The information was released in the context that in mid-August, the University of Wollongong (UOW) informed its partner study abroad companies that this unit and its affiliated college (UOWC) would stop accepting applications from students from five provinces and cities: Hai Phong, Nghe An, Ha Tinh, Quang Binh and Hai Duong, while still accepting students from other localities in Vietnam.

Specifically, a UOW spokesperson recently said that the school is now accepting applications from all regions in Vietnam, without exception, and will consider each specific case (case-by-case) instead of having the previous restrictions. The school has also discussed this issue with study abroad companies to ensure a smooth admission process.

This is also the point emphasized by Master Lu Thi Hong Nham, Director of Duc Anh Study Abroad and Translation Consulting Company, in an interview on October 20 with Thanh Nien . Ms. Nham said that although UOW's previous regulation of stopping accepting students from 5 provinces and cities was applicable, it was not for everyone. Specifically, Ms. Nham affirmed that the school always reserved places for students with good academic results, sufficient and transparent finances, and serious intentions to study... Recently, a student from the Central region at Ms. Nham's company was still granted a student visa, even though the student registered for a university preparatory course to transfer to university, which is more difficult to review than going straight to university.

According to the QS World University Rankings for the 2024-2025 academic year, UOW is ranked 12th in Australia, tied for 167th in the world. The school currently offers 458 undergraduate programs and 157 postgraduate programs, according to QS. According to information from UOW's official website, in 2025, UOW will continue to provide unlimited scholarships worth 20-30% of tuition fees for Vietnamese students.

According to the UOW spokesperson, the Australian Department of Home Affairs is maintaining many regulations to ensure that only students who truly want to study in Australia can enter the country. In order to meet current requirements and support students to successfully apply for a student visa, this year, UOW has made adjustments to the admissions process according to strict guidelines from the Australian Department of Home Affairs, he explained the recent moves.

Previously, speaking at a study abroad conference, Ms. Katherine Tranter, senior immigration officer at the Australian Department of Home Affairs, informed that the rate of granting student visa applications in Vietnam in the 2023-2024 fiscal year was 76%, down 15% compared to the previous year. One of the reasons why the review department refused to grant visas was dishonest study intentions. "The most important thing is that each student visa application is considered individually, based on all the information provided by the applicant, meaning each application is considered based on the characteristics and circumstances of each applicant," Ms. Tranter said.

The UOW spokesperson also said that UOW and UOWC have good relations with Vietnam. There are currently more than 1,000 Vietnamese studying at the university, one of the largest groups of international students. Vietnamese students are also among the top students and many have won the university's 30% scholarship, which is only for the best. Currently, the number of applications from Vietnam for the next academic year is also very high.

UOW is also collaborating on research and training with universities in Vietnam. "We do not limit students from Vietnam but want to build a diverse learning environment," a UOW spokesperson emphasized.

According to statistics from the Australian Department of Education, by July 2024, there were 793,335 international students studying courses in Australia. Of these, Vietnam had 36,221 people, ranking 5th. At leading universities, the number of Vietnamese students and researchers accounts for a significant proportion, about 600 people at the University of Melbourne, 400 people at the University of Adelaide, or in the top 10 in terms of the number of international students at the University of Queensland...