacity and according to internal expenditure regulations to make sure that the expenditure is efficient, transparent, and public;
b) Distributing money at the end of year in accordance with regulations on financial autonomy mechanisms applicable to public service providers and public higher education institutions.
Article 40. Management of private higher education institution’s funding
1. Private higher education institutions have the financial autonomy and the autonomy to decide revenues and expenditures, distribution of money, and establishment of funds in accordance with the law and rules for organization and operation of institutions.
2. Private higher education institutions shall be responsible for fulfilling their financial obligations to the State; complying with regulations of laws on accounting, audit, taxation, asset valuation, and financial disclosure.
3. At least 25% of the positive difference between revenue and expenditure in the year (annual profit) from education, training, research and technology transfer must be used for reinvestment in development of the higher education institution and fulfillment of the social responsibility.
Cumulative annual profit of a non-profit private higher education institution is the institution’s asset undistributed and used for investment in development of the higher education institution on the no-return basis.
Article 41. Tuition fees and charges for ancillary services serving higher education (hereinafter referred to as “higher education service charges”)
1. Tuition fees should be sufficient to cover the cost, leave a margin of savings, and ensure training quality. Public higher education institutions’ tuition fees shall comply with the Government’s regulations
2. The training institution must publicly disclose training costs, tuition fees, admission service fees, and other service charges for each level, academic year, and the entire course; each training institution shall be responsible for using part of its revenue to implement tuition fee exemption and reduction, study expense support policies for learners who are the disadvantaged or beneficiaries as stipulated by law and the training institution’s policies.
3. Admission service fees and higher education service charges must be sufficient to cover reasonable and actual expenses, ensure transparency and be used for their intended purposes
4. The Government shall elaborate tuition fees and higher education service charges
Article 42. Management and use of assets owned by private higher education institutions
1. Undistributed consolidated assets include assets established as undistributed assets according to regulations of law; assets received as grants, aid, donations, or gifts, provided that they be managed and used jointly; and assets that are under the common ownership and undistributed by the school community and are managed and used according to regulations. To be specific:
a) A private higher education institution’s school council shall manage and use undistributed consolidated assets for sustainable development of the institution and for the common good; such assets must not be converted into assets under the private ownership or valued for distribution under any circumstances;
b) Capital and undistributed assets, once transferred, shall be excluded from valued assets of the private higher education institution;
c) In case of dissolution, undistributed consolidated assets must be transferred to competent state agencies for management and use for development of higher education.
2. Regarding assets privately owned by investors other than those specified in clause 1 of this Article, private higher education institutions may manage, use, and dispose them in accordance with the Law on Enterprises and other relevant laws, transparently, for the intended purposes, and without harming the legitimate rights and interests of learners and the community.
3. Foreign-invested higher education institutions’ ownership of assets shall be protected by the State in accordance with Vietnamese law and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory; the management and use of these assets shall comply with Vietnamese law, international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory, and relevant international commitments.
Article 43. Cooperation and association
1. Higher education institutions’ cooperation and association on a domestic and international scale shall comply with the law on education, other relevant laws, and international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory.
2. Cooperation and association forms shall comply with the Education Law and the following forms:
a) Establishment of specialized units, faculties, campuses, research institutes, innovation centers, and key laboratories;
b) Development of a network for research, technology transfer, and commercialization of research outcomes in association with training;
c) Development, transfer and use of digital platforms, learning materials and programs;
d) Implementation of joint training programs for issuance of degrees and certificates; recognition of the accumulated learning outcomes of learners;
dd) Implementation of solutions for improvement of digital skills; deployment of digital higher education models, online training platforms and sharing of open educational resources;
e) Other cooperation and association forms in accordance with the law.
3. Higher education cooperation and association must meet the following requirements:
a) Be appropriate to specific missions, functions, and tasks of higher education institutions, and ensure that no juridical person is established
b) Comply with Vietnamese law, and do not jeopardize national defense and security, social order and safety, customs and traditions, morality, and national cultural identity;
c) Publicly announce information, and protect legitimate rights and interests of learners and relevant parties;
d) Comply with international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory;
4. The Government shall provide for conditions, procedures, jurisdiction, and responsibilities for training cooperation and association for issuance of higher education degrees and certificates with foreign countries.
5. The Minister of Education and Training shall provide for domestic training cooperation and association.
Article 44. Higher education investment
1. Higher education investment shall comply with regulations of the Education Law, and be appropriate to the planning and strategy for the development of higher education and the orientation to socio-economic development.
2. Higher education investment involving foreign elements shall comply with international treaties to which the Socialist Republic of Vietnam is a signatory, Vietnamese law; and protect national interests, and maintain national defense and security, culture, ideology, training quality, and sustainable development.
