Advancing UK–Vietnam Education Cooperation: British University Vietnam Exchanges Letter of Intent with Manchester Metropolitan University under the Witness of the Vietnam Ministry of Education and Training in London

New programmes will combine Manchester Metropolitan’s rigorous academic standards with BUV’s 5-star learning environment.  

British University Vietnam (BUV) and Manchester Metropolitan University exchanged a Letter of Intent to develop a suite of dual-degree programmes in Vietnam. This signing took place on the sidelines of General Secretary Tô Lâm’s official visit to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, which elevated Vietnam-UK relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. 

The exchange was conducted by Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of BUV; and Professor Liz Warren, Head of International, Faculty of Business and Law at Manchester Metropolitan.  

The event was witnessed by Dr. Nguyen Thi Thu Thuy, Director General of the International Cooperation Department, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Pham Quoc Khanh, Deputy Director General of the Department of Quality Management, Ministry of Education and Training of Vietnam, alongside Mr. James Shipton, Country Director of British Council Vietnam, Mrs. Dao Thi Hong, First Secretary, Embassy of Vietnam in London; and Professor Nguyen Xuan Huan, Chair of the Vietnamese Intellectual Society in the UK and Ireland. 

Meeting global workforce demands 

The Letter of Intent marks a shared commitment to fostering high-quality education and expanding global learning opportunities for Vietnamese students. It enables students to experience 200 years of Manchester education – now in Vietnam at BUV, while reinforcing BUV’s efforts in delivering internationally recognised, quality-assured programmes. 

For Manchester Metropolitan, this partnership represents an opportunity to engage with Vietnam’s vibrant and high-potential education market, deepen its presence in Asia, and enrich its global student community. 

Manchester Metropolitan University is one of the UK’s largest and most dynamic higher education institutions, rated Gold – the highest level – in the UK’s Teaching Excellence Framework 2023. Its Business School holds the prestigious Triple Crown Accreditation, a distinction earned by only 1% of business schools worldwide. Meanwhile, the Manchester School of Art ranks among the world’s top 51–100 for Art & Design (QS Rankings). Manchester Metropolitan’s reputation for world-class education has drawn over 44,000 students from 100+ countries, creating a global alumni network of 350,000 worldwide.   

From 2026, Manchester Metropolitan will become BUV’s awarding body partner, offering five programmes subject to validation, including four bachelor’s degrees: Banking and Finance, Graphic Design, Digital Business and Technology Innovation, and Illustration with Animation, along with an MSc in International Business Management. 

These programmes are designed to meet global workforce demands, combining Manchester Metropolitan’s rigorous academic standards with BUV’s QS 5-star learning environment, in full compliance with regulations from Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training and the UK’s Office for Students.  

Delivered under a dual-degree model, the programmes allow students flexible study pathways aligned with their financial capacity and career aspirations. 

Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of BUV, remarked:
“Our collaboration with Manchester Metropolitan underscores BUV’s commitment to supporting Vietnam’s national strategic priorities in key disciplines. With our prestigious UK partner’s academic heritage and innovative spirit, these new programmes will provide BUV students with learning experiences deeply connected to real-world practice and global trends.” 

Professor Liz Warren, Head of International, Faculty of Business and Law, Manchester Metropolitan University, added: “Vietnam is one of the fastest-growing and most promising education markets in Asia. Through this partnership, we aim to co-develop future-ready programmes that uphold Manchester Metropolitan’s rigorous academic standards and rich heritage of excellence, meet the demand for highly skilled professionals, and provide students with global learning and development opportunities.” 

This exchange gained additional significance as it followed the exchange of a Letter of Intent between Vietnam’s Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son and the UK’s Minister for Skills Baroness Smith on 29 October, during General Secretary To Lam’s official visit to the UK, reaffirming both countries’ commitment to deepening cooperation in education and training.  

Successful Model 

Education and scientific research remain a cornerstone of the Vietnam–UK Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. With its significant contributions to strengthening bilateral relations, BUV has been repeatedly recognised by the British Embassy in Vietnam as an exemplary model of educational collaboration between the two governments. 

Founded in 2009 with 100% foreign investment and a total projected capital of USD 165 million, BUV represents the UK’s long-term commitment to Vietnam’s education sector. It is the first fully foreign-invested university in Vietnam to partner with UK institutions in offering globally recognised British degrees, and notably, the first in ASEAN and the only one in Vietnam to receive full institutional accreditation from the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA). 

In April 2025, BUV has been recognised as an “International Partner” of the University of London among its highest tiers of collaboration, affirming BUV’s academic standing and its vital role as an educational bridge between the UK and Vietnam. 

With its continued innovation in curriculum design, international partnerships, and investment in world-class facilities, BUV reaffirms its pioneering role in delivering high-quality British education to Vietnam, as it pursues its vision of becoming the number one international university in Vietnam and the surrounding regions. 

About British University Vietnam (BUV) 

BUV is the first university in Vietnam to earn a 5-star rating from Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) and the first in Vietnam and ASEAN to achieve global accreditation from the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency (QAA) – two of the world’s most prestigious education quality organisations. BUV’s curriculum is carefully designed and regularly updated to reflect the latest industry trends, emphasising the seamless integration of theory and practice. 100% of BUV graduates secure employment or continue higher education within three months of graduation. 

Learn more about BUV: https://www.buv.edu.vn/en/  

About Manchester Metropolitan University 

Home to over 44,000 students, Manchester Metropolitan University is one of the UK’s largest and most popular universities, based in the heart of Manchester. Its campus offers state-of-the-art facilities and innovative teaching, combined with outstanding research and award-winning degree apprenticeships that help students thrive in their careers. 

For more information, visit: www.mmu.ac.uk