Higher education
Higher education in Vietnam
In Vietnam higher education is not divided into and ). Most Vietnamese higher educational institutions can offer both types of education. This often means that for each diploma we have to determine whether it is HBO or WO. Below, we describe the diplomas that we often see.
HBO
Higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). Dutch higher education distinguishes between research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) and higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). HBO is more oriented towards professions in specific areas than WO, and has traditionally been offered at universities of applied sciences (hogescholen).
WO
Research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO). Dutch higher education distinguishes between research-oriented higher education (wetenschappelijk onderwijs, WO) and higher professional education (hoger beroepsonderwijs, HBO). WO is oriented more towards theory and research than HBO, and has traditionally been offered at research universities (universiteiten).
Bang tot nghiep cao dang (Degree of Associate)
Study programmes for a Bằng tốt nghiệp cao đẳng (Degree of Associate) are mostly offered by junior colleges (Trường cao đẳng)
- : 3 years.
- Content: vocational subjects, often for administrative, financial or medical professions.
- Admission requirements: a Bằng tốt nghiệp trung học phổ thông + an entrance exam. An educational institution may also decide that another diploma is enough for admission.
- Function of the diploma: work or access to a bachelor’s programme (if students pass an entrance exam). Sometimes students get exemptions for a few of the bachelor’s programme subjects.
- Diploma: Bằng tốt nghiệp cao đẳng (Degree of Associate).
Duration
The official length of the full-time programme (not part-time) without study delay.
We compare a Bằng tốt nghiệp cao đẳng (Degree of Associate) to 3 years of HBO.
Bachelor's degree
- Duration: usually 4 years, sometimes 5 years (agricultural and technical study programmes).
- Content: vocational or research-oriented subjects.
- Admission requirements: a Bằng tốt nghiệp trung học phổ thông + an entrance exam. An educational institution may also decide that another diploma is enough for admission.
- Function of the diploma: work or access to a master’s programme.
- Diploma: Bằng tốt nghiệp đại học (University Graduation Certificate) that mentions the obtained bachelor’s degree:
- Bằng cử nhân (Degree of Bachelor);
- Bằng kỹ sư (Degree of Bachelor of Engineering);
- Cử nhân khoa học (Degree of Bachelor of Science);
- Cử nhân kinh tế (Degree of Bachelor in Economics);
- Cử nhân ngoại ngữ (Degree of Bachelor of Foreign Language).
We compare a Bằng tốt nghiệp đại học (University Graduation Certificate) that mentions the obtained bachelor’s degree to an HBO bachelor’s degree or a WO bachelor’s degree. This depends on the content of the study programme.
We compare a Bằng cử nhân (Degree of Bachelor) to an HBO bachelor’s degree or WO bachelor’s degree. This depends on the content of the study programme.
We compare a Bằng kỹ sư (Degree of Bachelor of Engineering) to an HBO bachelor’s degree or WO bachelor degree. This depends on the content of the study programme.
Bang thac si (Degree of Master)
- Duration: 2 years.
- Content: research-oriented subjects and a thesis.
- Admission requirements: a bachelor’s degree + an entrance exam.
- Function of the diploma: access to a PhD programme or work.
- Diploma: Bằng thạc sĩ (Degree of Master).
We compare a Bằng thạc sĩ (Degree of Master) to a WO-master’s degree.
Bang tien si (Degree of Doctor)
- Duration: 4 years (after a bachelor’s degree) or 2 to 3 years (after a master’s degree).
- Content: research and a thesis.
- Admission requirements: a bachelor’s degree or a master’s degree.
- Diploma: Bằng tiến sĩ (Degree of Doctor).