To support university students pursuing an international degree, RMIT University (Vietnam) has introduced a series of initiatives to ensure they can still graduate on time.
According to the Ministry of Education and Training, there were up to 190,000 Vietnamese citizens studying overseas in March who paused their studies to return to Vietnam amid the pandemic.
As a result, their studies may be significantly disrupted or graduation day moved to 12 months later.
Other students have been able to continue their studies online after returning to Vietnam, but have found the time zone differences between countries challenging.
Since the pandemic hit early this year, many 12th-grade students will miss opportunities to study abroad in 2021 due to the delay of the national graduating exams (which will impact on documentation submissions to foreign schools), flight bans, border closures and visa applications.
To help resolve these issues, RMIT University Regional Student Recruitment Director Jan Clohessy said the University has launched a series of practical, flexible and comprehensive initiatives for students who are unable to currently continue their studies for reasons brought on by the pandemic.
“Many students’ overseas study plans have been heavily disrupted by COVID-19,” Mrs Clohessy said. “Instead of wasting time waiting for the recovery and uncertainties of the global pandemic, young people can instead select flexible university pathways right in their homeland from RMIT.”
For students returning to Vietnam due to COVID-19
Students returning home can transfer their overseas study credits to an RMIT Vietnam program, and continue studying to graduate with an RMIT University degree. This option will help reduce the total amount of units that students will need to complete in order to graduate from an RMIT program.
With this study pathway, students will also save up to 66 per cent of the tuition fees and living expenses while still receiving a globally recognised degree.
Alternatively, students can study at RMIT Vietnam and then transfer the study credits to their overseas university at an appropriate time. These students will be supported by RMIT to apply for course credits or exemptions.