ASEAN scholarships and Southeast Asia regional programs

🔄 Cập nhật lần cuối: 08/10/26

ASEAN scholarships are a group of opportunities that are easily overlooked but are very suitable for Vietnamese students: moderate living costs, short flight distance, close culture and many programs specifically designed for citizens of Southeast Asian countries. This article summarizes typical regional programs, from high school to doctoral level, with practical application preparation tips.

What is the ASEAN scholarship and why is it worth considering?

“ASEAN Scholarship” is not the name of a single program. This is the general term for scholarships that are only available to (or prioritize) citizens of ASEAN member countries, sponsored by governments, universities or university networks in the region. The most prominent are Singapore's programs, followed by scholarships from universities in Thailand, Malaysia, Brunei and the ASEAN University Network (AUN).

For Vietnamese families, this scholarship group has three clear advantages:

• Lower: living costs in Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur or even Singapore are still more cost effective than in the US, UK, or Australia.
• Short flight, easy to get home: direct flights from Hanoi or Ho Chi Minh City to ASEAN capitals usually only take 1–3.5 hours, parents can conveniently visit their children.
• Competing “within the region”: you compete with ASEAN rather than global candidates, although selectivity at top programs remains very high.

If you're looking for an overview, you can read more roadmap for hunting scholarships to study abroad from A to Z before going into each program.

Singapore ASEAN Scholarship

ASEAN Scholarship from Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE)

This is the most famous program with Vietnamese students. According to the official page of MOE Singapore, scholarships are for Vietnamese citizens studying in grade 8, 9 or 10 (specific ages are determined by each batch), have good English, stable academic results and active extracurricular activities. Students matriculate from Secondary 3 at selected high schools in Singapore, lasting about four years until the end of university preparation (Pre-University), aiming for a GCE A-Level or equivalent.

Benefits according to the latest announcement include: tuition, annual allowance with dormitory accommodation, initial stability allowance, round-trip economy class airfare, GCE O/A-Level exam fee (one time), health and accident insurance. The scholarship is renewed annually based on academic results.

The process usually includes: submitting online applications (usually open at the beginning of the year), taking a selection test, interviewing, and then receiving results via email. Competition rounds can be held in Hanoi, Da Nang or Ho Chi Minh City. Specific times vary by year, so keep an eye on the MOE page and announcements from the Singapore Embassy in Hanoi. Parents interested in studying abroad early can refer to the article for more information scholarships for high school students.

ASEAN Undergraduate Scholarship at NUS and NTU

At the university level, both NUS and NTU have ASEAN scholarships for citizens of ASEAN countries (except Singapore). According to the NUS site, students do not need to apply separately: all eligible candidates who apply for admission will be considered. Benefits according to the latest announcement include full tuition (after receiving MOE's Tuition Grant), annual living allowance and accommodation allowance, and a computer purchase allowance.

The point to understand correctly: the scholarship itself is not binding, but because it must be accepted MOE Tuition Grant, international students commit to working for a Singapore-registered business for three years after graduation (some medical and dental fields have a longer commitment period). See more detailed summary in the article Scholarships to study abroad in Singapore: ASEAN Scholarship and NUS, NTU scholarships.

Regional graduate program

AUN/SEED-Net (engineering, science, technology)

AUN/SEED-Net is a technical education development network of the ASEAN Universities Network, in cooperation with JICA (Japan). Through many stages, the program has granted master's scholarship, PhD in the region and PhD in Japan for lecturers and researchers in engineering. Recent announcements focus on PhD scholarships in Japan for candidates with a master's degree, age limit and requirement of commitment to contribute to the sending school. Some member schools in Vietnam such as Ho Chi Minh City University of Science and Technology and Hanoi University of Science and Technology often post notices through the international cooperation department.

Scholarships from Thai universities

Chulalongkorn University has the program "Graduate Scholarship Program for ASEAN or Non-ASEAN Countries" for master's (2 years) and doctorate (3 years), usually open for review at the end of the year. In addition, many other Thai universities and the Asian Institute of Technology (AIT) also have tuition reduction scholarships for ASEAN students. The level of support varies from session to session, so please read each school's official instructions carefully.

Malaysia, Brunei and other programs

Malaysia has government scholarships for international graduate students and many school scholarships; Brunei has government scholarships for foreign students to study at Brunei's public universities, often announced through diplomatic channels. The names and conditions of these programs change frequently, so check directly with the Ministry of Education, embassy or school website. See more articles Scholarships to study abroad in Malaysia and Thailand.

Quick comparison table of typical ASEAN scholarships

The information in the table is general, according to the most recent announcement of the sponsoring units. Always check with the official page before submitting.

Prepare documents and plans for ASEAN scholarships

1. English: most of the curriculum is in English. Young students need a strong foundation to take tests; Undergraduate and graduate students should have IELTS/TOEFL. See article Which English certificate should you choose to apply for a scholarship?.
2. Stable academic performance over many years, not just one semester.
3. Extracurricular activities and leadership: Singapore attaches special importance to this criterion.
4. Research plan (for postgraduate level): identify a suitable professor and topic.
5. Follow the calendar: many programs open applications at the beginning of the year or at the end of the year; Please schedule according to the instructions in the article seasonal scholarship application schedule.

Once the scholarship results are available, the next thing is to arrange flights on schedule for admission. VeDuHoc's team of more than 30 Bookers compare prices between many airlines in the region, monitor prices when prices are high, and if a better price is found after you've paid, HVSC will refund the difference. Parents also receive itinerary notifications via Zalo, which is very convenient when their children are away from home for the first time. You can refer to the service air tickets to study abroad and post Admission schedule and ticket booking time.

Frequently asked questions

Does the Singapore ASEAN Scholarship require an entrance exam?

Have. With MOE's ASEAN Scholarship, students selected after the application round will take a selection test and participate in an interview. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.

Do I have to apply separately for the NUS ASEAN scholarship?

According to the NUS site, no separate application is required; Qualified applicants who submit admission applications will be considered and may be invited to interview.

Are ASEAN scholarships binding after graduation?

Depends on the program. In Singapore, the three-year work obligation usually comes from the MOE Tuition Grant and not from the scholarship. Postgraduate scholarships such as AUN/SEED-Net may require a commitment to the sending school.

ASEAN scholarships are a practical, affordable and close-to-home way to study abroad. Start preparing early, follow the official page and when you need help booking admission tickets, contact VeDuHoc via hotline/Zalo 090.1800.918.

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