FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
In the 2023-24 intake cohort we expect to enroll a group of 60 students.
The medium of instruction at VinUniversity is English*. To go directly into VinUniversity’s undergraduate programs without any additional English language training, you will need to submit a recognized international English proficiency test result taken within the last 24 months. The minimum scores for direct entry into VinUniversity’s undergraduate programs are:
- IELTS: Minimum of 6.5 with no band score lower than 6.0
- TOEFL iBT: Minimum 79 with at least 20 for writing, 18 for speaking, 15 for reading, and 15 for listening.
- Pearson Test of English (Academic) – Minimum overall score of 58 with no communicative skills score less than 50.
- Cambridge English Certificate in Advanced English (CAE) – Minimum 176 with no skill below 169 in any component.
Students who do not meet the requirements listed above will be offered the option to take pre-sessional English language training in the Summer semester in our Pathway English program, as long as they meet the minimum requirements to join Pathway Intermediate (IELTS 5.5 or equivalent). The cost for this program is 50,000,000 VND (~2,000 USD), to be paid by the student.
If you have an IELTS or other recognized English test which meets the minimum requirements, you can be exempted from taking Pathway English in the Summer semester and go directly into the Fall semester (as long as you meet the other entry requirements.)
If you do not have an international English test result like IELTS, you can take VinUni’s official English placement test to determine if you are ready for Pathway English in the Summer semester and, if so, which level you will study. We will offer this test to students who are shortlisted for admission to a VinUni program. Students must take the test before they can be offered admission. The scores from this test will be used to make the final decision regarding the offer of admission.
If you are a native English speaker or currently studies at a high school in an English speaking country (US, UK) and fluent in English, but you do not possess IELTS or TOEFL test result, we will ask you to take an English placement test as part of the Admission decision making process.
All students at VinUniversity, regardless of their English proficiency, will also study one compulsory composition and academic skills course in the first year. There are also a range of elective communication courses (as part of the Minor in Communication) available to interested students to help improve a range of skills.
*For CHS students, the clinical placements will be in local healthcare institutions. Students are expected to communicate well and use medical terms in Vietnamese fluently. Therefore, some components of the curriculum will be delivered in Vietnamese, including, but not limited to, the interactions with patients, clinical faculty, and staff. Students, who do not speak Vietnamese, are expected to enhance their Vietnamese proficiency before they start clinical practices.
Outbound electives: There will be opportunities for students to undertake placements in their areas of interest around Vietnam, Asia Pacific region as well as globally. While VinUniversity will be maintaining a database for all the placement opportunities, we may also be able to facilitate the exchange programs at other places based on student interest and the discussion with host institution. Inbound electives: Please send an application with tentative dates to mdeducation@vinuni.edu.vn. The application must be accompanied with a short cv and a letter of good standing from the institution where applicant is enrolled.
In order to build required competency across the essential aspects of the students’ medical education, we will require all students to take and successfully complete a certain set of foundational courses. The curriculum also allows students to choose electives throughout their six-year program. These electives provide an opportunity to explore areas of interest in the basic or clinical sciences, research-or interdisciplinary areas such as business, engineering or computer science.
Yes and No.
The MD course at VinUniversity is developed to meet national and international standards for doctors and will prepare our graduates to be successful in meeting the highest international requirements. Getting a degree from a medical school does not, however, automatically give graduates the ability to practice medicine. Most countries require medical school graduates to pass a licensing exam designed to assess competency in the contest of that country’s requirements. These requirements vary by country, and they are beyond our control. Each graduate will be responsible for ensuring that s/he complies with the requirements of the country in which s/he wishes to practice medicine.
Passion to serve humanity, intelligence and procedural and communication skills. In short, head, hand and heart i.e. three Hs.
Throughout the MD program, you will be supported and coached by VInUni faculty and staff in your learning journey. A critical part of learning and development is the quality of the feedback that students receive, and whether that feedback helps their growth as competent and confident medical doctors. We will provide feedback in a variety of settings, some of which are mentioned below:
- Through self-assessment exercises, in courses. These are not graded, rather designed for each student to assess their own progress and seek help as needed, or adjust their learning strategies.
- Through your peers/facilitators: you will be working in teams and groups, which will be facilitated by experienced faculty and academic staff. You and your team-mates will work together to give each other constructive feedback for mutual learning and growth.
- Patients (real and standardized): right from the beginning of your medical training, we will expose you to real patients and real-life like simulations where you will have the opportunity to respond to real situations that might confront a clinician. Your interaction with these patients will be a rich source of learning and feedback for you.
- Program Director and academic advisors: of course, your faculty, academic advisors and program directors will monitor your progress and give you feedback as you need, to ensure that you continue to progress in your program.
This is not an unusual fear, but rest assured, your clinical training and interaction with real patients will be closely supervised and your decisions will be made in close consultation with experienced clinicians and medical staff. We will take all steps necessary to ensure the safety of patients as well as our students, as this is our paramount priority. To provide students with training in conducting medical procedures or handling real-life patient situations, VinUniversity has a state-of-the-art simulation center where students will get experience in simulated scenarios. Gradually, as you develop and demonstrate competency in clinical and patient interaction skills, the supervision level may decrease, allowing you to develop the confidence needed to practice as a doctor.
Yes. Once in a while you will get stressed. The VinUni program is rigorous and designed to train you to be an excellent doctor: this means that you will have homework and deadlines, and successes and some failures.; it can feel intense at times This is true of any academic program.
The best way to deal with stress is to have a life outside MD program, avoid unhealthy habits, get involved with student clubs, enjoy sports, take time for yourself to rest and relax, take advantage of the academic and other student support services that will be offered to you, and if nothing else, a walk through VinUni campus is definitely going to lift your mood.
It is very unlikely that students will have a clear idea about the speciality they wish to pursue after graduation. Even if they do, there is a high likelihood that they will change their minds as they progress in their education, get exposed to other areas and possibilities and develop new interests. Your clinical placements will also serve as an orientation to the different specialties; this will give you some idea about your interests in various disciplines. We will also host career talks and provide opportunities for interactions with postgraduate trainees enrolled in residency programs.
You will be attending clinical placements at Vinmec hospitals and other top hospitals in Vietnam, such as the Military Hospital 1O8 and the Children’s Hospital in Hanoi. Graduates of the VinUniversity MD program will have the opportunity to work at Vinmec hospitals and enroll in the residency program. However, there is no requirement that they must work at VINMEC chain of hospitals. Graduates are free to seek jobs and opportunities at other hospitals, both in Vietnam and abroad.
VinUniversity strongly advocates for entrepreneurship and multi-disciplinary education. This will allow students to explore different areas and come up with ideas that can potentially be great start ups. Entrepreneurial mindset is one of the required courses at VinUniversity. This will be further facilitated through collaborations with various VinGroup entities, especially VINMEC, and provide students with a nurturing environment for developing their ideas into real start-up opportunities.
MD Program is taught primarily in English in years 1 and 2 of the pre-clinical phase. As students move to their third year and approach clinical rotations, patients and health professionals will interact in Vietnamese so we expect students to be proficient in Vietnamese written and spoken language. VinUni will offer Vietnamese language courses, but students will also need to be proactive to learn the language well before they interact with patients in the clinical setting.