University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City

What University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City does

University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (USSH-VNUHCM) is a public degree-granting institution and the largest social sciences and humanities training and research center in Southern Vietnam. Founded in 1957 as the University of Humanities and Letters and now operating under the Vietnam National University system, the institution offers 38+ undergraduate, 34 master's, and 13 doctoral programs across ten interdisciplinary fields including languages, journalism, tourism management, psychology, international relations, and social work. Programs are delivered across two campuses in Ho Chi Minh City—the Saigon campus (District 1) for postgraduate and international training and the Linh Xuan campus (Thu Duc City) for undergraduate training—plus specialized international-standard and double-degree tracks taught in nine languages.

Revenue is generated primarily through per-student tuition fees, which scale by program tier (16M–66M VND/year for standard Vietnamese programs and approximately USD 11,350 for the 24-month Benedictine University joint master's program), supplemented by government block funding as a VNU-HCM member institution. Distribution occurs via a dedicated admissions portal, the VNU-HCM national admission system (national exam scores, aptitude tests, high school academic records), a dedicated International Training Center for joint and exchange programs, and an outbound high school outreach function that brought 820+ prospective students to campus in January 2026.

The university's principal technology differentiator is the Applied AI Laboratory, established in May 2026 as Vietnam's first applied AI lab through a partnership with Google and VNG Corporation, providing selected research teams early access to advanced AI models via Google's AI Futures Fund. Customer-facing technology is otherwise conventional educational infrastructure: an official website, online admissions portal, and social media presence on Facebook for admissions and student activities. Strategic positioning centers on internationalization (95+ countries represented; 250+ international partners), multilingual education, and applied research, with a 2026–2030 postgraduate expansion plan and 2026 program additions in Human Resource Management, Public Relations, and Urban Development and Real Estate Management.

Name

University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City

Legal name

Trường Đại học Khoa học Xã hội và Nhân văn, Đại học Quốc gia Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh

Website

https://hcmussh.edu.vn

Company type

Public

Founded year

1957

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

USSH-VNUHCM is a public Vietnamese university and the largest social sciences and humanities training center in Southern Vietnam, offering 38+ undergraduate, 34 master's, and 13 doctoral programs to domestic and international students through tuition, government block funding, and joint-degree partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education (Social Sciences and Humanities)

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Dual/Joint Degree Programs (International) (EDAIABAD)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Social sciences programs
• Humanities university
• Graduate degree programs
• International joint degrees

Headquarters

HQ city

Ho Chi Minh City

HQ country

Vietnam

HQ region

Asia

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition Fees - Standard Programs: Tuition revenue from undergraduate and postgraduate programs, charged per academic year based on program type and field group
2. Tuition Fees - International Standard Programs: Higher tuition fees for international-standard labeled programs in languages, journalism, tourism management, and psychology
3. International Joint Programs: Collaborative degree programs with foreign universities such as Benedictine University (USA), charging full program fees in USD equivalent
4. Government Block Funding: State budget funding as a member institution of Vietnam National University system

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

USSH-VNUHCM provides higher education and postgraduate research training in social sciences and humanities, delivering undergraduate, master's, and doctoral programs across 38+ undergraduate disciplines, 33 master's, and 18 doctoral fields. Offerings include standard, international-standard, talent, double-degree, and part-time tracks, plus joint international degrees (e.g., Benedictine University) and short-term/long-term student exchanges with 250+ global partners.

Product overview

USSH-VNUHCM operates as a comprehensive educational institution within the Vietnam National University system, offering a multi-tiered portfolio of programs. The core offerings include standard undergraduate programs (Đại học Chính quy) across 38 disciplines with multiple tracks (standard, international standard, talent, and double-degree), graduate programs (Sau đại học) at master's and doctoral levels (33 master's and 18 doctoral programs), international joint programs (Liên kết quốc tế) at both undergraduate and graduate levels, and part-time study options. Key products include specific joint degree programs such as the Master's in Linguistics with Benedictine University (USA) and double-degree concurrent programs across VNU-HCM member universities. The institution emphasizes multilingual education (with programs in English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, German, French, Spanish, Russian, and Italian) and maintains partnerships with over 250 international universities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Standard Undergraduate Programs (Đại học Chính quy) Bachelor's degree programs across 38 disciplines in social sciences and humanities, with standard, international-standard, talent, and double-degree tracks. Targets domestic and international high school graduates seeking university-level qualifications.
• Master's and Doctoral Programs (Sau đại học) Master's degree programs across 33 disciplines and doctoral programs across 18 disciplines in social sciences and humanities. Targets graduates pursuing advanced research training and academic career preparation.
• International Joint Programs (Liên kết quốc tế) Joint undergraduate and graduate degree programs delivered in cooperation with foreign partner universities, including credit recognition and articulation agreements. Targets students seeking internationally benchmarked qualifications at Vietnamese tuition costs.
• Master of Linguistics (English Language Teaching) - Benedictine University Joint Program (Cohort 11, 2026) Joint master's program in Linguistics with English Language Teaching orientation, delivered in partnership with Benedictine University (USA). Awards a US-accredited master's degree upon completion of a 24-month course of study. Targets professionals and graduates seeking internationally recognized TESOL credentials.
• Double Degree Programs (Song ngành) Concurrent double-degree undergraduate programs allowing students to pursue two majors simultaneously across VNU-HCM member universities, with fields including Journalism, International Relations, Psychology, English Language, and Tourism Management. Targets ambitious undergraduates seeking broader academic credentials.
• Part-time Programs (Vừa làm vừa học) Part-time undergraduate programs for working professionals, offering first degree and second degree options in social sciences and humanities disciplines. Targets working adults seeking to combine employment with university study.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quality accreditation achieved Cycle II (2022) by Ministry of Education and Training standards

