The Ministry of Education and Training in Vietnam has introduced a new full-time doctoral training format aimed at enhancing the quality of higher education. This regulation, effective from June 30, allows doctoral candidates to choose between two training methods: full-time study and research or a part-time option requiring a minimum of 30 credits per year.

Under the full-time training method, candidates must engage in professional activities, including teaching assistance and practical guidance for students. Unlike previous regulations, which permitted candidates to work elsewhere while studying, the new rules stipulate that full-time doctoral students cannot hold full-time jobs outside their academic commitments.

This change is significant as it aims to ensure that doctoral candidates are fully dedicated to their research and academic responsibilities. Regardless of the chosen training method, candidates will remain under the supervision and evaluation of their universities throughout their studies.

The standard duration for completing a doctoral program is set at three to four years, although students may finish their studies up to one-third earlier or up to 2.5 times later than the standard time frame. Additionally, students with excellent academic performance may be allowed to take up to 25% of their doctoral program courses in advance.

To successfully complete their doctoral studies, candidates must meet specific requirements, including publishing scientific papers. They are required to be the primary author or corresponding author of at least one article indexed in the Web of Science or Scopus, or be involved in research results that have been patented.

In light of these new regulations, universities are expected to review and update their training programs before the new cohort begins in 2027. Currently, about 33% of the 91,300 university lecturers in Vietnam hold doctoral degrees, a figure that remains lower compared to universities in countries like the UK, US, Malaysia, and Sri Lanka, where the percentage ranges from 50% to 75%. To attract more doctoral candidates, many institutions have recently started offering tuition waivers, living stipends, and bonuses of up to 560 million VND.