1. This Law comes into force from January 01, 2026, except for clause 2 of this Article.
2. Clause 4 of Article 10, clause 4 of Article 14, clause 4 of Article 15, clause 4 of Article 20, clause 4 of Article 23, clause 3 of Article 24, clause 8 of Article 26, clauses 4 and 5 of Article 29, clause 2 of Article 31, clause 3 of Article 34, clause 4 of Article 35, clause 3 of Article 38 and clauses 4 and 5 of Article 43 of this Law shall come into force from July 1, 2026.
3. The Law on Higher Education No. 08/2012/QH13 amended by the Law No. 32/2013/QH13, Law No. 74/2014/QH13, Law No. 97/2015/QH13, and Law No. 34/2018/QH14 shall cease to be effective from the effective date of this Law, except for the case specified in Article 46 of this Law.
Article 46. Transitional provisions
1. From January 01, 2026, public university councils and school councils of public higher education institutions will cease their operations and hand over all relevant records and documents to principals. Principals shall be responsible for reporting handover results to direct superior bodies or to the Ministry of Education and Training in case direct superior bodies of higher education institutions are not established, within 03 months from the date on which school councils cease their operations.
2. Documents issued by public university councils and school councils of public higher education institutions shall continue to be valid until documents replacing or annulling such documents are issued by competent authorities, within 12 months from January 1, 2026, except for personnel decisions as stipulated in clause 3 of this Article.
3. Principals and vice-directors of national universities and vice-principals of public higher education institutions recognized or appointed before January 1, 2026 shall comply with the following regulations:
a) In case the recognition or appointment decision expires after December 31, 2025, the principal, the vice-director of the national university, the vice-principal shall continue to perform his/her tasks and fulfill his/her responsibilities until the direct superior body makes a personnel decision. Within 06 months from January 1, 2026, the direct superior body shall complete the appointment of the principal, the vice-director of the national university and the vice-principal of higher education institution in accordance with the law;
b) In case the recognition or appointment decision expires before January 01, 2026, the direct superior body shall follow procedures for appointing the principal, the vice-director of the national university and the vice-principal in accordance with the law.
4. Managers other than the persons specified in clause 3 of this Article, appointed by the school council before January 1, 2026, shall continue to perform duties and fulfill responsibilities until the end of their term.
5. The persons appointed as assistants before January 1, 2026 shall get to keep their current allowances within 12 months from January 1, 2026. Higher education institutions are responsible for reviewing and rearranging pay step and allowances to suit job positions in accordance with this Law and other relevant laws.
6. Public higher education institutions shall be responsible for reviewing their specific missions and development strategies in accordance with regulations of this Law, and submitting them to direct superior bodies for approval within 12 months from January 1, 2026.
7. Valid applications for establishment, full and partial division, merger and dissolution of higher education institutions, campuses of higher education institutions, conversion of universities into parent universities, merger of universities into parent universities, recognition of national universities, regional universities that have been submitted to competent authorities or persons before January 1, 2026, shall continue to be processed by such competent authorities or persons in accordance with the law at the time of submission of these applications, even if the jurisdiction to process such administrative procedures has been adjusted according to regulations of this Law.
8. Higher education institutions to which decisions on establishment, full or partial division and merger have been issued before January 01, 2026 shall continue to abide by such decisions and meet higher education standards issued before January 01, 2026 within 48 months from January 01, 2026. If higher education standards are modified within this period, guidelines provided by the Minister of Education and Training shall apply.
9. Valid applications for issuance of higher education licenses that have been submitted to competent authorities or persons before January 1, 2026, shall continue to be processed by such competent authorities or persons in accordance with the law at the time of submission of these applications, even if the jurisdiction to process such administrative procedures has been adjusted according to regulations of this Law.
10. Valid applications for offer of new training disciplines that have been submitted to competent authorities or persons before January 1, 2026, shall continue to be processed by such competent authorities or persons in accordance with the law at the time of submission of these applications, even if the jurisdiction to process such administrative procedures has been adjusted according to regulations of this Law.
11. Training institutions to which decisions to offer new disciplines have been issued before January 01, 2026 shall continue to abide by such decisions and meet training program standards issued before January 01, 2026 within 36 months from January 01, 2026. If training program standards are modified within this period, guidelines provided by the Minister of Education and Training shall apply.
12. Campuses of higher education institutions issued with operation licenses and training locations where higher education activities are being implemented before January 01, 2026 shall continue to their operations and meet regulations on campuses and training locations in this Law within 48 months from January 01, 2026. If regulations on campuses and training locations are amended within this period, guidelines provided by the Minister of Education and Training shall apply.
This Law was passed by the 15th National Assembly of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam during its 10th session on December 10th 2025.
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CHAIRMAN OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY Tran Thanh Man |
