Shifting trends and what they mean for global education consultants
In recent years, Vietnam has emerged as one of the fastest-growing outbound student markets in the world. Traditionally, countries such as the United States, Australia, and Canada have dominated as preferred destinations. However, Europe is quietly but steadily rising in popularity among Vietnamese students seeking international education.
At Collab International, we have observed a clear uptick in demand from Vietnamese partner agencies and student clients for European universities—particularly in destinations such as Germany, France, the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Hungary, and Italy. This article explores the factors driving this shift and what education consultants should know in order to respond effectively.
For many Vietnamese families, affordability is a primary consideration. European countries, especially those in Central and Eastern Europe, offer highly competitive tuition fees when compared with Anglo-Saxon destinations. Additionally, the cost of living in cities like Prague, Budapest, and Warsaw is substantially lower than in London, Sydney, or Toronto.
Importantly, lower cost does not imply lower quality. Many European universities are ranked globally, with strong research output and a growing number of English-taught programs—particularly at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. Countries like the Netherlands and Germany have long offered a wide selection of English-medium degrees, and now even smaller systems like Czechia and Lithuania are following suit.
Europe’s approach to student immigration is also playing a significant role. Several EU countries have streamlined their visa procedures for international students and offer generous post-graduation work options. Germany, for instance, allows graduates to stay for up to 18 months to seek employment, while France offers a two-year residence permit for graduates at the master’s level.
These policies are increasingly attractive in the context of tightening student immigration policies in countries such as the UK and Australia. Vietnamese students—and the agencies that support them—are becoming more pragmatic, evaluating long-term settlement and work options as part of their decision-making process.
While Vietnamese students are still applying in large numbers to Canada, Australia, the US, and the UK, there is growing interest in exploring “non-traditional” European destinations. At Collab International, our exclusive partnerships with over 20 universities in Central Europe—especially in Czechia—have received marked attention from Vietnamese partner agencies. These institutions offer direct-entry options, recognized medical and technical programs, and English-language instruction—all without requiring foundation years in many cases.
This diversification is not just about cost; it’s about strategy. Parents and students are increasingly looking for stable, globally recognized alternatives where the student journey is well supported and long-term opportunities exist.
Vietnam's outbound mobility has always been highly agency-driven, with parents relying on local consultants to navigate application processes, visa requirements, and institution selection. As Europe becomes more complex but also more promising, the need for well-informed partner agencies becomes critical.
Collab International works closely with a growing network of Vietnamese agencies, offering them centralized access to up-to-date institutional data and direct application support through the Collab Academic Portal. We’ve seen that Vietnamese agencies are especially responsive to platforms that simplify access to institutions across multiple countries, without requiring separate workflows for each.
Europe’s rising popularity among Vietnamese students is not a short-term trend—it is part of a larger rebalancing in global student flows. For agencies and institutions alike, understanding and adapting to this shift is crucial.
At Collab International, we continue to invest in strong partnerships, localized representation, and in-country events across Vietnam to support this growing demand. For institutions looking to diversify their applicant pool, or for agencies aiming to expand their service offering in Europe, the time to act is now.
If you're an education agency in Vietnam seeking to provide your students with access to top European universities, or an institution aiming to grow your Vietnamese enrolments, get in touch with our team. Collab International provides B2B support, application processing, and market insights to help you succeed in this evolving landscape.
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