DECREE

AUTONOMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS; FINANCIAL MECHANISMS APPLICABLE TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION; NATIONAL KEY FULL-TIME DOCTORAL TRAINING PROGRAM

Pursuant to the Law on Government Organization No. 63/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Higher Education No. 125/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Vocational Education No. 124/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Law on Educators No. 73/2025/QH15;

Pursuant to the Resolution No. 248/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on some special and extra policies and mechanisms for achievement of breakthrough development in education and training;

At the request of the Minister of Education and Training;

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Chapter I

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1. Scope

This Decree provides for autonomy of higher education institutions and vocational education institutions; financial mechanisms applicable to higher education and vocational education; and national key full-time doctoral training program.

Article 2. Regulated entities

1. This Decree applies to:

a) Higher education institutions and vocational education institutions (hereinafter referred to as “educational institutions”);

b) Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and People's Committees of provinces and central-affiliated cities (hereinafter referred to as “provincial People's Committees”)

c) Enterprises, organizations, and individuals participating in training, commissioning of training, sponsorship, or support for education;

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2. Educational institutions established under international treaties between the Government of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam and foreign governments shall comply with regulations of such international treaties and specific rules promulgated by the Prime Minister. In case international treaties and specific rules do not contain relevant regulations, the regulations of this Decree shall apply.

3. Educational institutions under the Ministry of National Defence and the Ministry of Public Security shall exercise autonomy in accordance with the Law on Higher Education No. 125/2025/QH15, the Law on Vocational Education No. 124/2025/QH15, and regulations issued by the Minister of National Defence and the Minister of Public Security.

4. Vietnam National University, Hanoi and Vietnam National University, Ho Chi Minh City shall apply regulations of this Decree and the Decree on functions, tasks, and powers of national universities. In case of any discrepancies, regulations of the Decree on functions, tasks, and powers of national universities shall apply.

Article 3. Principles

1. The exercise of autonomy by educational institutions shall be associated with accountability, be public and transparent, and maintain educational quality as prescribed by law.

2. The allocation of state budget to higher education and vocational education shall be based on specific mission, quality, and efficiency in operations conducted by each educational institution.

3. The State shall prioritize investment and support for training in professions and fields that are prioritized; strategic professions; basic science; high technologies; strategic technologies; key professions; professions with limited private investment; and extremely disadvantaged areas as prescribed by law.

4. Delegate jurisdiction, enhance inspection and supervision, and apply information technology and digital transformation to management and organization of the exercise of autonomy and operation of financial mechanisms for educational institutions.

5. Ensure healthy and equal competition in access to State policies, resources, and support mechanisms among educational institutions as prescribed by law.

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Chapter II

AUTONOMY OF HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

Article 4. Autonomy in higher education and vocational education

1. Educational institutions shall exercise autonomy in higher education and vocational education as prescribed by law; the exercise of autonomy shall be associated with accountability, ensure the quality, be public and transparent in organization and operation, and be subject to inspection, examination and supervision by competent authorities.

2. Educational institutions shall have autonomy in formulation and development of training programs, including:

a) Decision on the formulation and approval of training programs, except for the cases specified in clause 2, Article 24 of the Law on Higher Education No. 125/2025/QH15, doctoral training programs regulated by the Ministry of Education and Training, and training programs in the fields of national defence and security as prescribed by law; and fulfillment of responsibility for maintenance of quality assurance conditions of such training programs;

b) Decision on learning outcomes, structure and content of training programs; methods of teaching, testing, and assessment of learning outcomes in accordance with the corresponding training program standards;

c) Decision on compilation, selection, and use of textbooks, learning materials, digital learning materials, training platforms, and other learning resources, except for shared textbooks of compulsory subjects and modules as prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training in accordance with regulations of the law on intellectual property and academic integrity, without containing any content that adversely affects culture, history, politics, or sovereignty over seas and islands of Viet Nam;

d) Periodical review and updating of training programs in conformity with development requirements; public disclosure of results of updating and report as prescribed.

