OUTGOING STUDENTS

International students and local students are eligible for exchange.

As the exchange or study abroad students, you remain enrolled full-time at IU while you are away to study abroad and continue to pay your usual tuition fee at IU prior to going abroad to study. This tuition fee will be determined by the number of courses you take abroad. And, the best of all, you do not pay any tuition fee at the partner university. However, you are responsible for all of your own living expenses while studying overseas.

Benefits of International Experiences

  • Experience a different academic environment and various methods of teaching
  • Make new friends  and experience new cultures
  • Strengthen your resume, enhance your career prospects
  • Develop valuable personal skill and improve language skills while enjoying a cross-cultural experience
  • Be able to receive a scholarship from IU’s exchange partners
  • Studying with tuition waiver
  • All relevant supporting services for exchange will be arranged by ISSC

Student exchange is truly a fantastic experience. You will develop and change in the ways that you could not expect. You will also explore many opportunities while having lots of fun, seeing another country, and experiencing another culture.

The information that follows is designed to help you select a destination for your exchange experience and to give you all the information you need to get you started.

ELIGIBILITY

IU’s Requirements:

  • Applicants:  Bachelor and Master students
  • Criteria                           
    • Complete at least one year of full-time study
    • Have achieved the equivalent of a cumulative GPA of 68 on a 100 scale or equivalent
    • Receive approval from current School/Department on allowed credit transferred courses.
  • Length of exchange program: from 01 to 02 semesters

Before applying for exchange program, you should carefully consider the length of your exchange period. IU will not allow the change of the length of exchange during your stay overseas. To extend the period, you have to come back to IU and re-start the application process.

After the overseas study, you will have to come back to IU in time as stated in the signed Terms & Agreement document.

Host university requirements

In addition to IU requirements, the host universities also have their own specific eligibility criteria or restrictions, such as a letter of nomination from IU or the language tests/ courses in certain subject areas that are not open to exchange students. You will be informed by IU outgoing exchange coordinator about this special criteria when apply before you submit an application.

While on exchange, you are responsible for  following the laws of the host country and the academic regulations of the host institution.

English Proficiency

English is the primary language of instruction at IU, so most of IU’s exchange partners do not require English proficiency assessment. However, it is required by some partner universities in the ISEP programs that students must hold an English proficiency certificate to apply to their universities. Therefore, you should be well prepared before starting your application.

HOW TO APPLY

Application Process

 

Student Exchange Program

Step 1:

Application

Required documents:

  • Application form (for exchange students)
  • Credit Transfer Agreement (*)
  • Official transcript
  • English proficiency certificate (if applicable)
  • A copy of your passport
  • Motivation letter describing the reasons why you want to participate in the program (500 words)

Step 2:

Application Submission

Submit the application package to your School/Department before the deadline.

Step 3:

School/ Department’s Nomination

School/Department will nominate eligible students, and send along with their applications to ISSC before the deadline.

Step 4:

Applications processing

IU will then process all the applications received

Step  5:

IU’s Nomination

After being approved by IU, ISSC will nominate students to the according partner universities. Students will continue with the application required by the host universities.
Host universities have every right to deny students’ applications if they do not meet the set out criteria.
Note: all the applications will have to go through ISSC; students cannot directly contact IU’s partner universities with out first being nominated by IU.

Step 6:

Application Outcome

Once approved students’ applications, the host university will send the Letter of Acceptance to IU, also included a pre-admission guidance packages.
IU will forward these information to the right candidates, at the same time guide students through the next procedures

Step 7:

Visa Application

To obtain for visa, please submit all the required documents at the Embassy or General Consulate of the host countries in Vietnam, including:

  • A passport with validity of at least 06 months
  • Letter of Acceptance from host university
  • A confirmation letter from IU
  • Visa application forms
  • Visa application fees
  • Proof of Financial Capacity. To ensure that students have sufficient financial support while studying overseas, some countries will ask students for such proof.

