Vietnam enrollment shifts strongly toward STEM fields

Photo courtesy of VnExpress

Vietnamese students are increasingly choosing science, technology, engineering and mathematics courses, with STEM accounting for 33.6% of university enrollment choices this year, official data shows.

Shift toward strategic skills

More than 874,800 candidates registered university preferences after the 2026 graduation exam. Around 212,600 chose STEM disciplines, including more than 121,000 in core science, engineering and strategic-technology fields.

The Education Ministry said 633,000 candidates had confirmed enrollment. Financial support under Decree 179 is available for eligible students in strategic fields, with monthly scholarships from VND3.7 million to VND8.4 million.

What it means for foreigners in Vietnam

The shift reflects Vietnam’s push to build a larger technology workforce. For foreign businesses and educators, it points to a growing pool of locally trained technical talent and continued demand for skills partnerships.

26 August 2026