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a) Decision on scale, methods, and criteria for admission in alignment with capacity and requirements for assurance of quality;

b) Decision on forms, methods, and plans for organization of training in accordance with training program standards and quality assurance requirements;

c) Recognition of academic results and conversion of credits and development of flexible learning models serving lifelong learning;

d) Organization of training associated with science, technology, and innovation, community service, and labor market demands;

dd) Application of information technology and digital transformation to organization and management of training, and development of training through digital environment.

e) Organization of training and refresher training, issuance of diplomas/degrees and certificates, and fulfillment of responsibility for the legality and validity of diplomas/degrees and certificates issued by the institutions.

4. Educational institutions shall take charge of educational quality assurance and accreditation as prescribed by law, including:

a) Establishment, operation and improvement of internal quality assurance system as prescribed;

b) Self-assessment of educational institutions and their training programs; public disclosure of results and improvement of quality;

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5. Educational institutions shall have autonomy in domestic and international cooperation and joint training as prescribed by law, including:

a) Decision on cooperation in training, science, technology, and innovation with other educational institutions, organizations, and enterprises;

b) Organization of joint training, recognition of learning outcomes, credit transfer, learner exchange, and development of education and training through digital environment;

c) Recruitment and employment of domestic and foreign lecturers, scientists, and experts;

d) Cooperation in investment in development of campuses, research institutions, innovation centers, and other educational, scientific, and technological models as prescribed by law;

dd) Assurance of quality of training, protection of the lawful rights and interests of learners; public disclosure of information, accountability, and reporting as prescribed by law.

6. Educational institutions shall be responsible for updating, managing, storing, and providing data; complying with regulations on reporting; and shall be inspected and supervised as prescribed by law.

Article 5. Autonomy in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation

1. Educational institutions shall have autonomy in development and organization the performance of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation tasks; management, exploitation, and development of resources and data for science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as prescribed by law. The application of risk acceptance mechanism to science, technology, and innovation shall comply with regulations of law on science, technology, and innovation.

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In case international conferences and seminars contain contents related to national defence, national security, national sovereignty, ethnicity, religion, belief, human rights, state secrets, international cooperation on law and judicial reform, or involve participants who must report to or obtain permission from competent authorities as prescribed by law, the regulations of relevant laws shall apply.

3. Educational institutions may decide to operate sandbox mechanisms for digital education models, educational technology (EdTech), artificial intelligence applications, and innovative startup activities according to schemes approved by competent authorities; they shall be entitled to application of regulations on legal liability exemption and shall comply with regulations of Article 22 of the Law on Science, Technology, and Innovation No. 93/2025/QH15 and the Government's Decree No. 353/2025/ND-CP dated December 31, 2025.

Article 6. Autonomy in organizational structure and personnel

1. Public educational institutions shall exercise autonomy in organizational structure and personnel in accordance with relevant laws, including:

a) Promulgation of regulations on organization and operation of educational institutions; decision on organizational structure, establishment, reorganization, and dissolution of affiliated and subordinate units; decision on job positions and the number of working personnel within the scope of autonomy schemes and development strategies approved by competent authorities and in alignment with regulations on organization and operation as promulgated; public disclosure of, report on, and fulfillment of responsibilities for the decisions of public educational institutions;

b) Decision on the approval of job positions, the number of working personnel, and the management of public employees of educational institutions as prescribed; allocation of the number of deputies according to autonomy schemes of educational institutions approved by competent authorities as prescribed; and decision on appointment of the chief accountants or allocation of persons in charge of accounting;

c) Regarding public employee positions under their management, decisions on recruitment, assessment, and classification of public employees; appointment, reappointment, delegation of jurisdiction, assignment of persons in charge, extension of terms of office, relief from positions, suspension, termination of positions, resignation, dismissal, mobilization, and rotation; approval of planning; appointment of public employees to training and refresher training; termination of employment, and job transfer; disciplinary actions; allocation, assignment of work, and change of job positions; payment of salary; annual leave, unpaid leave, retirement, and social insurance; and management of public employee records as prescribed.

