About the Vietnamese-German University

The Vietnamese-German University (VGU), which had its official opening celebrations on the 10th September 2008 in Ho Chi Minh City, is a Vietnamese state university. In its academic and administrative structures it follows the German model and standards. This takes place in close collaboration with well-known German universities. In February 2009 they organised themselves into the “VGU Consortium” which will provide long term support to VGU. Over the next few years there will be a joint effort to develop and offer a comprehensive catalogue of courses and programs leading to Bachelor's, Master's and PhD degrees. The development of VGU will receive significant financial support from the Vietnamese government, the German federal government as well as the Hessian state government and DAAD.

In the first year of its existence, the university started with 32 students in the bachelor program "Electrical Engineering and Information Technology" which is designed and guided by the University of Applied Science in Frankfurt/Main, Germany. Since October 2009, three additional Master's programs have been offered by the VGU and its German partner universities. All VGU graduates will receive a German degree certificate.

The courses of VGU will have a focus on technical subjects and the natural sciences. To a lesser degree, courses in other areas such as Economics and Business will be offered. The language of teaching at VGU is English, although all students will learn German alongside their regular studies.

VGU's strategy is to take excellent German programs of study and offer them in Vietnam. A modern education, based on today's needs, and a close connection of the university to the German economy, provides the graduates with excellent opportunities on the job-market.

Beyond that, VGU sees itself as a gateway to Germany: In some of the courses, a semester is taught in Germany. In others, there is an opportunity for the best graduates to continue with postgraduate courses, either Master's or PhD, at a university in Germany or directly at the VGU. A further long-term goal of VGU, again in collaboration with its German partners, is to train and integrate Vietnamese university lecturers to an excellent standard.

VGU is a young university and has been given the mission by the Vietnamese government to become one of the leading research universities in Vietnam within the next few years. This is why we make it possible for good students to study at challenging courses and research programs, which have an international orientation, and deliver them in their home country. Moderate tuition fees and performance based scholarships are a further part of our strategy towards excellence.

VGU - a very young University

November 2006: Initial idea of Vietnamese Minister for Education and Training, Prof. Dr. Nguyẽn Thiện Nhân and the Hessen State Minister of Higher Education, Research and the Arts, Udo Corts.

May 2007: Memorandum of Understanding with German Federal President Horst Köhler present on the occasion.

March 2008: Founding of VGU and nomination of Prof. Wolf Rieck as first president.

September 2008: Opening of VGU and enrolment of the first 35 students.

February 2009: The German partner universities establish the VGU Consortium.

October 2009: VGU opens three Master's Programmes.