Exchange guide VNU International School
Courses, housing, visa, campus life and exchange basics for studying at VNU International School in Hanoi, Vietnam.
City
HanoiCountry
VietnamInternational
A growing international cohort across undergraduate and graduate programmes; confirm the current figure with the admissions office.
Enrollment
A mid-sized member school of Vietnam National University, Hanoi; confirm the current headcount with the admissions office.
Study abroad at VNU International School: overview
Study abroad at VNU International School makes sense when English-medium teaching and Vietnam's top-ranked national university system matter more to you than a single famous campus building. VNU International School (VNU-IS) is the member school Vietnam National University, Hanoi built specifically to teach international students in English. Useful proof points: fully English-taught business, data analytics and computer engineering programmes; a dedicated admissions and dormitory office for international students. Confirm current enrolment figures and programme seats with the admissions office before choosing.
Enrollment
A mid-sized member school of Vietnam National University, Hanoi; confirm the current headcount with the admissions office.
International Mix
A growing international cohort across undergraduate and graduate programmes; confirm the current figure with the admissions office.
Why students choose it
Xuan Thuy Campus (E5 & G7 Building, 144 Xuan Thuy Street, Cau Giay district), with additional VNU-IS facilities at the Phan Tay Nhac and Hoa Lac campuses.
Language of instruction: English (all VNU-IS degree programmes); Vietnamese language-support courses available
Exchange & application at VNU International School
Start with your home-university nomination, then VNU's application process, insurance and course approval. At VNU International School, tuition and the application fee are waived for exchange students under AUN-ACTS or bilateral agreements — confirm your specific agreement's terms with your home coordinator.
✅Requirements
A nomination from your home university's international office, a minimum English proficiency of IELTS 5.5 (or equivalent), and good academic standing. Specific faculties may add course-level prerequisites — confirm with your VNU-IS academic coordinator once nominated.
📨Nomination Process
Your home university's international office submits your nomination directly to VNU's International Affairs department, after which you receive instructions to complete the formal application with supporting documents.
🧭Orientation Week
Recommended arrival: About one week before orientation to allow time for local address registration and settling in.
Mandatory orientation is held at the start of each semester, run by the International Affairs department.
Events hub: https://en.vnu.edu.vn/
🗓️Deadlines by intake
| Intake | Nomination deadline | Application deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Fall semester | Mid-May | Mid-May (VNU processes exchange nominations and applications in the same window) |
| Spring semester | Mid-October | Mid-October (VNU processes exchange nominations and applications in the same window) |
| Full year | Early May | Early May |
Arrival Checklist
- Obtain your DH student visa, sponsored by VNU, before travelling — do not enter on a tourist e-Visa for a credit-bearing exchange.
- Register your temporary residence with local police within the required window after arrival, usually coordinated through your dormitory or landlord.
- Purchase the compulsory VNU student medical insurance at enrolment, on top of your own travel/health insurance.
- Attend the mandatory International Affairs orientation and collect your VNU student card.
Academics & courses at VNU International School
Academics combine a VNU-wide credit system with faculty-level course rules. Confirm ECTS conversion with your home university, and check the real teaching language and prerequisites of each course before committing to a course list.
📝Course Registration
Exchange students register for courses with guidance from their VNU-IS academic coordinator during the orientation period, subject to seat availability in each faculty.
🎓Credit System
VNU uses a credit-hour system broadly compatible with ECTS conversion by your home institution — confirm the exact conversion ratio with your home university's exchange coordinator before enrolling.
💯Grading System
A letter-grade system (A, B, C, D, F) with corresponding numeric equivalents; your home university handles the ECTS or GPA conversion on your transcript.
✍️Exam Culture
Attendance is actively monitored and factored into final grades. Assessment typically combines midterm exams, a final exam, and coursework or presentations.
📚Library Access
Access to the VNU library system and VNU-IS study spaces becomes available once your student account is activated after orientation.
Tuition & fees at VNU International School
For exchange, separate the waived VNU tuition from your own insurance, dormitory utilities and living costs. Full-degree tuition at VNU-IS is a different category — ranging roughly USD 1,000-2,450 per semester depending on programme — and should be confirmed on the current fee schedule.
| Student Type | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EXCHANGE | ||
| Full degree – international |
Fees change annually — verify current rates on the official exchange office page
Student housing at VNU International School
Housing near VNU International School should move in parallel with your exchange application. Compare the VNU dormitory route against a private room in Cau Giay or Dong Da, and confirm current dormitory pricing directly with the International Affairs Office.
Full housing guide
Find housing in Hanoi
Official contacts, student residences, private platforms, tips & red flags.
Insurance & campus support at VNU International School
Use the International Affairs Office, your VNU-IS academic coordinator, the library system and campus health services from week one. Vietnamese visa and residence-registration steps move slowly, so ask early rather than close to a deadline.
🛡️Mandatory Insurance
Yes — both the compulsory VNU student plan and your own personal cover are expected.
🏥Campus Clinic
Use the campus health point for minor issues and initial triage; escalate to a private international clinic for anything requiring specialist or urgent care.
🧠Mental Health
Route requests for counselling or wellbeing support through the International Affairs Office, which can direct you to the appropriate VNU or external service.
VNU compulsory student medical insurance
≈VND 550,000 (≈USD 22) per year — confirm current rate at enrolment
Covers basic campus and local-hospital care; does not cover medical evacuation, so pair it with a broader personal policy.
Personal/travel health insurance (home country or international provider)
Varies by provider and coverage level
Should include hospitalisation and emergency evacuation cover for Vietnam specifically — check this is not excluded before arrival.
Campus services
International Affairs Office
Exchange nomination processing, visa support letters, orientation, and the main point of contact for exchange-student questions throughout the semester.
VNU-IS Admissions and Student Affairs
Course registration support, academic coordination, and day-to-day student administration specific to the International School.
VNU Library System
Shared access across VNU member schools to physical library collections and digital research databases.
VNU dormitory management board
Administers on-campus dormitory placement, room assignment and utility billing for resident students.
Student life at VNU International School
Student life depends on repeatable routines: faculty clubs, buddy programmes where available, and the wider Hanoi expat/exchange community. Don't wait for the campus alone to build your social circle — join groups early.
Student Clubs
- VNU-IS Business Club
- VNU-IS English Speaking Club
- IT and coding clubs tied to the Informatics and Computer Engineering programme
Buddy Program
Some faculties run peer buddy or student-ambassador programmes for incoming exchange students — confirm current availability with the International Affairs Office at orientation.
Sports & Recreation
- VNU sports facilities on the Cau Giay campus complex, including courts and a gym shared across member schools
Public Groups & Communities
Your First 2 Weeks
- Attend the mandatory International Affairs orientation and activate your VNU student account.
- Register your temporary residence with local police (usually coordinated through your dormitory or landlord).
- Buy a local SIM card and set up Grab, Zalo and Google Maps.
- Visit the International Affairs Office to confirm your course registration and ask about active buddy programmes and clubs.
Key exchange dates at VNU International School
The critical dates are nomination, application, visa processing, course registration, dormitory or housing arrangement, arrival and orientation. Build in extra time for DH visa processing before booking flights.
-
1
Fall semester application window
Through mid-May
Nomination and application for the September intake close mid-May.
-
2
Spring semester application window
Through mid-October
Nomination and application for the February intake close mid-October.
-
3
Orientation and welcome week
Late August/early September (fall) or late January (spring)
Mandatory International Affairs orientation, residence registration and student card collection.