2. Educational institutions shall promulgate and organize the implementation of internal regulations on organizational structure and personnel; and exercise the autonomy in organizational structure and personnel as prescribed by law.

3. Educational institutions shall be responsible for updating, managing, and synchronizing data on public employees and employees with the national database and databases as prescribed

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1. Educational institutions shall have the autonomy in their revenues, expenditures, distribution of money, use of after-tax profits, management of assets, capital raising, and investment in accordance with regulations of laws on enterprises, investment, tax, and other relevant laws.

2. Public educational institutions’ mechanisms for autonomy in management and use of financial resources:

a) Educational institutions shall decide the use of financial resources as prescribed to serve training, scientific research, and infrastructure development in accordance with internal regulations on investment, finances, and assets, on the basis of compliance with regulations of relevant laws;

b) Expenditures include payments for salaries, wages, increased income, bonuses, and other incentives on the basis of job positions and efficiency; outstanding remuneration mechanisms for hiring domestic and foreign experts and scientists; expenditures on professional and operational activities; expenditures on services, management of operations; expenditures on investment, renovation, upgradation, repair, and maintenance of infrastructure, and procurement of assets and equipment; payments for interests on expenditures financed from lawful loans, and other lawful expenditures as prescribed by law.

c) Expenditures specified in point b of this clause must be itemized in terms of expenditure items, standards, and expenditure norms to be applied uniformly in internal expenditure regulations of educational institutions;

d) The entire budget use process must strictly adhere to the principles of public disclosure, transparency, and operational efficiency, ensure output quality and meet the schedule for completion of the assigned tasks.

3. Distribution of money at the end of year of public educational institutions

a) After fully accounting for all reasonable and valid expenditures and fulfilling financial obligations to state budget in accordance with regulations, the excess revenue over expenditure shall be used to establish funds and used in accordance with the Government's regulations on financial autonomy mechanism of public service providers;

b) Educational institutions shall decide to give priority to the focused use of resources from funds to invest in strategic professions, fields, basic science, and high technologies as specified in this Decree

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a) Educational institutions shall be classified in terms of financial autonomy based on levels of full self-coverage of recurrent expenditures, partial self-coverage of recurrent expenditures, or full coverage of recurrent expenditures by the State;

b) Public educational institutions that self-cover their recurrent expenditures shall operate the autonomy mechanism designated for public service providers that self-cover both recurrent and investment expenditures in accordance with regulations of law. Policies on tuition fees and service prices in the field of education and training shall continue to be executed in accordance with the Government's regulations on tuition fees, exemption from, reduction, financial support for tuition fees, and, learning cost support, and service prices in the field of education and training.

c) The application of the financial autonomy mechanism must be consistent with functions, tasks, fields of training, potential for private investment, national human resource development requirements, and the socio-economic development strategy.

d) The State shall operate mechanisms for support, investment, commissioning, and assignment of tasks for key professions, basic science, high technology, and professions with limited admission but high job demand; commission training for beneficiaries of policies and for national development tasks as prescribed in this Decree, regardless of the level of financial autonomy of educational institutions.

5. Mobilization, receipt, and management of legitimate domestic and foreign resources of public educational institutions

a) Educational institutions shall proactively apply for concessional loans from credit institutions, state off-budget financial funds, and other lawful capital sources; develop mechanisms to attract enterprises and investors to sponsor and invest in the development of physical facilities, digital infrastructure, digital learning materials, specialized laboratories, innovation centers, libraries, dormitories, and learner support services, with priority given to training institutions that have not yet met these conditions; and decide the list, scale, and methods of mobilizing and using resources in conformity with the units’ development strategies and be responsible for efficiency in investment;

b) Educational institutions shall have the autonomy to appeal for and receive grant aid, sponsorships, and gifts in cash or in-kind, digital assets, intellectual property rights, technologies, data, software, services, and other legitimate assets from domestic and foreign organizations, individuals, and juridical persons to improve the conditions for assurance of training quality and scientific research;

c) Educational institutions shall decide the use of their legitimate financial sources to invest in quality assurance, scientific research, innovation, technology transfer, and promotion of the development of the startup ecosystem in accordance with regulations of law; the Enterprise Science and Technology Development Fund must be used within the scope, with appropriate content, for the right target group, and meeting expenditure conditions prescribed by the law on science, technology, and innovation.

d) The mobilization, management, and use of resources must be efficient, develop a debt loan repayment plan, and must be public and transparent without giving rise to debt obligations towards state budget, unless otherwise prescribed by law.