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Deakin University (Australia)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 30 June 2026Celebrated 10 years of international educational cooperation. Joint programs in various disciplines under the social sciences and humanities umbrella, with student exchanges and collaborative research initiatives.
• Benedictine University (USA)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 7 May 2026Joint Master's program in Linguistics (English Teaching Orientation) - Cohort 11 (2026). Students earn a Master's degree from Benedictine University while studying at the Vietnam campus. Full program costs approximately USD 11,350 (299 million VND) for 24 months. The program recruits 50 students annually with instruction in English.
• GoogleflagshipTechnology or Integration · 4 May 2026Strategic partnership with Google to establish Vietnam's first Applied AI Lab at Vietnam National University-HCMC. The initiative provides selected research teams early access to Google's advanced AI models and tools through collaboration with Google's AI Futures Fund at Saigon AI Hub, with an initial cohort of 10 teams comprising nearly 60 researchers working on linguistics, computer vision, human-robot interaction, healthcare, and cybersecurity.
• VNG CorporationflagshipTechnology or Integration · 4 May 2026Joint initiative with Google and VNU-HCM to launch Vietnam's first Applied AI Lab, supporting AI development and real-world applications in the country.
• 250+ International Universities and Research InstitutescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal partnership network with over 250 universities and research institutes worldwide. Activities include student and faculty exchange (short-term and long-term), overseas study programs, joint training and credit recognition at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, joint research projects, international scientific conferences, and collaborative scientific publications.
• Hoa Sen GroupminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCompany tours and industry engagement for students, including the 16th company tour at Hoa Sen Group to provide real-world industry exposure for students.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Others

• SOAS University of London: UK specialist institution focusing on social sciences, humanities, and languages of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East. Comparable institutional model (SSH-specialist, internationally diverse student body, language-rich curriculum) though geographically remote.

Direct peers

• University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH): Member of the VNU-HCM system alongside USSH, with comparable public-university status, large program portfolio spanning business/social sciences, and similar tuition/pricing model. Closely comparable in scale, governance, and student demographics in southern Vietnam.
• Ho Chi Minh City University of Education: Public SSH-and-education focused university in Ho Chi Minh City with overlapping Teacher Education and Educational Psychology programs. Directly competes for the same Southern Vietnamese high school graduate pool.
• Foreign Trade University (FTU): Public university under Vietnam's Ministry of Education with strong international programs, joint degrees, and a social-sciences/business curriculum that overlaps USSH's International Relations, International Business, and Languages offerings.
• VNU-HCM University of Science: A third VNU-HCM member university, focused on STEM and natural sciences. Functions as both a systems peer (shared governance/admissions infrastructure) and a structural counterpart capturing the SSH-applicant demand that USSH does not address.
• VNU University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Hanoi): The Hanoi-based counterpart within the same Vietnam National University system, offering directly comparable SSH undergraduate and graduate programs. Closest peer because of mirrored mission, equivalent program structure, and identical parent-system governance.
• University of Languages and International Studies, VNU-HCM (ULIS): Sibling VNU-HCM member university specializing in foreign languages and international studies - directly overlaps with USSH's language, linguistics, and international-relations programs. Sharing the VNU-HCM parent produces near-identical governance and admissions processes.

Emerging players

• Fulbright University Vietnam: Newer private nonprofit humanities-and-social-sciences university in Ho Chi Minh City with liberal-arts orientation and strong US-ties. Positioned as a direct premium alternative for SSH applicants who might otherwise consider USSH's international-standard programs.

Regional players

• University of Social Sciences, National University of Singapore: The leading SSH faculty at NUS, competing with USSH for top international students from across Southeast Asia in disciplines such as sociology, political science, linguistics, and area studies. Regional benchmark for SSH scale and prestige.

Broad incumbents

• RMIT Vietnam: International branch campus of an Australian university in Ho Chi Minh City, offering broader STEM/business programs taught in English with premium USD-denominated tuition. Competes directly for the same affluent Vietnamese and international student segments that USSH's international-standard programs target.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/ussh.vnuhcm
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ussh-vnuhcm

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City