Circular No. 55/2020/TT-BTC guiding the management of training funds for foreign exchange students under bilateral agreements studying in Vietnam

CIRCULAR

Guidelines for managing training funds for foreign exchange students under study agreements in Vietnam
concerning the Education Agreement for Study in Vietnam

Pursuant to the Law on State Budget dated June 25, 2015;

Pursuant to Decree No. 163/2016/NĐ-CP dated December 21, 2016 of the Government detailing and guiding the implementation of the Law on State Budget;

Pursuant to Decree No. 87/2017/NĐ-CP dated July 26, 2017 of the Government stipulating the functions, tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Finance;

At the proposal of the Director of the Administrative and Public Service Financial Department;

The Minister of Finance issues this Circular guiding the management of training funds for foreign exchange students under study agreements in Vietnam.

Article 1. Scope of Regulation and Applicability

Thông tư này quy định chi tiết khoản 4 Điều 38 Luật Thủy sản số 18/2017/QH14 đã được sửa đổi, bổ sung tại điểm c khoản 21 Điều 14 Luật số 146/2025/QH15.

This Circular guides the management of training funds for foreign exchange students sent to study in Vietnam under educational training agreements between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and other countries.

第二条 组织和实施奖励工作的支出水平，如政府第152/2025/NĐ-CP号决定关于分级授权和奖励领域的分权规定

a) This Circular applies to educational institutions in Vietnam that train exchange students under agreements; exchange students sent to study in Vietnam and related organizations and individuals.

b) This Circular does not apply to Lao exchange students and Cambodian exchange students sent to study in Vietnam under agreements between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Governments of Laos and Cambodia.

Article 2. Interpretation of Terms

In this Circular, the following terms shall be understood as follows:

1. Educational training agreement: A written agreement signed on behalf of the State or Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam with a foreign party regarding education and training, which creates, changes, or terminates the rights and obligations of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam under international law, regardless of its name such as treaty, convention, agreement, pact, arrangement, protocol, memorandum of understanding, diplomatic note, or other named document.

2. Educational institution in Vietnam that trains exchange students under agreements: An educational institution legally operating in Vietnam assigned by competent state authorities to train exchange students under agreements.

3. Exchange student under agreements: Foreign nationals accepted to study in Vietnam and granted scholarships by the Government of Vietnam under international treaties to which Vietnam is a member, including university students, graduate students, research fellows, Vietnamese language learners preparing for university or postgraduate entry exams, and exchange students in short-term specialized training programs lasting less than 12 months.

Article 3. Principles for managing training funds for exchange students under agreements

1. Sources of training funds for exchange students under agreements

a) State budget (central and local budgets according to budget allocation levels for educational and vocational training services) allocated to educational institutions as provided by the Law on State Budget;

b) Revenue from educational activities of educational institutions;

2. Educational institutions are responsible for managing and using funds for their intended purposes, effectively, transparently, and in compliance with regulations.

2. Contents of expenditures for training exchange students under agreements

a) Educational institutions assigned by competent authorities to train exchange students under agreements may use the funding sources specified in Point a Clause 1 Article 3 of this Circular to cover the following expenses: Training costs for exchange students; One-time initial supply costs for exchange students when they arrive in Vietnam to study; Monthly living expenses (scholarships) for exchange students during their formal study period in Vietnam.

b) Encouraging educational institutions to use the funding sources specified in Points b and c Clause 1 Article 3 of this Circular to cover training costs for exchange students under agreements.

3. For exchange students under agreements who do not study full-time, the training expenditure is calculated monthly based on actual days present in Vietnam for study (in cases where less than one month).

4. Educational institutions have the responsibility to manage and use funds for their intended purpose effectively, transparently, and in accordance with regulations.

5. The preparation, settlement, and finalization of training fund budgets for exchange students under agreements shall comply with legal provisions.

