BUV exchanges letter of intent with Manchester Metropolitan University in London

The exchange was conducted by Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of BUV, and Professor Liz Warren, Head of International, Faculty of Business and Law at Manchester Metropolitan, reflecting a commitment to expanding high-quality education and enhancing international learning pathways for Vietnamese students.

The collaboration will allow students in Vietnam to access Manchester Metropolitan's 200-year educational heritage through programs delivered at BUV and aligned with international quality standards, while supporting Manchester Metropolitan's deeper engagement with Vietnam's higher education sector, expanding its presence in Asia.

The event was witnessed by Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Director General of the International Cooperation Department; Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director General of the Department of Quality Management, Ministry of Education and Training; James Shipton, Country Director of British Council Vietnam; Dao Thi Hong, First Secretary, Embassy of Vietnam in London; and Professor Nguyen Xuan Huan, Chair of the Vietnamese Intellectual Society in the U.K. and Ireland.

BUV and Manchester Metropolitan's representatives at the exchange ceremony in London. Photo courtesy of BUV

Manchester Metropolitan University is one of the U.K.'s largest higher education institutions and is rated Gold in the U.K.'s 2023 Teaching Excellence Framework. Its business school holds Triple Crown Accreditation, a distinction achieved by only about 1% of business schools worldwide. The Manchester School of Art ranks among the world's top 51-100 for Art & Design (QS Rankings). The university enrolls more than 44,000 students from over 100 countries and maintains a global alumni network of about 350,000.

Beginning in 2026, Manchester Metropolitan will become BUV's awarding-body partner for five programs, subject to validation. These include four bachelor's degrees—in banking and finance, graphic design, digital business and technology innovation, and illustration with animation—and an MSc in international business management.

BUV's 5-star campus. Photo courtesy of BUV

The programs are designed to align with global workforce needs, combining Manchester Metropolitan's academic framework with BUV's QS 5-star learning environment, and meeting requirements from Vietnam's Ministry of Education and Training and the U.K.'s Office for Students.

Delivered under a dual-degree model, they offer flexible study routes that students can tailor to their financial and career goals.

Professor Rick Bennett said the collaboration supports BUV's efforts to contribute to Vietnam's national priorities in key disciplines. "These programs will offer students learning experiences linked closely to real-world practice and global trends," he said.

Professor Liz Warren noted that Vietnam is one of the region's most dynamic education markets. "Our goal is to co-develop programs that meet labor-market needs, uphold academic standards and rich heritage of excellence, and expand global learning opportunities," she said.

The exchange followed the signing of a Letter of Intent between Vietnam's Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son and the U.K.'s Minister for Skills Baroness Smith on Oct. 29, reaffirming the two countries' commitment to cooperation in education and training.

Education and research remain central to the Vietnam-U.K. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. BUV has been recognized by the British Embassy in Vietnam as a notable model of collaboration between the two governments.

Vietnamese students can access Manchester Metropolitan's 200-year educational heritage through programs delivered at BUV. Photo courtesy of BUV

Established in 2009 with 100% foreign investment and a projected total capital of $165 million, BUV represents the U.K.'s long-term engagement with Vietnam's education sector. It is the first fully foreign-invested university in Vietnam to partner with UK institutions to deliver internationally recognized British degrees, and the first in ASEAN—and only one in Vietnam—to receive institutional accreditation from the UK's Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA).

In April 2025, BUV was recognized as an International Partner of the University of London, one of the institution's highest partnership tiers.

Through ongoing curriculum innovation, international partnerships, and investment in facilities, BUV continues to expand access to British higher education in Vietnam. The university aims to strengthen its position as a leading international institution in Vietnam and the wider region.

BUV is the first university in Vietnam to receive a 5-star rating from Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and the first in Vietnam and ASEAN to obtain global accreditation from the U.K.'s QAA. Its programs emphasize the integration of theory and practical application, and 100% of its graduates secure employment or pursue further education within three months of graduation.

Home to over 44,000 students, Manchester Metropolitan University is one of the UK's largest and most popular universities, based in the heart of Manchester. Its campus offers state-of-the-art facilities and innovative teaching, combined with outstanding research and award-winning degree apprenticeships that help students thrive in their careers.