Vietnam accepts Korean language proficiency for university admissions

This decision, approved through a ministerial directive issued on Jan. 12 by Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training, was recently confirmed by South Korea’s Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education.

With this move, Vietnam becomes the second overseas territory after Hong Kong to integrate TOPIK scores directly into its higher education admission framework, acccording to Korea Times.

The university selection process in Vietnam largely centers on a nationwide high school graduation examination, which is similar in structure to South Korea’s College Scholastic Ability Test.

Under this system, students must complete compulsory exams in mathematics and Vietnamese, alongside two additional subjects selected from nine available options, which include history and various foreign languages.

Under the newly revised regulations, TOPIK results can officially substitute for the foreign language portion of this national exam. Students who achieve Level 3 or above, representing intermediate Korean proficiency, will be exempt from that elective subject, with their converted TOPIK scores counted toward their overall graduation results.

Since Vietnam's national graduation exam traditionally takes place in late June, this new policy will apply to the cohort of students enrolling in universities from September 2026 onward.

This integration reflects the rapid growth of Korean language education in the country. Vietnam first introduced Korean as an optional foreign language in 2020 before upgrading it to a primary foreign language and an official graduation exam subject just one year later.

Currently, Korean classes are offered at 169 elementary, middle, and high schools across Vietnam, with approximately 33,000 students enrolled, as reported by Korea Jooang Daily.

The country also stands as one of the largest global participants in TOPIK testing. Out of more than 566,000 applicants worldwide last year, over 85,000 were Vietnamese candidates, the highest number recorded at any foreign test location. These examinations are closely supervised by officials from Korean Education Centers in HCMC and Hanoi, with local law enforcement providing additional support to ensure exam integrity.

Vietnam remains the largest source of international students in South Korea, with over 107,000 students enrolled last year, surpassing figures from China, Uzbekistan, Mongolia, and Nepal.

This rising interest in the Korean language is intrinsically linked to economic and employment opportunities. Proficiency in Korean is increasingly viewed as an advantage in the job market, as South Korean companies continue to expand their investment and manufacturing operations within Vietnam. Many employers now offer additional salary incentives or "language allowances" for employees with these skills.

On a global scale, the trend is equally strong, with Korean now being taught at over 2,700 schools across 47 countries. Among these, 24 nations have recognized Korean as an official second foreign language, while 11, now including Vietnam, have incorporated the language into their university admission requirements.