The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) launches Full-time Doctoral Research Program.

19 Feb, 2025

With the motto “Continuous innovation to pioneer,” the UEH community relentlessly strives to break through and assert the uniqueness of the UEH brand on Vietnam’s education market while elevating its international position, ready to conquer new knowledge heights. UEH pioneers the development of a Multidisciplinary and Sustainable University, setting a strategic roadmap with the goal of reaching the Top 250 in Asia for the 2025-2030 period and further advancing to the Top 150 in Asia by 2030-2045 period. On this journey, UEH continuously enhances its capabilities, develops its workforce, and attracts talented young scholars to build a strong next generation.

WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND?

- The Full-time Doctoral research program at UEH is an optimal choice for those aspiring to pursue academia, enhance their expertise, and integrate into the global research community. This program offers the opportunity to fully concentrate on learning and research, improving dissertation quality, increasing scientific publications, and expanding academic networks through participation in research groups, scientific conferences, and international collaborations. With a modern academic ecosystem, experienced lecturers, and a rigorous research environment, UEH provides doctoral candidates with ideal conditions to comprehensively develop their research and teaching skills.

- UEH is committed to providing comprehensive assistance for full-time doctoral candidates with a 100% tuition fee waiver, monthly income, accommodation support, health insurance, and research funding. In addition to research, doctoral candidates (PhD students) also have opportunities to teach, instruct students, and engage in applied research, helping candidates develop teaching, leadership, and career advancement skills. The rights and responsibilities of participants within research groups are governed by UEH’s current policies, ensuring sustainable development in education and scientific research.

- Notably, after graduation, PhD students can become full-time lecturers or researchers at UEH, contributing to the development of high-quality human resources to meet the demands of research and education in the modern academic ecosystem. With the above-mentioned benefits, the Full-time Doctoral Research Program at UEH stands as the top choice for aspiring scholars seeking to advance their expertise and integrate into the global academic community.

CONTRACT AND RECRUITMENT QUOTA

- Full-time PhD candidates (foreign nationals) will sign a contract with UEH under a Scholarship Funding Agreement.

- The annual recruitment quota is approximately 07-08 students.

THE DURATION OF THE FULL-TIME DOCTORAL STUDENT CONTRACT RANGES FROM 36 TO 48 MONTHS.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

- Vietnamese and international PhD students studying and conducting research at UEH are eligible to apply. This program does not apply to PhD students from Laos, Cambodia, or those sent for study and research under intergovernmental agreements.

REQUIREMENTS

- Applicants must meet the following requirements to be considered for the program:

+ Hold a master’s degree and secure admission to UEH’s doctoral training program with a research proposal scored at least 16/20.

+ Have a minimum of three years remaining within the standard training duration.

+ Commit to working full-time at UEH.

+ Meet English proficiency standards.

+ Meet standards for scientific research capacity.

+ Priority is given to candidates who have 01 Professor/Associate Professor from UEH writing a letter of recommendation and agreeing to instruct if admitted.

For detailed application requirements, see here.

- Applicants must fully meet the following criteria:

+ Hold a master's degree and have been admitted to the PhD program at UEH, with a research proposal evaluation score of at least 16/20 in the entrance assessment.

+ Be under 40 years old at the time of application.

+ Have a minimum of three years remaining within the standard training duration.

+ Commit to full-time work at UEH: Must not be employed full-time elsewhere or must complete the resignation process at their current workplace before being officially recruited as a full-time doctoral student at UEH.

- English Proficiency Requirements:

+ Hold a bachelor’s or master’s degree from a foreign university where English, was the language of instruction (recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam); or
+ Possess an English proficiency certificate: TOEFL iBT score of 65 or higher (Home Edition not accepted), or IELTS Academic score of 6.0 or higher, issued within two years before the application deadline by accredited testing organizations.

- Scientific Research Competency Requirements: Must be the first author of at least 1 peer-reviewed scientific paper relevant to the PhD field, published in an internationally recognized journal within 36 months before the application date (Predatory journals and those listed in Beall’s list are not accepted). Preference is given to candidates with publications in ISI or Scopus-indexed journals.

Additionally, priority is given to applicants who obtain a recommendation letter from a UEH professor or associate professor who agrees to be their supervisor upon admission.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF FULL-TIME DOCTORAL STUDENTS

- Full-time Doctoral students sign an employment contract (for Vietnamese candidates) or a scholarship agreement (for international candidates) with UEH, collectively referred to as the Full-time Doctoral student contract. They are responsible for:

+ Committing to full-time work as required.

+ Fulfilling academic and professional obligations.

+ Meeting international publication requirements.

+ Complying with UEH’s regulations, policies, and code of conduct for staff, employees, and students.

+ Fulfilling reimbursement obligations as stipulated.

For detailed responsibilities, see here.

Responsibilities of doctoral candidates include:

1. Ensuring work commitment

- Full-time PhD students must work 40 hours per week at UEH campuses. Their working hours are dedicated to academic tasks, PhD training requirements, and opportunities for teaching, research, and other academic activities.

- Besides coursework and off-campus academic duties, full-time doctoral students must conduct research on-site at their designated workspace within their faculty/institute during office hours.

2. Completing academic and institutional responsibilities

- Complete the PhD program on schedule, with annual progress tracking aligned with UEH's PhD curriculum framework.

- Fully participate in departmental academic seminars as required.