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a) Tax and land incentives: Educational institutions shall enjoy incentive policies on taxes and land in accordance with regulations of laws on tax and land;

b) Credit incentives: Projects on investment in construction of modern laboratories, practice workshops, and innovation facilities aimed at improving education quality shall be prioritized for inclusion in the list of investment and lending sectors, and shall be eligible for interest rates for incentives loans from Local Development Investment Funds and other legitimate capital sources when meeting lending conditions imposed by Local Development Investment Funds;

c) Technology incentives: Public-private partnership investments in the development of digital infrastructure and synchronous digital platforms serving educational digital transformation shall be eligible for incentive and support policies in accordance with regulations of laws on investment, digital technology industry, tax, and other relevant laws.

7. Management of public property; standards and norms for the use of specialized machinery, equipment, and specialized areas; economic-technical norms, and norms for expenses paid for education and training services provided by public educational institutions

a) The head of the educational institution shall decide the use of public property under his/her management to participate in the public-private partnership investment project; approve the Scheme for using public property under his/her management for business, lease, joint venture, and association purposes, according to the principles of management and use of public property as prescribed; and report to the immediate superior management authority for consolidation and monitoring;

b) The head of the educational institution shall decide standards and norms for the use of specialized machinery, equipment, and specialized areas; economic-technical norms and norms for expenses paid for education and training services, in an economical and efficient manner, for the proper purposes and functions, for the right target groups, according to standards, norms, and regimes as prescribed by law; and report to the immediate superior management authority for consolidation and monitoring;

c) Educational institutions shall be responsible for managing and using public property in accordance with regulations of the Government; managing and applying standards and norms for the use of specialized machinery, equipment, and specialized areas; economic-technical norms and norms for expenses paid for education and training services in accordance with regulations of the Government and the Prime Minister, in an economical and efficient manner, for the proper purposes and functions, for the right target groups, according to standards, norms, and regimes as prescribed by law; and shall report to the immediate superior management authority for consolidation, monitoring, inspection, and supervision as prescribed.

8. Responsibilities for public disclosure, transparency, and accountability

a) Formulating, promulgating, and organizing the implementation of internal regulations on investment, finances, and assets of educational institutions as prescribed; maintaining democracy, public disclosure, and transparency;

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c) Transparent use of the funds: Establishment, management, and use of the funds prescribed in clause 3 of this Article must be internally controlled, publicly disclosed in writing to all public employees, and employees, and included in the units’ annual reports;

d) Accountability: The head of the educational institution shall ensure accountability to the managing authority, the competent state management agency, learners, and society for the efficiency in use of budget sources as commissioned; the legitimacy of domestic and foreign resources mobilized; and the results of final accounts of all expenditures assigned and linked to the quality of outputs;

dd) Shared data system: All publicly disclosed data on finance, public property, and economic-technical norms must be accurately and synchronously updated to the specialized national database system as prescribed, to serve inspection, examination, and supervision.

Chapter III

FINANCIAL MECHANISMS APPLICALE TO HIGHER EDUCATION AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION

Article 8. Principles and mechanisms for allocation of state budget

The state budget for higher education and vocational education shall be allocated in accordance with the principles prescribed in the Law on Education No. 43/2019/QH14, the Law on amendments to some Articles of the Law on Education No. 123/2025/QH15, the Law on State Budget No. 89/2025/QH15, other relevant laws, and specific regulations as follows:

1. Criteria for the allocation of funding for investment, support, commissioning, and assignment of tasks from state budget:

a) The priority shall be given to educational institutions assigned to perform national strategic tasks, regional development tasks, or key sector and field development tasks in accordance with the decisions issued by competent authorities;

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c) It must be based on scale, quality, and efficiency as committed and included in the objectives of the schemes, projects, or contracts for commissioning and assignment of tasks; and governance capacity, results of disbursement, and implementation of such schemes, projects, or contracts for commissioning and assignment of tasks.

