The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) remains committed to helping students from the lowest 20% of household income (bottom 20%) continue their studies, graduate on time and secure stable employment. In 2025, UEH continued to establish objectives for these students: at least 95% should graduate on schedule or within a delay of no more than half a year, and no student should withdraw because of financial hardship. UEH implemented scholarships, student loans, tuition waivers, nearly VND 23 billion in emergency assistance for 11,262 flood-affected learners, academic monitoring and employment services. Across UEH, 97% of students graduating in 2025 were employed within one year.
UEH’s support pathway for bottom-20% students extends from admission to post-graduation and includes three layers: removing financial barriers (study-support scholarships, credit, tuition waivers and emergency relief); ensuring conditions for study (dormitories, UEH Shuttle buses, health care and disability support); and monitoring academic progression and employability (advisers, early interventions, soft skills and employment connections). Each semester, Student Affairs verifies eligibility and works with the Training Department to monitor academic results and support students at risk of interrupting their studies.
In 2025, UEH placed particular emphasis on students facing sudden financial distress. Following storms numbered 10, 11, 12 and 13, the university reduced tuition fees by 10%, provided 100 scholarships, extended tuition-payment deadlines and offered credit assistance for 11,262 students from 24 provinces and cities, mobilising nearly VND 23 billion. In addition, over VND 11.2 billion in admissions and study-support scholarships was awarded to Cohort 51 entrants to help them establish a secure foundation in their first year.
| Policies / Activities | Beneficiaries | Deployment | Results / Impacts |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scholarships to support students from disadvantaged backgrounds. | Students in the bottom 20% group, with priority given to disadvantaged freshmen in Ho Chi Minh City and UEH Mekong. | The Student Care Board reviews applications based on individual circumstances and academic performance each semester.
Scholarships to support studies will be awarded at the Opening Ceremony of the 51st Cohort of Undergraduate Students (September 26, 2025) and the Opening Ceremony of UEH Mekong (October 6, 2025), helping new students confidently enter their first academic year. 
Image: Leaders of UEH member universities award scholarships to support the studies of new students of Course 51 who are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Source of evidence: Opening Ceremony of Course 51, UEH Undergraduate Program: The First Page – Write Your Own Story at UEH (UEH Portal, September 26, 2025)
Source of evidence: UEH Mekong – Opening Ceremony of the 51st Undergraduate Course: The First Page – Write Your Own Story at UEH (UEH Portal, October 6, 2025) |
Over 11.2 billion VND in scholarships and study support have been awarded to new students of Course 51 in Ho Chi Minh City.
730 million VND in awards and scholarships at UEH Mekong. Throughout 2025, UEH awarded 739 scholarships to support studies, totaling VND 6,631,032,500, including 87 scholarships totaling VND 1,031,545,000. |
| Emergency support program for students in flood-affected areas in 2025 | Students with permanent residence in the 24 provinces and cities affected by typhoons No. 10, 11, 12, and 13 – a group at risk of falling into sudden poverty. | Phase 1 (October 2025): 19 provinces and cities affected by Typhoon Bualoi.
Phase 2 (November 2025): Expanding to include Quang Ngai, Gia Lai, Dak Lak, Khanh Hoa, and Lam Dong. This combines four options: a 10% tuition fee reduction, scholarships, tuition payment extensions, and preferential student credit. 
Image: Program to support learners affected by storms and floods in 2025 Source of evidence: UEH implements a program to support students in areas affected by Typhoon No. 10 (Bualoi) in 2025 (UEH Portal, October 3, 2025) 
Image: Equal access to knowledge is provided to every learner at UEH. 
Image: Representatives of the New York Classical Music Association present scholarships to support students affected by floods in central Vietnam. Source of evidence: Looking back at the journey of spreading artistic values at Dream Concert Vietnam 2025 (UEH Portal, December 14, 2025) |
Nearly 23 billion VND was provided to support 11,262 students.
