1. General information
International University (IU) belongs to Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Education (VNU-HCM) Established in 2003. This is the first international university in Vietnam and the first public multi-disciplinary, multi-field university in the country offering undergraduate and postgraduate programs in English, using internationally accredited curricula. The university currently offers 06 doctoral programs, 11 master's programs, and many other high-quality undergraduate programs.
2026, International University introduces Doctoral programs to organizations, enterprises, administrative agencies, and interested candidates:
- Programs Taught in English: Biotechnology, Industrial Systems Engineering, Biomedical Technology, Business Administration and Information Technology.
- Programs Taught in Vietnamese and English: Public Administration.
2. Admission methods and target candidates
2.1. Admission methods and quotas
Admission method: Admission. Applicants submit their dossiers and defend their proposal before the Specialty Committee.
Estimated enrollment quota:
| No. | Program name | Major Code | Admission method | Estimated quota |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Administration | 9340101 | Method 1 and 2 | 18 |
| 2 | Public Administration | 9340403 | Method 2 | 18 |
| 3 | Biotechnology | 9420201 | Method 1 | 10 |
| 4 | Biomedical Technology | 9520212 | Method 1 and 2 | 18 |
| 5 | Industrial Systems Engineering | 9520118 | Method 2 | 10 |
| 6 | Information Technology | 9480201 | Method 1 and 2 | 10 |
2.2. Admission conditions and target candidates
Applicants must meet the following conditions:
- Graduated with a Master's degree; or graduated with a regular bachelor's degree with a good grade and an average GPA of 8.0/10 or higher in a relevant field; or graduated with an equivalent level of degree 7 according to the National Qualification Framework of Vietnam in some specialized fields that are suitable for doctoral training.
- Meeting the input requirements of the Doctoral program applicants.
- Has research experience demonstrated through a Master's thesis from the research-oriented program; published academic papers or scientific reports; or has at least 02 years (24 months) of work experience in the role of lecturer or researcher at a training institution or science and technology organization.
- Meeting the language proficiency requirements as stipulated.
View List of Eligible Fields for Doctoral Admission.
2.3. Language Competency Requirements
Candidates must prove their English language proficiency by one of the following qualifications or certificates:
- University Degree or Higher Earned through Full-Time Study Abroad in English; University Degree or Higher in English Language; or University Degree or Higher from an English-Taught Program.
- English language certificate must reach level 4 according to the 6-level Foreign Language Competency Framework for Vietnam, with validity of 2 years from the date of issue to the date of registration, and issued by an institution recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training or VNU-HCM.
| Framework of 6 language proficiency levels | IELTS | TOEFL | Cambridge Exam | Aptis (British Council) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 4 | 5.5 | 46 iBT | B1 Preliminary: 160 B2 First: 16,0 C1 Advanced: 160 B1 Business Preliminary: 160 B2 Business Vantage: 160 C1 Business Higher: 160 | B2 (General) |
Foreign citizens or international students under the agreement must achieve a minimum level 4 in the Vietnamese Language Competency Framework for Foreigners, or have graduated from a Vietnamese-taught university program; meanwhile, they must also meet the English language requirements of the University if applicable. Native speakers of the language used in the program are exempt from the language requirement.
3. Admissions activities
3.1. Estimated enrollment period
| Content | June Round (Round 1) | November Round (Round 2) |
|---|---|---|
| Submit Application | Until 29/5/2026 | Until 23/10/2026 |
| Defense of Research Proposal for Graduate Students | 19/6/2026 | 13/11/2026 |
| Announcement of Results | July 2026 | December 2026 |
| Formal Study | September 2026 | February 2027 |
3.2. Enrollment locations
International UniversityInternational University, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. Other special cases are decided by the Rector and reported to VNU-HCM.
3.3. Form and content of evaluation
Candidate defending the research proposal within 45 minutes. The evaluation content includes the dossier and the presentation of the proposal:
| No. | Evaluate Application Portfolio | Evaluation through Research Proposal Presentation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Results of undergraduate or master's degree studies | Ability to present, articulate and grasp the content of the outline; content of answers regarding professional knowledge; qualities required for a Researcher such as research skills, creativity, problem analysis and research collaboration; ability to answer and respond to questions from the Specialized Committee. |
| 2 | Research achievements, professional experience | |
| 3 | Language Competence | |
| 4 | Feedback and support in the recommendation letter | |
| 5 | Research outline or research essay |
3.4. Enrollment process
a. Application Documents
- Application form cover.
- Admission Registration Form.
- Curriculum Vitae with Confirmation from the Local Area or Current Workplace.
- Scientific resume with confirmation from the local authority or current workplace.
- 03 photos 3 × 4 cm.
- 02 certified copies within 6 months of the Master's diploma and transcript.
- 02 certified copies within 6 months of the undergraduate diploma and transcript.
- 4 course outlines in English; use Vietnamese for the major in Public Administration. View course outline sample.
- 01 full semester study plan. View plan sample.
- Certificate of approval for supervision of graduate students by faculty or staff of the International University.