2. Learners in some professions and fields shall be considered for selection and financial support from state budget based on the following criteria:

a) Training programs, key training professions and fields that are prioritized for support from the state budget as approved by competent authorities.

b) Jurisdiction, academic results, training results, and post-graduation career development potential, meeting human resource training objectives.

3. State budget shall fully or partially cover funding for human resource training in a number of professions and fields through the mechanisms prescribed in this Decree.

Article 9. Mechanisms for state budget support provided for learners in a number of professions and fields

1. Mechanisms for financially supporting learners in teacher and lecturer training programs shall comply with specific regulations of the Government on support policies on tuition fees and living expenses for pedagogical students.

2. Mechanisms for financially supporting learners in training programs for professions in the fields of arts and physical education and sports, included in the list promulgated by the Minister of Education and Training, shall be applied in the same manner as regulations applicable to learners in teacher training programs.

3. Mechanisms for financially supporting target groups under high-quality human resource training programs and schemes approved by the Prime Minister shall be applied in accordance with the Government's regulations on scholarship policies for learners in basic science, key engineering, and strategic technology disciplines.  Specific target groups include:

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b) Learners in basic science, key engineering, strategic technology disciplines, and other priority professions/ disciplines included in the list promulgated by the Minister of Education and Training as prescribed;

c) Learners in full-time doctoral training programs prescribed under this Decree and approved by the Minister of Education and Training, other than those prescribed under points a and b of this clause. Such learners shall be eligible for the same scholarship as those designated for research students in key engineering disciplines prescribed under point b of this clause.

d) Learners prescribed under clause 3 of this Article shall only be entitled to a single scholarship policy corresponding to each respective learner.

4. Mechanisms for financially supporting learners in specific professions/disciplines, or professions/disciplines essential for national socio-economic development but difficult in attraction of learners, are prescribed as follows:

a) The list of professions/disciplines is issued by the Minister of Education and Training;

b) Such mechanisms are applied to learners at educational institutions;

c) Learners shall be provided with financial support for tuition fees equivalent to the actual tuition fees charged by the educational institution, which must not exceed the tuition fee ceiling applied to public educational institutions as prescribed by the Government corresponding to the respective educational level, training level, and profession/discipline.

Article 10. Mechanisms for management and making of final accounts of funding provided for learners

1. Preparation of estimates

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a) Public educational institutions shall prepare estimates of funding for implementation of the policies prescribed in Article 9 of this Decree, and include them in their general budget expenditure estimates to be submitted to the superior management authority as prescribed;

b) Private educational institutions shall be responsible for fully and promptly providing data on the projected number of learners eligible for support policies for the Department of Education and Training. The Department of Education and Training shall be responsible for reviewing and including such data in level-I budget estimate units’ general estimates to be submitted to the finance authority of the same level for submission to the competent authority;

c) Provincial People's Committees shall prepare estimates of funding to be included in local general state budget expenditure estimates, and send them to the Ministry of Finance and at the same time report state budget estimates for the planning year.

2. Allocation of estimate and provision of funding

a) Regarding public educational institutions, on the basis of state budget estimates assigned by competent authorities, ministries, central authorities, and provincial People's Committees shall allocate and assign estimates of funding for implementation of support policies to agencies, units, and public educational institutions under their management as prescribed;

b) Regarding private educational institutions, on the basis of state budget estimates assigned by competent authorities, provincial People's Committees shall allocate and assign estimates of funding for implementation of support policies to Departments of Education and Training to pay learners at private educational institutions.