 

 

(*)Course Credit Transfer Agreement form must be filled with the list of the courses chosen by you to study with their credit ratings. This document must be approved and signed by your Dean or Vice Dean of your school/ department in order to transfer credits to IU transcript prior to your departure. It is possible to change the Credit Transfer Agreement, but only if agreed by all parties in advance.

Applications form can be downloaded here

Applications Due Date

Applications should be submitted to ISSC by the following dates:

  • Step1: Applications will be submitted to School/Department before:

ISEP

Other programs

January 25th every year (for semester starting July, August, September)

March 05th every year (for semester starting July, August, September)

August 05th every year (for semester starting January, February, March)

August 20th every year (for semester starting January, February, March)

 

  • Step 2: School/Department collect students’ applications and nominate them to ISSC before

ISEP

Other programs

February 1st every year (for semester starting July, August, September)

March 12th every year (for semester starting July, August, September)

August 12thevery year (for semester starting January, February, March)

August 27thevery year (for semester starting January, February, March)

 

Exchange Destinations

You have many chances to find a destination that is right for you. Many of the programs are open to most faculties and to undergraduate as well as graduate students. However, some of these are limited to a particular chosen faculty or department. Please contact Mr. Nguyen Tung Bach, IU outgoing exchange coordinator for assistance: ntbach@hcmiu.edu.vn or studentexchange@hcmiu.edu.vn.

Below is the list of IU’s exchange partners:

Country

Institutions

Training level

Scholarship*

Austria

Management Center Innsbruck (MCI)

Undergraduate, Graduate

 NA

Australia

University of  Newcastle

Undergraduate, Graduate

NA

Canada

Thompson Rivers University

Undergraduate, Graduate

NA

Denmark

University of Southern of Denmark

Undergraduate

NA

France

Ecole the Management de Normandie

Undergraduate, Graduate

 

Germany

ESB Business School – Reutlingen University

Undergraduate, Graduate

TL Scholarship –living expense (~4000 EUR/semester)

Munich University of Applied Sciences

Undergraduate, Graduate

 

Ireland

University College Dublin

Undergraduate

NA

Japan

Otaru University of Commerce

Undergraduate

JASSO Scholarship – living expense (~400.000 Yen/semester)

Osaka University:
- University of Technology; and
- University of Science

Graduate

JASSO Scholarship/ OU Scholarship – covering living expense (~400.000 Yen/semester)

Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology

Undergraduate, Graduate

JASSO Scholarship – covering living expense (~800.000 Yen/year)

Hokkaido University

Undergraduate, Graduate

JASSO Scholarship – covering living expense (~400.000 Yen/semester)

Korea

University of Seoul

Undergraduate, Graduate

 GKS Scholarship– covering living expense (~4000.000 Won/semester)

Konkuk University

Undergraduate, Graduate

GKS Scholarship– covering living expense (~4000.000 Won/semester)

Pusan National University

Undergraduate

NA

Spain

University of Alicante

Undergraduate

NA

Universitas Miguel Hernández

Undergraduate, Graduate

NA

Universidad Carlos III de Madrid 

Undergraduate, Graduate

NA

Sweden

Jönköping University

Undergraduate, Graduate

NA

Thailand

Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Thammasat University

Undergraduate, Graduate

NA

USA

University of Arkansas, Fort Smith

Undergraduate, Graduate

NA

Marquette University

Undergraduate, Graduate

NA

World wide

International Student Exchange Program (ISEP)

Undergraduate, Graduate

NA

Other

gLink

Undergraduate, Graduate

Eramus Mundus – cover roundtrip flight ticket, health insurance, tuition fees, living expense

*The scholarship requirement and value may be vary by academic year, please contacting the outgoing coordinator for more information

Fees

Exchange Programs with IU’s Partner Universities

Application Fees

N/A

Tuition Fees

Selected students will have to make all the tuition payment to the Finance and Planning Office at IU before departure. No tuition fees are required by the host universities.

