BUV retains QS 5-star rating for 6 consecutive years

This marks the second consecutive cycle in which BUV has received the rating, maintaining its status as the first and only university in Vietnam to consistently meet this standard over six years (2022–2028).

QS Stars is a global university rating framework developed by QS (Quacquarelli Symonds). It evaluates higher education institutions across nine categories using hundreds of indicators that measure multiple aspects of institutional performance.

BUV's representative (2nd, L) receives the QS 5-star rating for the 2025–2028 period. Photo courtesy of BUV

Strong testament to comprehensive quality

In the 2025–2028 assessment cycle, BUV earned 818 out of 1,000 possible points, surpassing the 5-star threshold of 700. The university recorded strong performance in core areas: Academic Development (136/150), Facilities (97/100), Employability (135/150), and Good Governance (95/100), all significantly above the required benchmarks.

Under Teaching, BUV reported a student satisfaction rate of 79.4%, a program completion rate of 96%, and a first-year retention rate of 92%. Students receive 263 classroom contact hours alongside 440 hours of academic consultation and tutoring support. For every hour in class, students have access to an additional 1.67 hours of academic assistance. All programs are delivered through a digital Learning Management System (LMS), supporting accessible and structured learning.

For employability, 99.3% of BUV graduates are employed after graduation, above QS's benchmark of 90%. The overall employment outcome rate of 93.1% reflects high alignment between graduates' jobs and their fields of study. BUV's employer reputation reached 96 nominations, double the maximum threshold, indicating strong recognition among employers.

BUV students receive numerous major awards at competitions both domestically and internationally. Photo courtesy of BUV

In Academic Development, 89% of BUV faculty hold doctoral degrees, exceeding both the QS benchmark of 80% and Vietnam's national standard of 20%.

All lecturers participate in ongoing professional development.

BUV allocates 45% of its revenue to teaching expenditures, 25 percentage points above the QS benchmark.

BUV's 6.5-hectare campus awarded the EDGE green building certification. Photo courtesy of BUV

Within the Facilities category, BUV's 6.5-hectare EDGE Advanced–certified campus contributes to attracting students, faculty, and international partners. Representatives from the University of London have described BUV as "the most beautiful university" in their partner network.

The university invests nearly US$33,000 per student per year in library resources, far exceeding QS's benchmark of US$250.

BUV dedicates nearly 27% of its annual revenue to scholarships, over 13 times the QS benchmark of 2%, and allocates 1% of its revenue to community engagement initiatives.

Expanding priorities

In the 2025–2028 cycle, QS introduced the Good Governance criterion. BUV earned a 5-star rating in its first evaluation, meeting 100% of required policies related to sustainability and integrity. Staff satisfaction stands at 92.2%. The university includes students in its governing structure, has over 35% of leadership roles held by women, and maintains an Ethics Committee that meets monthly and publishes reports.

The newly introduced Diversity, Equity & Inclusion criterion recognized BUV for meeting or exceeding all standards related to supporting students with disabilities, students requiring focus or balance accommodations, gender equity, disadvantaged learners, and ethnic minority groups.

Global Engagement also became a key evaluation area. BUV currently partners with more than 70 universities across 17 countries on five continents. International students make up 10% of the student body, and international lecturers account for 81% of faculty. With 31 nationalities represented, the university maintains a diverse and globally connected environment.

Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of BUV, said that benchmarking against prestigious international standards guides the university's ongoing quality improvements. "QS Stars currently represents the highest tier within BUV's Triple Quality Framework, serving as a solid foundation for our continued expansion on the global stage. Our next destination is the QS Asia University Rankings."

Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of BUV, delivers a speech at the event. Photo courtesy of BUV

Samuel Ang, Regional Director of Asia at QS, remarked BUV's consistent achievement of the QS 5-star rating reflects its unwavering commitment to excellence and continuous improvement across all areas of higher education. "Within the region, BUV stands out as a benchmark institution, showcasing how a university in Viet Nam can deliver world-class outcomes, reinforce national and regional competitiveness in global higher education."

As Vietnam positions itself to become a regional hub for transnational education by 2030, BUV's renewed QS 5-Star rating underscores its role in the country's international higher education landscape and contributes to national goals in this sector.

BUV is the first university in Vietnam to earn a 5-star rating from Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and the first in Vietnam and ASEAN to achieve global accreditation from the UK's Quality Assurance Agency (QAA), two of the world's most prestigious education quality organizations. Its curriculum is carefully designed and regularly updated to reflect the latest industry trends, emphasising the seamless integration of theory and practice. 100% of BUV graduates secure employment or continue higher education within three months of graduation. Learn more about BUV here.