Article 4. Training expenses for foreign students

1. Contents of training expenses for foreign students

a) Recurrent expenses including expenses for teaching and learning activities, including translation costs for materials (if applicable), travel expenses for short-term training courses (if applicable), accommodation support for foreign students.

b) One-time expenses for the entire course: equipment support for teaching and practical activities, living equipment for foreign students residing in dormitories; sightseeing expenses; admission procedure fees; graduation summary and thesis defense expenses; gift expenses; airport reception and departure expenses for foreign students at international airports in Vietnam.

c) Other expenses: health insurance for foreign students during their actual study period in Vietnam (health insurance contribution level according to the law on health insurance for students and trainees); comprehensive medical examination fees at the beginning of the course, annual comprehensive medical examination fees; celebration expenses for National Day of Vietnam and the host country.

2. Standard training expenses for foreign students

a) Teaching Vietnamese language for foreign students to qualify for undergraduate and postgraduate levels: 2,576,000 VND/person/month;

b) Undergraduate and postgraduate training according to laws on education and training: 2,576,000 VND/person/month;

c) Short-term specialized knowledge enhancement courses with training duration under 12 months: 5,485,000 VND/person/month;

d) Educational institutions under the national defense, security, telecommunication, sports, and cultural arts sectors shall be granted an additional 10% of the training budget allocated for corresponding training programs as stipulated in Points b and c, Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular.

3. For specific expense levels of the contents specified in Clause 1, Article 4 of this Circular: apply the standards set by educational institutions (if available) in accordance with the law; in cases where there are no specific standards, educational institutions may independently allocate expenses. The total expenses must not exceed the standard set out in Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular.

4. In cases where educational institutions cannot provide sufficient conditions for food, accommodation, and living arrangements for foreign students, these institutions shall base themselves on the expense standards stipulated in Clause 2, Article 4 of this Circular to negotiate and sign contracts with service providers to ensure food, accommodation, and living arrangements for foreign students.

Article 5. Initial Support Expenses for Foreign Students

1. Contents of initial support expenses

a) Foreign students are provided with initial support once in cash upon enrollment to purchase necessary personal items for study and stable living in Vietnam. Educational institutions directly provide the initial support expense to foreign students.

b) Foreign students who have received initial support when studying Vietnamese to qualify for further studies will not be eligible for initial support when entering formal degree programs.

2. Standard initial support expenses

a) Undergraduate and postgraduate foreign students and foreign students studying Vietnamese to qualify for undergraduate and postgraduate levels: 4,480,000 VND/person;

b) Foreign students in short-term specialized knowledge enhancement courses with training duration under 12 months: 3,580,000 VND/person;

c) Foreign students in the national defense, security, telecommunication sectors shall be additionally provided with uniform allowance worth 55,000 VND/person/month.

Article 6. Living expenses for exchange students

1. Content of living expenses for exchange students

Exchange students are provided with living expenses (scholarships) to support their living and study costs. The period for receiving living expenses is 12 months/year during the official study period in Vietnam. The educational institution directly provides living expenses to exchange students.

2. Standard for living expenses

a) Undergraduate exchange students: 3,630,000 VND/person/month;

b) Graduate exchange students: 4,110,000 VND/person/month;

c) Exchange students in training courses for enhancing professional knowledge with a training duration of less than 12 months: 4,820,000 VND/person;

d) Exchange students learning Vietnamese to take the university entrance exam: 2,460,000 VND/person/month;

đ) Exchange students learning Vietnamese to take the graduate school entrance exam: 2,900,000 VND/person/month;

Article 7. Effective Date

1. This Circular takes effect from July 30, 2020.

2. Circular No. 133/2008/TT-BTC dated December 31, 2008 of the Ministry of Finance guiding the standard for training expenses for foreign exchange students (under agreements) studying at Vietnamese universities shall cease to be effective from the date this Circular takes effect.

3. During implementation, if there are difficulties or obstacles, units are requested to promptly reflect them to the Ministry of Finance for research and resolution./.