Other Fees

Students have to bear other expenses including flight tickets, health insurance, study materials, meals, accommodation, personal expenses, travelling ect.

International Exchange Program (ISEP)

Application Fees

Directly paid to ISEP

  • To apply for 01 semester – 01 year at one selected university: 395USD
  • To apply for 02 continuous semester at 02 different countries (e.g.: first semester at Chapman University – American, second semester at  Université de Franche-Comté-France): 495 USD

For more detailed information please visit:
http://www.isep.org/students/Programs/isep_exchange.asp

Tuition Fees

Selected applicants will have to make their tuition payment (for the approved transferred courses) to the Finance and Planning Office at IU before departure and do not have to pay this fee to the host university.

Meals and Accommodations

The fees for meals and accommodations will have to be paid to the Finance and Planning Office before departure. The fees amount will be announced to students.
Students will not pay this fee to the host university; however, all the meals and accommodations will be taken care of by the host university during students’ stay there.

Other Fees

Students have to bear other expenses including flight tickets, health insurance, study materials, personal expenses, travelling,…

 

ACADEMIC MATTERS

Course Selection

While making a course selection, students can find the available courses through the host university’s web page.

Students are responsible for meeting their school or department’s academic advisor when selecting programs or courses for study overseas and must fill out the courses list into the Credit Transfer Agreement (CPA) form. Advisors can assist students in selecting programs or courses that might meet students’ academic needs and which courses may or may not transfer credit back to IU. These equivalent courses must be approved and signed by the Dean or Vice Dean of your school/ department in order to transfer credits to IU transcript prior to your departure.

Once an IU exchange student is officially admitted to the host institution, the student's file is forwarded to that institution’s academic advisor to support the exchange student with course registration. If there is an issue with the student's courses registration or class schedule, the student will be notified via email.

It is also quite common for students’ course list to change after arrival at their host institution; this may be due to cancelled courses, the course timetable may be in conflict, or courses are not offered during the semester you are attending. Therefore, it is very important to contact and confirm your actual course list to IU’s exchange outgoing coordinator once you are enrolled in your classes.

Transcripts and Grade Transfers

Remember to check with your exchange coordinator at the host institution about the procedure for obtaining an academic record or transcript of the courses that you have taken while abroad.

Normally, the host institution will sent two copies of your official transcript directly to IU within several weeks after the end of your study term. If you are responsible for ordering the transcript yourself, be sure to obtain two original records: one for yourself, and one for IU exchange coordinator as soon as possible, please direct the transcript to the following address

International Student Service Center (Room A2.604)
International University, Vietnam National University – HCM
Quarter 6, Linh Trung Ward, Thu Duc District
Hochiminh City, Vietnam

Credit Transfer Systems

Vietnamese semester credit system

Most Vietnamese higher education institutions divide an academic year into three semesters as follows:

  • Semester 1 and semester 2: with the duration of 16-20 weeks per semester
  • Summer semester: with the duration of 8-10 weeks per semester (this semester is not compulsory)

The measurement of a credit is determined of the class contact hour. The actual amount of a single semester credit hour is often calculated as follows:

  • Normally each course is awarded 3 credits.
  • Each credit represents 15 hours of theoretical lectures per week plus 2 hours of self-study.
  • Each contact hour is 45 minutes spent in the classroom.

U.S semester credit system

A large number of US universities have a similar credit system to the Vietnamese system, including credit hours in course descriptions, syllabi, and transcripts – so there is no translation of credits needed

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)

1 IU credit is measured to be around 1.7-2 ECTS. Due to the differences, when registering for courses abroad, students should consider their course choices carefully, so as to assist in credits transfer later on

PRE-DEPARTURE

Passport

Currently, Vietnamese passport is valid for ten years. You must obtain or renew your passport before applying for a visa, because many countries will not issue a visa or allow your entry unless there is at least six months left on your passport. Please note that passport processing may take 7 working days or longer.