100 scholarships, totaling over 1.35 billion VND. The New York Classical Music Association awarded two additional scholarships, each worth 50 million VND, to students affected by the floods in Central Vietnam. The program was reported on by Education & Times Newspaper and VnExpress. |
| Student credit program | Students from poor or near-poor households, or those facing temporary financial difficulties, will be given priority; students from disaster-stricken areas will also be prioritized. | Borrow through OCB bank with an interest rate of 7.5%/year, maximum term of 6 months; UEH will subsidize a portion of the loan interest.
Tuition fees can be paid in installments with 0% interest via Sacombank credit card for students at all levels. Issuing confirmation certificates to enable students to borrow funds from the Social Policy Bank. Source of evidence: UEH expands its program to support students affected by storms, floods, and natural disasters in 2025 (UEH Portal, November 22, 2025) |
In 2025, 83 students received student loans and 54 students paid tuition in installments, with a total loan value of VND 1,441,983,103; UEH subsidized interest payments of VND 47,370,637. UEH issued 2,200 confirmation certificates to enable students to borrow funds from the Social Policy Bank. |
| Policies on tuition fee exemption and reduction, and support for learning expenses. | Students from poor and near-poor households, ethnic minorities in particularly difficult areas, people with disabilities, children of meritorious individuals, and other categories as stipulated by the State; students from disaster-stricken areas. | Students submit applications for tuition fee waivers, reductions, and financial assistance for study expenses on a semester-by-semester basis.
10% tuition fee reduction for the final semester of 2025 for undergraduate students of cohorts 48-51 from disaster-stricken areas; extension of tuition fee payment deadline for the first semester of 2026 until January 25, 2026. At UEH Mekong, tuition fees are only 60% of those at the Ho Chi Minh City campus. 
Image: Awarding scholarships to new students, academic achievement scholarships, and academic support scholarships at UEH Mekong. Source of evidence: UEH Mekong: Partnering through policy – Creating a comprehensive development journey for students (UEH Portal, July 23, 2025) |
Nearly 3,000 students received a 10% tuition fee reduction in the first round of support. |
| The initiative “Connecting Communities – Disseminating Knowledge – Taking Sustainable Action” and the Giving to UEH Fund | Students who overcome difficulties (the “Wings of Dreams” scholarship) and talented students (the “Talent Development” scholarship). | The UEH Sharing & Giving – Career Fair event series (March 24–30, 2025) includes cooperation agreements with Truong Tuoi Group, OCB, MB, and UOB Vietnam.
UEH Challenge 24h of Giving Campaign (November 2025). Alumni from various graduating classes have joined hands to contribute through the UEH Giving program. 
Image: Acknowledging the total value of contributions from 782 individuals and organizations for future generations. Source of evidence: The resounding success of the UEH Sharing & Giving – Career Fair 2025 event series (UEH Portal, March 31, 2025) 
Image: UEH Challenge 24h of Giving 2025 fundraising for the “Wings of Dreams” scholarship program. Source of evidence: UEH Challenge 24h of Giving 2025: Over 1,000 UEHers join the journey of proudly continuing the Giving Back tradition (UEH Alumni, November 6, 2025) |
Nearly 7.93 billion VND was contributed, including:
– 7.6 billion VND from 782 individuals and organizations; – over 208 million VND from 1,023 UEH students; – 120 million VND from alumni of Class 27. |
| Scholarships are sponsored under the themes “Wings of Dreams” and “Bright Future”. | Students from disadvantaged backgrounds who strive to excel in their studies. | Businesses, alumni, and the UEH Student Union sponsor and award scholarships in multiple rounds throughout the year.
Truong Tuoi Group signed a cooperation agreement (March 27, 2025) to sponsor scholarships for disadvantaged students from Binh Phuoc, Binh Duong, and Dong Nai provinces. 