3. Procedures for direct payment to bank accounts of learners

a) Within 30 days from the end of the annual actual admission process, learners who are eligible for the policies prescribed in Article 9 of this Decree shall send their own official bank account information and confirm the information on the system;

b) Within 15 days from the deadline for learners to submit their information, the public educational institution shall be responsible for organizing the review and approval, compiling a list of eligible learners along with their bank account numbers, handling duplicated support policies, and submitting the list to the State Treasury for direct payment to the bank accounts of the learners;

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d) The payment of scholarships and living expenses, and provision of financial support for tuitions, shall be made on a monthly basis and according to the number of months of actual study;

dd) Expenses on opening accounts and bank transfer service fees (if any) shall be covered by funding for recurrent expenditures incurred by agencies in charge of payment and must not be deducted from support funds and scholarships of learners;

e) In case a learner changes his/her bank account information, he/she must notify the educational institution in writing at least 10 working days prior to the next payment period for prompt system updates.

4. Management, use and making of final accounts of funding

a) Funding for implementation of support policies must be managed and used for the proper purposes, for the target beneficiaries, according to regimes and norms, and in accordance with the law on the state budget. Public educational institutions shall be responsible for monitoring and separately accounting for such funding;

b) In case a learner is disciplined in the form of forced expulsion, voluntarily drops out, fails to complete the training program, or changes his/her training program/profession; therefore, he/she is no longer an eligible beneficiary, the educational institution shall be responsible for ceasing the payment of support funds and handling surplus funding in accordance with regulations. Concurrently, the educational institution shall cooperate to determine, notify, and withdraw the reimbursement amount to be remitted back to state budget as prescribed;

c) Final accounts of funding for implementation of support policies shall be made annually in accordance with regulations of the law on state budget. Public educational institutions and Departments of Education and Training (regarding funding paid to learners at private educational institutions) shall be responsible for preparing financial settlements and submitting them to their immediate superior management authorities for appraisal and consolidation before submission to finance authorities of the same level. Any unused funding shall be handled in accordance with regulations of applicable laws.

Article 11. Mechanisms for commissioning and assignment of tasks for training based on learning outcomes

1. Competent state agencies, enterprises, and organizations (hereinafter referred to as agencies commissioning or assigning tasks) shall commission or assign training tasks to educational institutions based on learning outcomes.

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a) Competent state agencies shall assign training tasks to their subordinate public educational institutions; competent state agencies, enterprises, and organizations shall commission training from educational institutions having the appropriate capacity.

b) The selection of commissioning or assignment of training tasks must comply with the principles specified in this Article; the conclusion and execution of training contracts must be consistent with the requirements and results of provision of human resources, without being based on the number of admitted learners;

c) The mechanism for commissioning or assignment of tasks based on learning outcomes may be operated in combination with the student support mechanism for training programs specified in this Article, with a view to supporting educational institutions for maintenance of quality assurance conditions and improvement of training quality;

d) The mechanism for commissioning or assignment of tasks based on learning outcomes must not be operated simultaneously with other mechanisms for commissioning or assignment of tasks according to the Government’s regulations within the same training program;

d) The Ministry of Education and Training shall develop a digital platform to support commissioning and assignment of training tasks.

3. Funding sources

a) State budget: Funding shall be covered by central government budget and local government budgets for recurrent expenditures in accordance with application regulations on delegation of jurisdiction to manage state budget; task-assignment and commissioning funding shall only include support funds for training expenses, and exclude those for living expenses and scholarships directly paid to learners;

b) Funding granted by enterprises and organizations: Funding shall be covered by science and technology development funds, production and business capital, revenues from career activities, or other lawful financial resources provided by enterprises and organizations in accordance with regulations of law and internal financial regulations of the units;

4. Content, unit price, commissioning price, and task assignment funding estimate

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b) Unit prices and training commissioning prices funded by state budget shall be based on economic-technical norms and expenses norms established and promulgated by educational institutions in accordance with regulations; in case the economic-technical norms and expenses norms have not yet been promulgated, the maximum commissioning unit price shall be equal to the tuition fee ceiling prescribed by the State. The competent commissioning authority shall assign specialized agencies or units to appraise price options in accordance with the law on prices;

c) Unit prices and training commissioning prices funded by non-state budget funding shall be based on agreements between educational institutions and commissioning authorities;

d) The task assignment funding estimate shall be determined based on the quantity, volume, tasks, and applicable tuition fees approved by the competent authority.