Further information about passport applications, instructions can be found at http://xnc.congan.com.vn/

Information for renewing your passport, which is expired over 30 days or lost passport cases can be referred to http://vnimm.gov.vn

Visas

Students are responsible for applying visa and its payment. An acceptance letter from the host university is required for visa application.

Depending on the country and its requirements, your visa may take a few days to several months to be processed. Be sure to visit the website of your host country’s embassy or consulate general in Vietnam and find out the process early on obtain the necessary forms, and apply as soon as you receive your host institution’s letter of acceptance.

Below is the contact of consulates in Ho Chi Minh City

CONSULATES’ CONTACT LIST IN HO CHI MINH CITY

No.

Consulate General

Contact Information

 1

United States of America

04 Le Duan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: (84-8) 3520-4610
Fax: (84-8) 3520-4622
Email: achcmc@state.gov
Website: http://hochiminh.usconsulate.gov

 2

Canada

235 Dong Khoi, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 (8) 3827 9899
Email: hochi@international.gc.ca
Website: http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca

 3

United Kingdom

25 Le Duan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 (8) 38251380/1
Email: bcghcmc@hcm.vnn.vn

 4

France

27 Nguyen Thi Minh Khai, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 (8) 3520 68 00
Website: http://www.consulfrance-hcm.org

 5

Spain

216/A11 Nguyen Van Huong, Thao Dien Ward, District 2, Ho Chi Minh City

 6

Austria

Osid Building, 5th Floor, 8 Nguyen Hue, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City

 7

German

126 Nguyen Dinh Chieu, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 3829 1967
Fax: +848 3823 1919
Website: http://www.ho-chi-minh-stadt.diplo.de

 8

Australia

F20, Vincom Center, 47 Ly Tu Trong, Ben Nghe Ward, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 35218 100
Fax: +84 8 35218 101
Website: http://www.hcmc.vietnam.embassy.gov.au

 9

New Zealand

R 909/9th Floor Metropole Building, 235 Dong Khoi, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 38226907
Fax: +84 8 38226905

 10

Korea

107 Nguyen Du, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84 8 3822 5757
Email: hcm02@mofa.go.kr
Fax: +84 8 3822 5750
Website: http://vnm-hochiminh.mofa.go.kr

 11

Japan

261 Dien Bien Phu, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
Tel: +84-8-3933-3510
Email: ryoujikan@hc.mofa.go.jp
Fax: +84-8-3933-3520
Website: http://www.hcmcgj.vn.emb-japan.go.jp

Budget plan

It is necessary to estimate a budget when you study abroad. Depending on your lifestyle, each student will have various budgets. The listed below is the general expenses that need to be planned before your depature:

  • Tuition to IU for each semester of exchange
  • Student visa
  • Airfare (return ticket)
  • Medical insurance
  • Accommodation
  • Meals
  • Textbooks
  • Personal expenses
  • Local transportation and Travel

Accommodation Arrangement

Before your departure, your host institution’s exchange coordinator will be able to advise you concerning options for arranging and registering accommodations. It is your responsibility to take care of these matters before you leave.

Airport Pickup Service

Some institutions may offer an airport pickup service at the airport. Be sure to inform your host institution’s exchange coordinator about your latest flight arrival information.

If there is no pickup service available through your institution, you will need to make your own arrangement. Your host institution exchange coordinator may be able to provide you directions and the approximate costs of public transportation or taxi service to your destination. 

Health Insurance

Some host institutions will require exchange students to purchase their own health insurance as part of the enrolment requirements, so that you can access the host institution’s health facilities or local hospital. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are informed of these details from your host institution.

Contacting Host and Home Exchange coordinator

Visit your host institution’s exchange coordinator right after you arrive and make sure they know your address, phone number, and email address in your host country.

Keep in touch with your IU outgoing exchange coordinator regularly whenever you have any emergency issues about your exchange

Partners