Image: Representatives of Truong Tuoi Group awarding scholarships to UEH students. Source of evidence: End of the Truong Tuoi Group – UEH League 2025 journey: Dormitory 43-45 Nguyen Chi Thanh crowned champion (UEH Portal, November 18, 2025) – 
Image: UEH Alumni Golf Club awards 30 scholarships to students. Source of evidence: UEH Alumni Golf Club awards 500 million VND in scholarships to 30 students at the Year End Party 2025 golf tournament (UEH Alumni, May 27, 2025) 
Image: The “Bright Future” scholarship awarded to new students of Course 51. Source of evidence: UEH Freshman Welcome Cultural Festival, Class 51 – Connecting Hands 2025: GLOW TRACK (UEH Portal, October 14, 2025) |
UEH Alumni Golf Club: 10 “Fulfilling Dreams” scholarships, each worth 20 million VND.
Truong Tuoi Group: 10 scholarships, each worth 20 million VND. “Bright Future” Scholarships: 6 scholarships (January 2025) and 10 scholarships for new students of Course 51 (October 2025). |
| Caring for learners with disabilities | Students with disabilities | Priority admission; financial support on a semester or full-course basis; dedicated elevators, walkways, and restrooms in lecture halls and dormitories; adjustments to Physical Education and National Defense Education courses to suit health requirements. | In 2025, 11 students with disabilities will receive support from UEH. (Source: UEH accompanies learners with disabilities – Creating a barrier-free learning environment (UEH Student Care Department)) |
| Basic services: accommodation and transportation | Economics students from disadvantaged backgrounds, near-poor households, disabled students, and students living away from home. | Two dormitories in Ho Chi Minh City (135 Tran Hung Dao and 43–45 Nguyen Chi Thanh); UEH Mekong dormitory on campus, 54 rooms, affordable for students.
UEH Shuttle bus operates 5 routes connecting the Eastern Bus Station, Ben Thanh Metro Station, two dormitories, and UEH campuses. 
Image: Amenities at UEH Mekong Dormitory Source of evidence: UEH Mekong: Partnering through policy – Creating a comprehensive development journey for students (UEH Portal, July 23, 2025) 
Image: UEH Shuttle bus route for the new academic year Source of evidence: UEH Shuttle bus accompanies UEHers in the new academic year (UEH Portal, August 3, 2025) |
The UEH Mekong dormitory provides accommodation for nearly 500 people.
Thanks to UEH’s subsidy, the UEH Shuttle bus fare is only 5,000 VND per trip. In 2025, 5 students will receive dormitory fee waivers or reductions totaling 35 million VND. The UEH Shuttle bus service will serve 86,131 trips, with a subsidy of 1,106,707,750 VND. |
| Track academic progress and provide academic guidance. | All students, with priority given to bottom 20% students and students with low academic performance. | Each class of students has an academic advisor who monitors their academic performance and conduct; the academic advising work is evaluated each semester.
The Academic Affairs Department will release the list of students expected to be subject to academic disciplinary action early so that students and academic advisors can adjust their study plans in a timely manner. Students facing financial difficulties are connected with scholarships, loans, and individual counseling. 
|
[Additional information needed: number of students in the bottom 20% receiving academic warnings, academic support, and continuation rates after support in 2025] |
| Connecting jobs and developing skills | Final-year students and job seekers, with priority given to disadvantaged groups. | UEH Sharing & Giving – Career Fair (March 2025) with over 60 recruiting companies.
The Ho Chi Minh City Internship and Job Fair – UEH Career Fair 2025, Phase 2 (October 23–26, 2025), along with the “Conquer the Recruiter 2025” competition, is being held in collaboration with TopCV. 
Image: Overview of the UEH Career Fair 2025 Internship and Job Fair, Phase 2 
Image: By 2025, UEH will connect over 8,000 job opportunities through a network of nearly 100 partner businesses. Source of evidence: Milestones 2025: A 5-Year Journey of Comprehensive Support and Care for UEH Students (UEH Portal, [date not specified – published around February 2026]) |
Over 5,000 job opportunities were offered at the Career Fair in March 2025, attracting 6,797 attendees.