Chapter IV

NATIONAL KEY FULL-TIME DOCTORAL TRAINING PROGRAM

Article 12. Scope, eligible learners/students and requirements of program

1. The program applies to research students admitted to domestic doctoral training programs in professions, disciplines, and fields that are prioritized for development of high-quality human resources under programs and projects approved by the Prime Minister at higher education institutions authorized to provide doctoral training; the priority shall be given to research students selected under the State's task assignment and commissioning mechanisms associated with national priority science and technology tasks.

2. Higher education institutions shall enable research students to participate in scientific research, innovation, teaching assistance, and other academic activities throughout their training process; and sign agreements on scholarships and financial support for living expenses with research students in conformity with the assigned tasks, and regulations of law.

3. Research students participating in the program must dedicate their full time to studying, conducting research, and performing academic tasks as required by the training institution; must be subject to management, assessment, and supervision by the training institution; and must not work full-time at other agencies or organizations during their participation in the program.

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a) Research students who are university lecturers must not undertake more than 1/2 of the standard teaching hour norm applicable to full-time university lecturers;

b) Research students other than those specified in point a of this clause shall have a total teaching assistance time of no more than 300 working hours per year.

5. In case a research student participating in the program is a foreigner or an overseas Vietnamese, the higher education institution is entitled to sponsor them so that the competent authority may issue a visa and a temporary residence card with a validity period corresponding to the entire duration of the training course (from 03 to 05 years). Foreign research students are exempt from work permits when participating in research, practical training, or teaching assistance at educational institutions and partner enterprises within the doctoral training program framework.

Article 13. Principles of supporting research students

1. Research students participating in the program shall be entitled to scholarships in accordance with regulations of Article 9 of this Decree. In case a research student is directly selected under the State's task assignment and commissioning mechanism or participates in research in fields that are prioritized and serve national development, he/she shall be considered for receipt of financial support for research in accordance with the law on science, technology, and innovation.

2. The support shall be provided directly to research students, based on their learning and research progress and training results, in a public, transparent and efficient manner, for the proper purposes, and without overlapping with other support policies funded by state budget, unless otherwise prescribed by law.

Chapter V

IMPLEMENTATION ORGANIZATION

Article 14. Responsibilities for organizing implementation

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a) Preside over and organize the implementation of the Decree; provide guidance, inspect, supervise, and organize the inspection and supervision of the implementation of the autonomy mechanism, financial mechanism, commissioning of training, provision of support for learners, and the national key full-time doctoral training program in accordance with regulations of law;

b) Promulgate or request competent authorities to promulgate the list of professions and fields that are prioritized, strategic professions, and professions that are difficult in private investment; higher education institution standards; training program standards; criteria for assessment of quality, operational efficiency, and training results; regulations on data management, data connection, and digital transformation in higher education and vocational education in accordance with regulations of law;

c) Preside over establishment, provision of guidance, management, operation, and access to the digital platform connected to human resource training to serve state management; budget allocation; training commissioning; quality accreditation; inspection and supervision; and assessment of efficiency in operations of educational institutions;

d) Preside over development of mechanisms for assessment of training quality, learning outcomes, the efficiency in use of state budget, the level of autonomy, and the accountability of educational institutions;

dd) Preside over and cooperate with the Ministry of Finance and relevant ministries and central authorities in providing guidance on the methods for determining training service prices, commissioning and assigning tasks; payment and making of final accounts; learner support mechanisms, research student support mechanisms; and management, use, and assessment of efficiency in resources for implementation of the Decree;

e) Organize preliminary and final reviews and assessment of the implementation of the Decree; propose amendments to mechanisms and policies in line with development requirements for education and training in each period.

2. Ministry of Finance

a) Cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training to provide guidance on financial mechanism; methods for determining training service prices; management, use, payment, and making final accounts of funding; and management of public property;

b) Cooperate with the Ministry of Education and Training to develop a budget allocation mechanism associated with operation results; criteria for assessment of the efficiency in use of state budget; and financial inspection and supervision mechanisms;

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d) Cooperate in inspection and examination of management and use of funding and public property in accordance with regulations of law.

