Study abroad news & guides
296 articles from the VNIS team.
WO or HBO: the two branches of Dutch higher education
Dutch higher education splits into two branches that differ in teaching style, length and career destination. Picking the wrong one costs you at least a year.
The education system in Malaysia: choosing your level and field
Understanding how education is structured in Malaysia before you pick a school stops you applying to the wrong level or the wrong type of programme.
Notice: from 1 September 2026 the VNIS Hanoi office moves to 505 Minh Khai
From 1 September 2026 the VNIS Education Hanoi office moves to MindX Minh Khai, 4th Floor, Hoa Binh Green City Mall, 505 Minh Khai, Vinh Tuy Ward. Until then it operates from the current address. Hotline, email, client files and appointments are unchanged.
The education system in China: choosing your level and field
Understanding how education is structured in China before you pick a school stops you applying to the wrong level or the wrong type of programme.
University of North Alabama: study English online from home, then enter the degree
UNA offers conditional admission through a five-level Academic English Program, available online with no visa required. Undergraduate admission carries no GPA requirement, and a US$10,000 scholarship is awarded automatically with the application.
University of Roehampton, January 2027 intake: scholarships up to £5,000 a year, no interview
The University of Roehampton in London opens its January 2027 intake with scholarships of up to £5,000 a year, no interview requirement, pre-sessional English courses and Extended Master's routes for applicants who do not meet direct entry.
Study English online with Texas State faculty: the OTSIE programme at US$900 per level
OTSIE is Texas State University's online intensive English programme: four levels, taught live over Zoom by Texas State faculty, US$900 per level, and it counts as proof of English proficiency for students continuing at Texas State.
The education system in Hong Kong: choosing your level and field
Understanding how education is structured in Hong Kong before you pick a school stops you applying to the wrong level or the wrong type of programme.
The education system in Taiwan: choosing your level and field
Understanding how education is structured in Taiwan before you pick a school stops you applying to the wrong level or the wrong type of programme.
Karelia UAS Finland: €9,000 tuition, 20% off for paying early, refunded if the permit is refused
Karelia University of Applied Sciences in Joensuu, Finland has rolling admission open for the January 2027 intake, closing 31 August 2026. Tuition runs €9,000–€10,500 a year, with 20% off the first year for early payment and a refund, less 10%, if a residence permit is refused.
Kent State University: the Global Scholarship is automatic and banded by GPA
Kent State University in Ohio awards its Global Scholarship automatically to international students in GPA bands from US$4,300 to US$15,000. This profile covers English requirements, published tuition and the three scholarship routes.
The education system in South Korea: choosing your level and field
Understanding how education is structured in South Korea before you pick a school stops you applying to the wrong level or the wrong type of programme.
SEAMK Finland: a university of applied sciences with the placement built in
SEAMK is a university of applied sciences in Seinäjoki, Finland, offering bachelor's and master's degrees taught entirely in English, holding the FINEEC Excellence quality label and belonging to the nine-institution HEROES Alliance.
Choosing a Hong Kong university: public funding, private providers and verifying a programme
Hong Kong has universities funded through the University Grants Committee alongside self-financing and private providers. Knowing the difference, and how to check the qualifications framework, saves considerable filtering.
IANG: 24 months in Hong Kong after graduation, with no job offer required
Hong Kong allows non-local graduates to stay for 24 months without needing an employment offer at the point of application - a marked difference from most study destinations.
EMGS and the Student Pass: Malaysia's single-window application route
Malaysia processes international student applications through a single gateway, EMGS, which sits under the Ministry of Higher Education. Understanding its role tells you which stages the institution controls and which it does not.
Earning a foreign university degree in Malaysia: the branch campus model
Several UK, Australian and Chinese universities operate campuses in Malaysia. Students study locally but the award comes from the parent university - the key is understanding what matches the home campus and what does not.
Verifying a Malaysian institution and programme before you apply
Malaysia has a national quality agency and a publicly searchable register of accredited programmes. Knowing how to check both is the fastest way to remove an unsuitable programme from your shortlist.
The education system in Switzerland: choosing your level and field
Understanding how education is structured in Switzerland before you pick a school stops you applying to the wrong level or the wrong type of programme.
English Language Institute - University of Utah: a route into the university without TOEFL
The English Language Institute at The University of Utah teaches academic English across eight levels. Completing Level 8 with a B average or higher admits students to the university's undergraduate programme without a TOEFL or IELTS score.
Studying in Ireland and Dublin City University: a post-study stay written into the rules
Ireland is an English-speaking EU member state with a published list of programmes eligible for a student permission (ILEP) and a graduate scheme whose duration is set by qualification level. Dublin City University sits in Dublin with five faculties and the INTRA placement programme.
Studying in Lithuania and LCC International University: an English-taught route in the Baltics
LCC International University in Klaipėda teaches entirely in English on a North American liberal arts model, with students from more than 50 countries - a Baltic route few Vietnamese families have looked at.
BHMS Switzerland: a Lucerne private school awarding a UK university degree
BHMS Business & Hotel Management School is a registered private school in Switzerland with campuses in Lucerne and Zürich, delivering undergraduate and postgraduate programmes validated by Robert Gordon University in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Northern Arizona University: an R1 public university in Flagstaff, Arizona
Northern Arizona University is a public university in Flagstaff, Arizona, founded in 1899 and classified by Carnegie at R1 - the highest research tier in the United States.