Over 3,000 job openings from more than 30 companies were offered at the second round of the Career Fair, attracting over 5,000 students and job seekers. Nearly 1,000 students registered for the “Conquer the Recruiter 2025” competition. Throughout 2025, UEH aims to connect over 8,000 job opportunities through its network of nearly 100 partner businesses. |
| Graduation and employment results in 2025 | Students graduating in 2025, including the bottom 20% | Graduation will be considered in multiple batches throughout the year (batch 1 in April, batch 2 in May, batch 3 in September 2025) to allow eligible students to receive early graduation recognition.
The survey of employment prospects for 2025 graduates included 4,445 out of 4,951 students (approximately 90%). 
Image: Percentage of UEH graduates in 2025 participating in various economic sectors. Source of evidence: 30% of graduates from the University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City work for foreign companies (Thanh Nien Newspaper) (UEH Portal – Press, January 20, 2026) 
Image: New graduates of UEH Mekong’s 47th cohort officially enter the labor market. |
4,951 students will graduate in 2025.
97% find employment within one year of graduation; 90% work in or near-field-related jobs; 69% find employment before receiving their degree. New graduates of the 47th cohort of UEH Mekong – the second cohort of the branch campus – will graduate in March 2025. [Additional information needed: on-time graduation rate and individual employment rate for bottom 20% students by 2025] |
Image: Awarding scholarships to support studies for new students of the 51st cohort at UEH Mekong.
These examples confirm that UEH not only sets a graduation target for the bottom 20% of students but also fully implements solutions to achieve that target: from removing financial barriers and monitoring academic progress to connecting students with jobs, especially responding quickly when more than 11,000 students face unexpected difficulties due to natural disasters in 2025.
Goals and Results for 2025
| Target | Targets for 2025 | Actual results in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| The bottom 20% of students receive at least one form of financial aid (coverage). | ≥ 97% (2024: 96.8%) | [Data needed] |
| Retention rate from year 1 to year 2 | ≥ 98.7% (2024: 98.5%) | [Data needed] |
| The graduation rate is on time or delayed by no more than 0.5 years. | ≥ 97% (2024: 96.7%) | [Data needed] |
| Employment rate within 6 months of graduation | ≥ 97.5% (2024: 97%) | [Data needed] |
| Number of students dropping out due to financial reasons (Dropout) | 0 (2024: 0) | [Data needed] (to verify withdrawal records due to financial reasons) |
Note: The Coverage, Retention, Graduation, Employment, and Dropout indices are calculated separately for the bottom 20% of students, determined by household economic conditions: students belonging to poor or near-poor households according to the multidimensional poverty standard for the period 2022–2025 (Decree 07/2021/ND-CP) or having an average per capita income in the lowest 20% according to the Vietnam Living Standards Survey (VHLSS). Data is compiled from the student management system of the Training Department and the employment survey of the Quality Assurance unit.
Compared to the previous year, UEH continues to maintain the graduation and employment targets for the bottom 20% of students [Confirmation needed: document issuing the targets for 2025], while strongly expanding solutions to help students avoid interruptions in their studies when facing unexpected difficulties. While in 2024, emergency support was limited to 100 scholarships (approximately 1 billion VND) for students in 26 provinces affected by Typhoon Yagi, in 2025, resources have increased to nearly 23 billion VND for 11,262 students, combining tuition fee reductions, scholarships, tuition fee extensions, and student loans. In terms of outcomes, 97% of 2025 graduates will be employed within one year, equivalent to 97% of the bottom 20% in 2024. [Note: Compare the Graduation and Retention of the bottom 20% in 2025 with those of 2024 (96.7%; 98.5%) when data is available.]
From this, it can be seen that UEH consistently and systematically pursues the goal of helping the bottom 20% of students graduate successfully: clear targets, synchronized solutions, and monitoring with specific data, so that every disadvantaged student can complete their university journey.