Scholarships target talent in strategic sectors

Students at Lac Hong University in Tran Bien ward attend an Information Technology class. Photo: Kim Lieu

The new policy is expected to expand educational opportunities for undergraduate, master's, and doctoral students while providing incentives to attract talented learners to key fields that contribute to socio-economic development and the national digital transformation process.

Strong impetus for engineering and technology sectors

Decree 179 will take effect on July 15, 2026, and applies to students admitted from 2025 onward. It is regarded as one of the Government’s most significant policies aimed at developing high-quality human resources in science and technology.

Under the decree, scholarship beneficiaries include undergraduate students, master's students, and doctoral candidates currently enrolled in training programs in basic sciences, key engineering disciplines, and strategic technology fields at higher education institutions.

One of the most notable features of the policy is the relatively high level of financial support. Under the decree, undergraduate students will receive scholarships ranging from 3.7 million VND to 5.5 million VND per month. Meanwhile, master's students will receive scholarships of 5.5 million VND to 7.4 million VND per month. Doctoral candidates enrolled in talent-training programs and programs related to semiconductor integrated circuits and basic sciences may receive scholarships of up to 8.4 million VND per month.

The scholarship support period is also substantial. Undergraduate students will receive support for 10 months each academic year, while master's students and doctoral candidates will receive support for 12 months per year. The maximum duration of support is up to five years for engineering programs, two years for master's programs, and three to four years for doctoral programs.

According to education experts, the policy is expected to provide a strong impetus for key engineering and strategic technologies, which require high-quality human resources to meet the demands of industrialization, modernization, and digital transformation.

Lawyer Nguyen Quang Khiem of the Dong Nai City Bar Association stated that Decree 179 introduces several notable provisions, particularly the strict scholarship eligibility requirements designed to ensure that support is provided to the intended beneficiaries. For applicants admitted based on high school graduation examination results, scholarship eligibility requires an average score of at least 22.5 across the three subjects in the admission combination, excluding bonus or priority points. In addition, candidates must rank among the top 30% of students with the highest admission scores in their respective major or academic program.

In addition to meeting stringent admission requirements, students must maintain the required academic performance and credit accumulation standards throughout their studies. They must also not be subject to disciplinary measures at the reprimand level or above in order to remain eligible for continued scholarship support.

According to lawyer Khiem, the regulation helps strengthen students' academic responsibility while encouraging healthy competition among higher education institutions. “A notable feature of the policy is that scholarship eligibility and continuation are assessed based on admission data and academic records managed by universities, eliminating the need for students to submit additional documents or complete complicated administrative procedures,” said lawyer Khiem.

The decree clearly stipulates that students must repay the full amount of scholarship funding received if they voluntarily withdraw from their studies, are expelled, or misuse the scholarship funds. The provision is intended to strengthen students' sense of responsibility while benefiting from State support policies.

Alongside the scholarship policy, the Government had earlier issued Decision No. 29/2025/QD-TTg on credit support for students pursuing STEM fields, with a maximum monthly loan of 5 million VND. The combination of credit and scholarship policies is expected to create more favorable conditions for learners to pursue science and engineering fields.

Added motivation for students

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh, Vice Rector of Lac Hong University, Decree 179 marks an important step in the country's strategy to develop high-quality human resources. The scholarship policy not only expands educational opportunities for learners but also provides greater motivation for students to excel in their studies, from the admission preparation stage through their university education. At the same time, it serves as an incentive for higher education institutions to enhance the quality of their admissions processes and academic programs.

Lac Hong University currently offers a range of academic programs in the fields of basic sciences, key engineering disciplines, and strategic technologies, including electrical and electronic engineering technology, microchip technology, information technology, artificial intelligence, mechatronics, and automation. These are all fields with strong labor-market demand. “Decree 179 will not only have a positive impact on individual higher education institutions but will also play an important role in the broader system of science and technology human resource development. The policy is expected to enhance training quality, attract talented students, and contribute to building a highly skilled technical workforce capable of meeting the country's development requirements in the new phase,” said Dr. Nguyen Thi Nhu Quynh.

Le Gia Bao, an electrical and electronic engineering student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, welcomed the Government's new scholarship policy. “I am very excited to learn about the Government’s new scholarship policy. Engineering programs often involve intensive study requirements and relatively high tuition costs, so this policy will provide meaningful support for students,” Bao said. According to Bao, a scholarship of several million VND per month will help ease students' financial pressure and give them more favorable conditions to focus on their studies and research.

Ngo Kim Khoi, a student at Lac Hong University, said, “I am very grateful for the State’s attention and support. I hope the university will soon provide detailed guidance so that students can clearly understand the eligibility requirements for receiving the scholarship.”

Amid rising demand for high-quality human resources in science and technology, Decree 179 is expected to enhance the attractiveness of basic sciences, key engineering disciplines, and strategic technology fields. The policy is expected to contribute to the development of a highly skilled workforce, supporting the country's goals for rapid, sustainable development in the years ahead.

The 15 groups of disciplines eligible for scholarships under Decree No. 179/2026/ND-CP are: biology; applied biology; physical sciences; earth sciences; mathematics; statistics; computer science; information technology; mechanical engineering and engineering mechanics; electrical, electronic, and telecommunications engineering; chemical engineering, materials engineering, metallurgy, and environmental engineering; engineering physics; geological-geophysical and surveying engineering; mining engineering; and construction engineering.