Strong IELTS scores and high academic results are no longer always sufficient for Vietnamese students seeking direct entry into international undergraduate programmes, as more universities increasingly require foundation qualifications to assess academic preparedness.
The trend is becoming more pronounced as growing numbers of Vietnamese families pursue international education pathways, either overseas or through foreign degree programmes delivered in Vietnam.Le Vy Anh, a Grade 12 student in Hanoi with an IELTS score of 7.5 and strong academic performance, initially believed she was well positioned to apply directly to leading universities in the U.K. However, her family later learned that many institutions still required additional academic preparation through a foundation programme.Education specialists say the requirement reflects differences between Vietnam's secondary education system and the academic expectations of many international universities.Rather than functioning as English-language courses or repetitions of high school material, foundation programmes are designed to help students transition into university-level learning environments. Coursework often focuses on academic reading, essay writing, critical thinking, research methods, independent learning, and analytical skills.
