British University Vietnam (BUV) Inaugurates New Phase of $165 Million Campus

On April 1, 2025, BUV inaugurated Phase 2 of its 5-star campus, a project with a total estimated investment of $165 million, providing accredited British education for thousands of students.

BUV’s campus phase 2 started in August 2022 with an investment of $33 million in the Ecopark Township. The new phase covers 16,300 sqm, including the Student Hub, Food Court, and over 100 lecture halls and specialised classrooms. Alongside the 5-star Phase 1, BUV’s expanded $85-million campus can host up to 5,500 students from Vietnam and abroad. Five building names are inspired by famous British castles, including the Arundel, Belfast, Cardiff, Dover, and Edinburgh. 

The inauguration ceremony of the Phase 2 campus was held formally, with the distinguished presence of H.E. Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam; Mr Nguyễn Tiến Dũng, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Training; Professor Wendy Thomson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London; along with representatives from government agencies, and members of the University Council.

BUV received the EDGE Advanced Certification for Campus Phase 2 during the award ceremony, following the certification of Phase 1 in November 2024. EDGE, an international green building certification developed by IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, is audited and certified by SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection, and certification company. This achievement underscores BUV’s ongoing commitment to sustainability. As the first university in Vietnam to achieve EDGE certification, BUV aims to become the country’s first zero-carbon university, targeting 100% operational carbon offset. 

Mr Thomas James Jacobs, Country Manager of IFC for Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos, presented the Phase 2 EDGE Advanced Certificate to Professor Rick Bennett, Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Vice President of BUV, and Ms Nguyen Thi Vinh Thuy, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Operations), Chief Operating Officer of BUV.

The construction coverage ratio is only 20%, reflecting BUV’s commitment to prioritising green and open spaces. This aligns seamlessly with Ecopark’s vision as Asia’s best sustainable township (*). 

Professor Raymond Gordon, Vice-Chancellor and President of BUV gave speech at the event.

“The ongoing expansion of our 5-star campus underlines BUV’s commitment to providing accredited British education, fostering purpose-based impact learning, and equipping students with essential skills to thrive in an ever-changing world. This milestone advances our vision for BUV to be viewed as the number one international university in Vietnam and the surrounding regions,” said Professor Raymond Gordon, Vice-Chancellor and President of BUV. 

BUV aims to expand to Phase 3 by 2028, increasing the student capacity to 10,000. The total investment is projected at $165 million.

Balanced Triad of Design Pillars 

The new campus phase follows three design principles: optimised teaching functionality, advanced technology integration, and sustainability. 

In terms of functionality, the two new buildings include modern facilities that meet international educational standards, accommodating diverse academic and extracurricular activities.  

Learning theatres are designed to accommodate hundreds of students, meeting professional event standards.

Learning theatres are designed to accommodate hundreds of students, meeting professional event standards. Classrooms employ a design thinking approach, removing the stage as the customary barrier between students and lecturers. They can move quickly from lecture space to discussion space, fostering interactive, student-centred learning. This interactive approach empowers students to take ownership of their learning, fostering deeper engagement with projects and knowledge applications. 

Specialised labs and practice rooms are equipped with industry-standard tools, including high-performance computers, filming and recording studios, industrial machinery, etc., ensuring realistic practising experiences.  

High technology supports BUV’s signature paperless experience.

In terms of technology, the campus integrates smart classrooms equipped with state-of-the-art audiovisual systems, interactive online and onsite platforms, digital tools, IoT applications, etc. This advancement facilitates convenient resource access and supports BUV’s signature paperless experience. 

The new campus continues to deliver impressive figures, significantly surpassing the core benchmarks set by EDGE.

Regarding sustainability, the new campus demonstrates impressive benchmarks in energy saving (43%), water reduction (40%), and carbon emission reduction (61%) compared to conventional university complexes, surpassing standard EDGE criteria.

Enhance education internationalisation 

This milestone builds on BUV’s strategic process of consolidating academic leadership and repositioning its brand. These initiatives receive strong support from Vietnamese and UK government agencies and global partners. 

 Professor Wendy Thomson, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, officially announces the new title of “International Partner” for BUV, from being one of over a hundred “Recognised Teaching Centres” to one of the few “International Partners” within the University of London’s global network. 

Professor Thomson remarked: “This recognition reflects our joint commitment to academic excellence and graduate achievements and opens collaboration opportunities within our global network. It paves the way for research partnerships and knowledge exchange between Vietnam and the UK, further strengthening our international educational connections. I’m confident that this collaboration will enrich both universities’ academic offerings and deepen our global connections, marking a significant milestone in our pursuit of excellence in education.” 

The University of London has been the long-standing awarding body of BUV, which operates under the academic direction of the London School of Economics (LSE). Recognized for its outstanding performance, LSE ranks among the top ten globally in Economics and Econometrics according to THE Rankings 2025, standing alongside renowned institutions such as Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. Notably, BUV is the only university in Vietnam that offers undergraduate degrees from the University of London. 

His Excellency Iain Frew, British Ambassador to Vietnam, emphasised that this expansion reinforces the deepening and ever-growing partnership between the UK – Vietnam in the field of education.

British Ambassador Iain Frew highlights BUV’s efforts, saying: “The inauguration is an expansion that not only enhances BUV’s academic offering but also strengthens the deep and growing ties between the UK and Vietnam in education. And it is fantastic to see that BUV has become one of a small number of International Partners of the University of London globally. This is a prestigious recognition that speaks volumes about the quality and reputation of BUV, further cementing its position as a leading provider of British higher education in Vietnam.” 

Mr Nguyễn Tiến Dũng, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Training, noted that the event holds special significance in the context of the Government’s push for the internationalisation of education and its efforts to enhance cooperation and attract foreign investment.

Mr. Nguyen Tien Dung, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation, Ministry of Education and Training, praises BUV’s efforts, stating: “This event is particularly significant as the Vietnamese government intensifies education internationalisation, attracts foreign investment, and encourages universities to meet international standards, training high-quality human resources for Vietnam’s development era.”