Australian universities deny news of stopping accepting students from 5 provinces and cities of Vietnam

Over the past two days, social media has been spreading the news that the University of Wollongong (UOW) has notified its recruitment agents in Vietnam that it will no longer accept applications from students in five provinces and cities, including Hai Phong, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Hai Duong, from August 15. In addition, the school will no longer offer integrated English courses and will require additional financial documents from students nationwide, except for the three major cities of Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang.

This news was shared on many forums, causing speculation about the reasons why students from the above 5 localities were rejected.

UOW representatives said they accept applications from all regions of Vietnam and have informed recruitment agents of this since September.

“UOW does not impose restrictions on applications from Vietnam or any other country,” the spokesperson said. “All applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis.”

According to the university, the Australian Department of Home Affairs maintains regulations to ensure genuine students come to study and UOW adheres to these guidelines to assist students with the visa application process.

The school said Vietnamese international students are one of the largest international student groups at UOW, including UOW College (which offers bridging programs, English courses, vocational training...), with more than 1,000 people.

According to the Times Higher Education (THE) 2025 university rankings, the University of Wollongong is ranked 11th in Australia, in the global 201-250 group. The school has two intakes in February and July.

UOW currently has about 53 undergraduate majors, with tuition fees ranging from AUD 29,370-40,600 (about VND 495-684 million) per year, the highest in Biomedical and Health Sciences. The school has scholarships for international students with 20-30% of tuition fees.

To apply for an Australian student visa (visa 500), students need a letter of invitation from the school, health insurance, a consent form from a parent or guardian (if under 18 years old), a letter explaining the purpose of study and the ability to stay or leave after completing the course, and some other documents. Currently, most visa applications in Vietnam are processed within 3-5 months, longer than before.

The rejection rate has also increased, with the main reason being "dishonesty about the purpose of studying abroad", according to Ms. Katherine Tranter, senior officer in charge of student visas at the Australian Department of Home Affairs, at the New South Wales study abroad exhibition in Ho Chi Minh City on September 14.