The tuition fee ceiling at public universities that are not self-sufficient in regular expenses this school year is 1.2-2.45 million VND/month, depending on the major, instead of 1.35-2.76 million VND as in Decree 81.
On the afternoon of December 31, 2023, the Government issued Decree No. 97 amending and supplementing a number of articles of Decree 81 on public tuition fees. Accordingly, the roadmap for increasing university tuition fees will be delayed by one year compared to Decree 81, similar to the proposal of the Ministry of Education and Training.
Specifically, the tuition ceiling (the highest level that can be collected) at public universities that are not self-sufficient in regular expenses this school year is 1.2-2.45 million VND/month, depending on the major, instead of 1.35-2.76 million as in Decree 81. The previously applied level was 0.98-1.43 million VND.
Compared to the old collection rate, the tuition ceiling for the 2023-2024 school year in the arts sector increased insignificantly (0.02%), while the biggest increase was in the Medicine and Pharmacy sector (71.3%). Tuition fees for other sectors increased by a common rate of 20-30%. In the life sciences and natural sciences sector alone, the increase was 15.8%.
By the 2026-2027 school year, the ceiling will increase to 1.7-3.5 million VND/month.
Tuition/month for non-autonomous public universities from the 2023-2024 to 2026-2027 academic year (unit: thousand VND) is as follows:
Industry | 2023/24 | 2024/25 | 2025/26 | 2026/27 |
Block I: Educational Science and Teacher Training | 1,250 | 1,410 | 1,590 | 1,790 |
Block II: Art | 1,200 | 1,350 | 1,520 | 1,710 |
Industry III: Business and management, law | 1,250 | 1,410 | 1,590 | 1,790 |
Block IV: Life sciences, natural sciences | 1,350 | 1,520 | 1,710 | 1,930 |
Block V: Mathematics, computer statistics, information technology, engineering technology, engineering, production and processing, architecture and construction, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, veterinary medicine | 1,450 | 1,640 | 1,850 | 2,090 |
Sector VI.1: Other health sectors | 1,850 | 2,090 | 2,360 | 2,660 |
Industry Block VI.2: Medicine and Pharmacy | 2,450 | 2,760 | 3.110 | 3,500 |
Sector VII: Humanities, social and behavioral sciences, journalism and information, social services, tourism, hotels, sports, transportation services, environment and environmental protection | 1,200 | 1,500 | 1,690 | 1,910 |
Schools that are autonomous (paying their own salaries, allowances, repairing facilities, etc.), depending on the level, can collect a maximum of 2-2.5 times the above level, or about 2.4-6.1 million VND/month in the 2023-2024 school year. After 5 years, this ceiling will increase to 3.4-8.75 million VND/month. With training programs that have been quality-accredited according to the standards of the Ministry of Education and Training or foreign standards, universities can determine their own tuition fees.
Previously, according to the Ministry of Education and Training, many agencies, localities and universities said that tuition fees should be increased to ensure resources, improve quality, and invest in facilities in the context of budget cuts. Some schools "petitioned" to increase tuition fees because they were worried that they might be on the brink of closing.
However, if the new school year tuition is applied according to Decree 81, the increase will be very high compared to the previous school year. Specifically, public university tuition will increase by an average of 45.7%. In particular, tuition for Medicine and Pharmacy will increase by 93%, and for Humanities and Social Sciences will increase by 53%, causing difficulties for parents and students. Therefore, the majority of opinions agree that the tuition increase may be delayed by one year compared to the roadmap of Decree 81.
Candidates taking the 2023 high school graduation exam at Tran Dai Nghia High School for the Gifted, District 1
"Postponing the tuition fee increase roadmap by one year and lowering the tuition fee adjustment range for the 2023-2024 school year will reduce pressure on learners," the Ministry of Education and Training assessed.
For public preschool and general education levels, the tuition fee ceiling for schools that have not yet covered their regular expenses for the 2023-2024 school year will apply the level of the 2021-2022 school year approved by the People's Councils of provinces and cities.
TH (synthesis)