As a part of his visit to the Southeast Asian country, New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon hailed the contribution of Vietnamese students, and announced more opportunities for them to study in the country.
“Students from Vietnam attending our schools and universities adds over $88 million to our economy,” Luxon stated in a post on LinkedIn.
“[I] was also thrilled to announce more opportunities for Vietnamese students to study in New Zealand, and witness partnerships agreed between New Zealand and Vietnamese education institutions today too,” the post continued.
Marking 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries, New Zealand and Vietnam signed a comprehensive strategic partnership last week, focussing on education and defence.
Students from Vietnam attending our schools and universities adds over $88 million to our economy
Christopher Luxon, New Zealand Prime Minister
While highlighting that approximately 1,700 Vietnamese students currently study in New Zealand, Luxon announced the expansion of scholarship programs, awards, new courses, and other transnational education opportunities for students and universities in Vietnam, as per Vietnamese media reports.
New Zealand has introduced a 56% rise in the number of awards for Vietnamese students, who can now study at any of the country’s eight public universities or three public institutes of technology as scholarship recipients.
This year, the New Zealand Schools Scholarships for Vietnamese students in grades 8-10 will offer a record 45 awards. The scholarship is aimed at outstanding high school students seeking to study at secondary schools in New Zealand.
Moreover, for the first time, 14 New Zealand University Awards will be offered to undergraduate students.
With New Zealand also developing key fields such as STEM, economics, medicine, and artificial intelligence, which align with Vietnam’s priorities, the countries’ educational institutions are also stepping up to work together.
During his visit to the Foreign Trade University, a public institution in Hanoi, Luxon facilitated MOUs between New Zealand and Vietnamese universities.
Among these initiatives, an MOU between Massey University and Foreign Trade University aims to launch a dual master’s degree program at the latter’s campuses.
This program will allow participants to earn degrees from both universities upon completing their studies at FTU.
Moreover, the University of Auckland also signed an MOU with Ho Chi Minh University of Technology to strengthen its engagement in Vietnam and establish a long-term partnership.
“Southeast Asia is an important international market for the University of Auckland, where we continue to enhance our international recruitment and engagement efforts,” a spokesperson from the University of Auckland’s international office told The PIE News.
“We are pleased to continue to welcome a steady stream of Vietnamese students on campus who we know are highly motivated by the potential for career opportunities post-graduation.”
Over time, the University of Auckland aims to offer HUTECH students various opportunities to pursue undergraduate and postgraduate degrees in Science, Education, and the Arts.
Additionally, both institutions plan to collaborate on research and teaching while emphasising sustainable development as a core priority.
“As the University of Auckland’s eighth-largest source country, Vietnam consistently sends a steady stream of both undergraduate and postgraduate students each year,” stated the spokesperson.
“The most sought-after courses among Vietnamese students are business, science, and engineering, which provide robust career opportunities in New Zealand and globally.”
According to Arunima Dhingra, chief executive and founder of Auckland-based Aims Global Immigration, the Prime Minister’s visit to Vietnam comes at a crucial time when the country’s untapped potential needs to be harnessed.
“In 2024, just under 900 student visas were granted to Vietnamese nationals, with a 79% approval rate. This approval rate remained steady in 2023, when 670 applications were received – nearly double the 351 applications processed in 2022, which had an 83% approval rate,” stated Dhingra.
“The upward trajectory signals growing interest and confidence in New Zealand as a study destination.”
Though the country’s growing reputation in Vietnam as a high-quality education provider, along with favourable post-study work pathways, and supportive policies for family members, among other factors, have helped Vietnamese students make a beeline for Aotearoa, there’s still a lot of work to be done, according to Dhingra.
“Vietnam’s outbound student market remains heavily engaged with other major destinations such as Australia and Canada. For New Zealand to remain competitive, greater outreach, targeted marketing, and strong institutional partnerships will be key in sustaining and expanding this growth.”
Moreover, as students from countries like India and China increasingly explore alternative destinations, diversifying into markets such as Southeast Asia and Vietnam requires New Zealand to identify and address the barriers faced by students from the region.
“Many undergraduate students from Vietnam must complete English courses before starting their main studies, so New Zealand must ensure its pathway programs remain competitive in cost, duration, and visa flexibility to retain students,” stated Dhingra.
“Additionally, financial proof requirements and visa processing challenges – especially for students from non-traditional or rural regions – can make other destinations with simpler processes more appealing.”
Since Covid pandemic, NZ has emerged as one of the most sought-after study destinations.
While a survey last year indicated that prospective students are increasingly considering New Zealand, the US, and Germany amid policy shifts in other major destinations, data from the New Zealand government revealed a 24% year-on-year increase in international enrolments.
