English Language Requirements For Undergraduate Admissions

1. Purpose

This guideline is to establish the English requirements for admission to the full-time undergraduate programs at VinUniversity.

2. Area of Application

This applies across the University and to applicants entering undergraduate programs. These requirements are for entry to the University only.

3. Content

3.1 General Principles

1. As the medium of instruction at VinUniversity is English, it is important that all admitted students are able to communicate effectively in VinUniversity will assist candidates who are recommended for admission but do not meet the minimum requirements for admission (refer to conditional admission) to improve their English skills.
2. This guideline should be read in conjunction with relevant requirements of the
3. Applicants, whether domestic or international, must provide evidence that their English language proficiency meets the minimum requirements for admission to any VinUniversity undergraduate program, no later than 14 days before the first day of instruction in the Academic Year to be eligible for enrollment in their admitted program.
4. Applicants must submit accepted evidence of meeting the English language requirements to VinUni Admissions Portal. The University reserves the right to require that an applicant undertakes an English test in addition to any other evidence of English proficiency provided.
5. The University reserves the right to verify any certificates. Any instances of alteration or forgery will be strictly dealt with and could result in the revocation of any offer of admission.

3.2 Recognized English Language Proficiency

The following mechanisms can be used as evidence of English language proficiency:

3.2.1 English Language Proficiency Tests

The following English language proficiency tests and scores are recognized by VinUniversity as meeting the standard minimum English language requirements, provided they were taken within the last 24 months prior to the first day of instruction of the admitted program.

Other tests not included in this list may be considered by the Office of the Registrar after consulting with the College of Arts and Sciences. In general, online tests are usually not considered valid (i.e. IELTS Indicator, IELTS Online, The Duolingo English Test, etc.) for evidencing English proficiency to meet the entry requirements at VinUniversity.

Note:

1. Results from multiple tests cannot be combined to meet requirements unless otherwise specified.
2. The most recent submitted evidence will be used as evidence of English language proficiency unless otherwise
3. If subsequent evidence is provided which demonstrates that the applicant’s English language proficiency is insufficient, the University reserves the right to change an offer of admission to conditional on meeting English language
4. The TOEFL institutional code for VinUniversity is 0506. Applicants may use this code to report their TOEFL results to the university.
5. Test of English as a Foreign Language Paper-Based Test (TOEFL PBT) and Institutional Testing Program (TOEFL ITP) are not currently accepted. Only the Internet-based Test (TOEFL IBT) is accepted at this time.
6. IELTS General Training module tests are not currently Only   the IELTS Academic module is accepted at this time.

3.2.2  VinUniversity English Placement Test

The VinUniversity English Placement Test is offered in exceptional circumstances when applicants may otherwise not be able to sit one a recognized English proficiency test. It is not offered to all applicants. The table below summarizes the format, duration, and scoring mechanisms of the test:

After taking the Placement tests, the applicant will receive an overall level based on the average results of the four skills listed above (Reading, listening, speaking, writing):

1. Meets direct entry requirements (equivalent or higher than IELTS 5)
2. Pathway English Advanced (equivalent to IELTS 0)
3. Pathway English Intermediate (equivalent to IELTS 5)
4. Below Intermediate (equivalent to IELTS 0 or below)

In the event of a jagged profile (one or more skills being higher or lower than the other skills), the lower overall level of Pathway English will be selected in order to provide the best chance of students’ success by attending the Pathway English Advanced program in the Summer semester.

3.2.3 Citizenship/Resident Status

Citizens or permanent residents of a majority English speaking country who have undertaken secondary and/or tertiary study in English, at a recognized institution, in the national education system, will be considered to have met the VinUniversity English proficiency requirements and will not need to take an English proficiency test. Countries recognized as majority English speaking are based on the guidance of the government of the United Kingdom and can be found here.

3.2.4 Prior Study

Applicants will be considered to have met the VinUniversity English proficiency requirements and will not need to take standardized or placement tests if they have successfully completed at least two years of full-time secondary (up to year 12 equivalent) or tertiary education within the last four years, in the medium of English. This may be conducted in a majority English- speaking country (which can be found at 3.2.3) or in a recognized and accredited international high school in the applicant’s home country which uses English as the primary language of instruction. VinUniversity reserves the right to seek additional evidence of the quality of English curriculum in the school. Successful completion is considered to be a pass result in no less than 50 percent of attempted units/courses in any assessable period (for   example, term or semester) in the academic year.

Currently, VinUniversity only recognizes this list of international qualifications:

• International Baccalaureate Diploma (IB)
• Advanced Placement (AP)
• GCE A-Level
• Singapore A-Level

4. VinUniversity Pathway English Program

4.1 Starting in the 2025-2026 academic year, VinUniversity will only offer the Pathway English Advanced course. The course will be offered in the Summer and again in the following Fall semester. The minimum class size for each course should be at least 10 students unless otherwise approved by the Provost.

4.2 Students placed in Pathway English Advanced will receive conditional admission. They will have two opportunities to complete the Pathway English Advanced program.

1. The first Pathway English Advanced course is offered during the summer (typically from July to August, before the official start of the first academic year). The class is generally conducted online over eight (08) weeks.Conditionally-admitted students who successfully pass this course will gain direct admission to VinUniversity and begin their study plan as regular students in the Fall semester, without any restrictions on course registration.Conditionally-admitted students who fail the course will have two options: (i) Self-Study: Submit a recognized English test result at least one week before the start of instruction for the first academic year (ii) Retake the Pathway English Advanced Course: Enroll in the course during the Fall semester, with restrictions on course registration to prioritize improving their English proficiency.
2. Another Pathway English Advanced course will be offered in the first Fall semester, primarily for students who enroll late and are unable to fulfill the requirements before the official enrollment. This 180-hour course will be conducted over 15 weeks.Conditionally-admitted students enrolled in this course will have restricted course registration, limited to Agile Innovation and Healthy Lifestyle courses. They are encouraged to focus on improving their English proficiency to meet all entry requirements by the end of the first semester. Students who successfully pass this course will continue as regular students in the Spring semester, without any restrictions on course registration (apart from pre-requisites of certain courses).Conditionally-admitted students who fail the course will be required to self-study and submit an IELTS 6.5 score or equivalent by the end of the first summer semester. Late submission may impact their study progress and course registration. During the first Spring semester, students may continue studying Healthy Lifestyle and other VinCore or major courses with approval from the Program Directors.

5. Approved Variations to Language Proficiency Levels

All applicants must meet the English Language requirements of the University as outlined in this policy. Requests for exceptions or variations for particular candidates or programs must be submitted to the Admissions Committee or the relevant Commitee for validation, and approved by the Provost.

6. Roles and Responsibilities Matrix

Abbreviations and Definitions

Recurring or important terms used throughout this document will be briefly explained below:

Conditional Admission: student does not meet the minimum English proficiency requirement for the University (IELTS 6.5 or equivalent), s/he will receive a conditional offer of admission and be placed in Pathway English Program based on their current level of English.

Pathway English Program: is designed to assist students with improving their English proficiency to satisfy the condition of their admission and transition into their degree program upon completion of Pathway English..

VinUniversity Placement Test: students who do not have, or are not able to take, a recognized English language test may take the VinUniversity English Placement Test, if it is offered.