- Undertake additional tasks assigned by the faculty/institute, aligned with their expertise and available working hours.

3. Fulfilling International Publication Requirements

- From the contract signing until before the dissertation defense at the institutional level, full-time doctoral students must publish at least two papers in Web of Science (SSCI, SCIE) Q3 journals or Scopus Q1 journals. The contribution of each student will be proportionally assessed based on the number of co-authors. These required publications are not eligible for international publication funding/rewards from UEH.
Publications must meet the following criteria:

+ The full-time PhD student must co-author with at least one UEH faculty/staff member. All UEH-affiliated authors must properly cite UEH as their institution.

+ Research publications must comply with UEH’s academic integrity policies, be relevant to UEH’s research fields, and must not be published in predatory publishers, Beall’s List journals, hijacked journals, or non-reputable publishers.

+ Each published paper must acknowledge support from UEH's Full-time Doctoral Research Program in the "Acknowledgment" section.

4. Adhering to UEH Policies and Academic Culture

- Follow UEH’s regulations, codes of conduct, and ethical standards for faculty, staff, and students.

- Fulfill all general duties of doctoral students as per UEH’s training regulations.

5. Complying with Financial Reimbursement Obligations

BENEFITS OF FULL-TIME DOCTORAL STUDENTS

- Full-time doctoral students are considered UEH employees and are entitled to the following support policies and opportunities:

+ 100% tuition fee waiver.

+ Income, allowances, and welfare benefits.

+ Accommodation support.

+ Workplace arrangements.

+ Financial support for research projects and international publications.

+ Opportunities to participate in teaching and other professional activities with additional income.

+ Full access to UEH’s academic resources and information.

+ Opportunities to join research groups at UEH.

For detailed support policies and benefits, see here.

1. Tuition Fee Scholarship

- Full-time PhD students are entitled to a 100% tuition fee waiver at UEH (equivalent to the tuition fee of the standard PhD program, excluding joint programs and evening courses) for the standard training period.

2. Income, Allowances, and Welfare Policies

- Full-time PhD students receive a fixed monthly income, including:

- Minimum regional salary (Region I), adjusted annually according to government regulations.

- Monthly advance of 4.2 million VND to support international publication efforts.

- Holiday and Tet bonuses as per UEH's internal spending regulations and receive annual health insurance coverage provided by UEH.

3. Accommodation Support

- PhD students from outside Ho Chi Minh City or suburban districts can request free on-campus accommodation at UEH dormitories during the standard training period.

- This cannot be converted into cash if not used.

- If a PhD student wishes to stay with their family, UEH will provide accommodation (subject to availability) at its housing facilities. UEH covers costs equivalent to a single dormitory unit, with the student responsible for any additional expenses.

4. Workspace Allocation

- Full-time doctoral students are provided with office space comparable to that of faculty members in their respective faculties or institutes.

5. Research Funding and International Publications Support

- Full-time doctoral students receive research funding and publication support at the same level as UEH faculty members.

- However, to qualify for this support, doctoral students must co-author publications with UEH faculty or staff.

6. Funding and rewards for international publications are only granted after the student fulfills their mandatory publication requirements.

- Teaching and Professional Activities with Additional Income

- After successfully defending their detailed research proposal and receiving approval from their supervisor and faculty/institute, PhD students can engage in teaching and other paid academic activities at UEH.

- Compensation is based on UEH’s internal spending regulations, equivalent to the salary of full-time faculty members.

- Faculty/institutes are responsible for ensuring that PhD students meet the necessary qualifications and must oversee their teaching and professional activities.

- The maximum teaching workload is 135 standard hours per year and is only assigned to PhD students who are making satisfactory academic progress.

7. Access to UEH academic resources

- Full-time PhD students have full access to UEH's academic resources, necessary information, and support to fulfill their program obligations.

8. Opportunities to Join Research Groups

- Full-time doctoral students are prioritized and encouraged to join UEH research groups, collaborating with instructors and UEH faculty members.

- Their rights and responsibilities within research groups will follow UEH’s current doctoral research policies.

IMPLEMENTATION PLAN

- Full-time doctoral students are required to develop an annual plan and submit a year-end report on their progress. This serves as the basis for continuation into the next academic year or contract termination in the final year if all requirements have been met. The report must be reviewed and approved/confirmed by the instructor (if assigned), the faculty/institute, and the UEH Department of Training.

Implementation plan for full-time doctoral students by year:

- Year 1: Complete supplementary courses (if applicable) and doctoral coursework; draft 1–2 research papers as part of publication requirements.

- Year 2: Conduct at least one UEH-funded research project; defend the detailed research proposal; complete the literature review essay and two doctoral seminars; fulfill 25% to 50% of the workload required for publication requirements.

- Year 3: Present the dissertation at the faculty/institute and, if possible, proceed with the institution-level dissertation defense; finalize drafts of remaining papers for publication.

- Year 4: Defend the dissertation at the institution level (if not completed in Year 3); undergo independent review; complete the final dissertation defense; fulfill international publication requirements.

HOW TO APPLY?

- Candidates who have been admitted to UEH’s PhD program and wish to join the Full-time Doctoral Research program are invited to apply by registering here or scanning the QR code below.

APPLICATION PROCESS

CONTACT US

Human Resources and Organization Development Department

The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH)

Hotline: 028.7306.1976 (ext 2014) or 0382.522.688

Email: hod@ueh.edu.vn

Website: hod.ueh.edu.vn