ACU and Vietnam Government PhD Scholarship (Project 89)

About

In partnership with the Vietnamese Government's Project 89 initiative, Australian Catholic University (ACU) is proud to support high-achieving Vietnamese scholars undertaking doctoral research in Australia.

Designed to strengthen Vietnam’s academic and research capability, the program empowers future educators, researchers and leaders to develop world-class expertise, contribute to new knowledge, and drive positive change within their disciplines, institutions and communities.

With comprehensive financial support and access to ACU’s vibrant research environment, scholars can focus on advancing research that addresses complex challenges and delivers meaningful outcomes both in Vietnam and around the world.

Benefits

Successful applicants are awarded a comprehensive scholarship package that provides financial support throughout their research journey.

The package includes:

Vietnam Government (Project 89) Contribution

• Tuition fee support up to USD $25,000 per year (up to 4 years)
• Living stipend of USD $1,120 per month
• International return airfare
• Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC) up to USD $1,000 per year

ACU Contribution

• ACU will cover the difference between the Project 89 tuition funding and the full tuition fee for the PhD program at ACU, ensuring a full fee offset valued at approximately AUD $34,728 per annum.
• ACU will provide a supplementary stipend up to the current Research Training Program rate of AUD $34,315* per annum (full-time) to support scholars while studying in Australia.

*2026 value, indexed annually

Eligibility

Applications are open to Vietnamese citizens whose proposed research aligns with any of ACU's broad areas of expertise.

To be eligible, you must:

• Be a citizen of Vietnam
• Be nominated for the Vietnam Government Project 89 scholarship
• Have received an offer for a PhD program at ACU
• Commence full-time enrolment as an onshore international student at ACU (there is an option for external mode (in-country training))

How to apply

Applications to ACU are open year-round. Follow the steps below to apply.

Step 1: Obtain a Letter of Offer (LoA) from ACU

To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must submit all documentation required for an application to the graduate research program at ACU, as detailed in the How to Apply instructions.

Please ensure that you indicate that you are applying for the 'ACU and Vietnam Government PhD Scholarship (Project 89)' in your application.

Step 2: Apply to your home institution

Once you have obtained a Letter of Offer (LoA) from ACU, submit an application to your home institution in Vietnam.

Step 3: Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) review

Your home institution submits to the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) a proposal for the number of postgraduate training (academic staff) funded under Project 89 of the following year. Your home institution will be advised by MOET of their quota for training in country and overseas.