- 02 recommendation letters from two scientists, assessing the candidate's professional competence.
- Research Experience Documentation as Per Regulations.
- Introduction letter from the organization, if any.
- English Language Proficiency Documentation as Per Regulations.
Catalogue of Supervisors and Research Directions
- Biotechnology.
- Biomedical Technology.
- Industrial Systems Engineering.
- Public Administration.
- Business Administration.
- Information Technology.
Note regarding foreign degrees: Candidates with degrees awarded by foreign educational institutions must supplement the official recognition document of the degree Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training - Academic Credential Recognition Center Issue, no later than the application deadline. If not available, applicants must submit a commitment form and complete the official confirmation document before the official enrollment.
b. Admissions Process
- Specialized committee for preliminary review of application forms, university academic results, master's degree, language proficiency, research achievements, recommendation letters, and research proposal quality.
- Applicants present their research outline before the specialized committee and undergo an interview to assess their research capability, scientific significance, practicality, feasibility, and the relevance of the research topic to the training program.
- The Chairperson of the Subject Committee synthesizes opinions and evaluation results of the members.
3.5. Estimated enrollment fees
Admission Fee: 1.500.000 VND/file/candidate. Candidates must pay the fee in advance before the final deadline to receive the application form.
4. Supplementary knowledge and training regulations
4.1. List of fields and supplementary courses
Categories of Suitable Programs Announced in the 2026 Admission Plan. After Admission, the School will issue decisions on additional courses based on the proposals of the relevant departments.
View Eligible and Related Fields for Doctoral Program Admission.
4.2. Training information
| No. | Program name | Format | Location | Estimated Tuition Fee for the Entire Program | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Business Administration | Full-time | International University of Ho Chi Minh City | 270,000,000 VND (03 years) 360,000,000 VND (04 years) | 03–04 years |
| 2 | Public Administration | Full-time | International University of Ho Chi Minh City | 270,000,000 VND | 03 years |
| 3 | Biotechnology | Full-time | International University of Ho Chi Minh City | 321,000,000 VND (03 years) 428.000.000 VND (04 years) | 03–04 years |
| 4 | Biomedical Technology | Full-time | International University of Ho Chi Minh City | 321,000,000 VND (03 years) 428.000.000 VND (04 years) | 03–04 years |
| 5 | Industrial Systems Engineering | Full-time | International University of Ho Chi Minh City | 300,000,000 VND (03 years) 400.000.000 VND (04 years) | 03–04 years |
| 6 | Information Technology | Full-time | International University of Ho Chi Minh City | 300,000,000 VND (03 years) 400.000.000 VND (04 years) | 03–04 years |
3-year program for students transitioning from Master's to Doctoral level. 4-year program for students transitioning from undergraduate to Doctoral level.
5. Pre-doctoral Program
5.1. Target candidates
- Applicants for the Doctoral Program who do not meet the official admission requirements for the English language proficiency certificate and/or research experience may be considered for participation in the Pre-Doctoral Program before officially applying.
- Within a maximum of 24 months, prospective doctoral students must complete and supplement any missing conditions to be eligible for formal doctoral admission.
5.2. Admission criteria
- Graduated with a Master's degree; or graduated with a regular bachelor's degree with a good grade and an average GPA of 8.0/10 or higher in a relevant field; or graduated with an equivalent level of degree 7 according to the National Qualification Framework of Vietnam in a specialized field that is suitable.
- There is a preliminary research outline on the intended research field.
5.3. Benefits for Pre-Doctoral Students
- Participate in study and research with official Graduate Students.
- Participate in training programs and scientific research methods.
- Accumulate credits in the corresponding doctoral program, but not exceeding 50% of the program's credits.
- Access to materials, libraries, and experimental equipment for study, research, and thesis implementation.
- Participation in research and publication of scientific articles related to the topic; these results are used when becoming an official Research Student.
- The time spent on preparatory studies does not count toward the doctoral training duration.
- Priority for admission as an official Research Student upon completion of all required conditions.
Fee for PhD Program Entrance Examination: 300,000 VND per application form.
6. Application Submission Locations and Contact Information
6.1. Application Submission Locations
Postgraduate Training Office, International University – VNU-HCM Ho Chi Minh City
a. Fundamental Basis
- Address: O2.609 Room, International University – VNU-HCM Urban Area, Phường Linh Xuân, TP.HCM. View map.
- Phone: (+84) 28 3724 4270 – internal 3120, 3209.
- Working hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00–16:00.
b. Inner city location (temporary)
- Address: 3rd Floor, Building C4, University of Technology – 142 Tô Hiến Thành, Phường Diên Hồng, TP.HCM. View map.
- Working Hours: Monday to Friday, 17:30–20:00.
6.2. Contact Information
- Free Hotline: 1800-9040.
- Email: info.grad@hcmiu.edu.vn.
- Contact Person: Mr. Thanh Son – lttson@hcmiu.edu.vn.
- Zalo Recruitment Group: Join here.
- Social Media: Facebook, YouTube.