3. Ministries, ministerial-level agencies and People's Committees of provinces

a) Organize the implementation of the Decree under their management;

b) Decide or approve training plans, tasks, programs, projects, budget estimates, commissioning, assignment of tasks, and training support in accordance with regulations of law and as delegation of jurisdiction over management;

c) Conduct inspection and supervision of management and use of budget and public property at educational institutions under their management;

d) Direct specialized agencies and educational institutions to report on the implementation of this Decree in accordance with regulations of law on periodic reporting by state administrative agencies and regulations of the Minister of Education and Training; fully update, connect, and provide information and data on the digital platform; and manage records of educational institutions in accordance with regulations.

dd) Prioritize the allocation of resources to develop professions and fields that are prioritized, strategic professions, and professions difficult in private investment; train high-quality human resources; and promote digital transformation in education and training.

4. Educational institutions

a) Organize the exercise of autonomy associated with accountability in a manner which is public and transparent, maintains training quality, is efficient in use of resources and complies with regulations of law;

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c) Manage and use state budget, tuition fees, public property, mobilized resources, support sources, sponsorships, and aids for the proper purposes, efficiently, and in accordance with the regulations of law;

d) Fully, accurately, and promptly update, manage, connect, and share data, and comply with reporting regulations in accordance with the law; proactively exchange information and cooperate with police authorities at the same level to ensure national security and maintain social order, safety, and security during the reception of foreign experts, scientists, lecturers, and volunteers, and overseas Vietnamese; foreign cooperation and joint ventures; and the receipt of grant aids, sponsorships, and gifts in cash, in kind, or services from foreign organizations and individuals;

dd) Publicly disclose quality assurance conditions, tuition fees, training service prices, admission results, training results, learner employment status, financial status, quality accreditation results, and accountability results in accordance with regulations of law.

e) Be subject to inspection, examination, and supervision by competent state agencies; and be legally responsible for training quality, data accuracy, efficiency in use of budget, financial management, public asset management, and results of performance of the assigned tasks.

Article 15. Transitional clauses

1. Programs, projects, tasks, support mechanisms, contracts for commissioning and assignment of training tasks, and learner support approved by competent authorities before the effective date of this Decree shall continue to be implemented until their expiration dates as approved, unless competent authorities decide to amend them to apply regulations of this Decree.

2. Regarding activities related to autonomy, financial mechanisms, admission, and learner support during the period beginning from July 1, 2026, to the effective date of this Decree:

a) Educational institutions shall continue to exercise their autonomy and operate financial mechanisms in accordance with regulations of law applicable before July 1, 2026, until the effective date of this Decree;

b) Policies on learner support, scholarships, and financial support for living expenses prescribed in this Decree shall be applicable from July 1, 2026. In case a policy is associated with to the admission term of the 2026-2027 academic year, it shall be applicable from the commencement of the 2026-2027 academic year. Educational institutions and agencies in charge of payment shall be responsible for reviewing, compiling lists, and making retroactive payments to learners in accordance with regulations of Article 10 of this Decree.

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a) The application of specific and outstanding mechanisms and policies shall comply with regulations of such specific and outstanding legislative documents;

b) In case this Decree provides mechanisms and policies that are more preferential or favorable than regulations of the Law on Capital No. 02/2026/QH16, the application thereof to educational institutions in Hanoi City shall be decided by the People's Council of Hanoi City in accordance with regulations of clause 3, Article 5 of the Law on Capital No. 02/2026/QH16.

Article 16. Effect

1. This Decree takes effect from October 05, 2026.

2. The Minister of Education and Training, the Minister of Finance, Ministers, Heads of ministerial-level agencies, Chairpersons of provincial People's Committees, and relevant agencies, organizations, and individuals shall be responsible for the implementation of this Decree.

ON BEHALF OF THE GOVERNMENT
PP. PRIME MINISTER
DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER




Le Tien Chau