Viet Nam has a growing youth population, and this together with an increasing prosperous middle class means that demand for university education is greater than ever before. A decade ago, fewer than 10,000 Vietnamese families could afford to send their child abroad to study. Today there are more than 100,000 Vietnamese international students around the world, most of whom are funded by their parents.
The top destinations for Vietnamese students are Australia, the US, China, Singapore and the UK. English has become the dominant foreign language in Viet Nam, with 98% of students choosing to study it over French, Japanese and German. So many students seek English-speaking countries for their higher education.
Australia is the destination of choice because Australian qualifications are recognised across the world, and transferable to Vietnamese qualifications, and many Australian universities offer scholarships to international students. Living costs in Australia compare favourably with the United States and UK, and it is closer to Viet Nam than other English- speaking countries, making visits home easier.
The USA has the second largest number of Vietnamese students. The majority of Vietnamese students, both at home and abroad, consider the American education the best in the world. They believe that the USA is the most scientifically and technologically advanced country in the world. Four out of 10 Vietnamese students in the US are studying business administration, and finance. Engineering, maths, computer science, and health professions are also common choices.
1. What do a growing youth population and an increasing prosperous middle class in Viet Nam lead to?
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2. What are the top destinations for Vietnamese students?
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3. Why do so many Vietnamese students seek English-speaking countries for their higher education?
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4. What advantages do Australian universities offer to international students?
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5. Why does studying in Australia favourable to Vietnamese students?
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6. What is the American education considered by most of Vietnamese students?
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7. What popular majors do Vietnamese students study in the US?
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7. UNIT 7. Education options for school-leavers
