Mr. Tran Trung Nghia (HCMC) is a 2nd degree student, Pharmacy major at the College of Medicine and Pharmacy. Previously, he had never received any tuition fee exemption or reduction or learning cost support from the State budget. Currently, he does not receive salary from the state budget, has no income and does not receive any living expenses support from organizations or units.
Based on the provisions of Decree No. 238/2025/ND-CP, Mr. Nghia asked, is the case of students studying for a second degree in Pharmacy (belonging to the health - toxic industry block) like him eligible for tuition fee support? Is the fact that he has never received support in the first degree, and has not received any fees, a condition for him to be considered for this policy in the second degree?
Regarding this issue, the Ministry of Education and Training answers as follows:
Point b, Clause 1, Article 16 of Decree No. 238/2025/ND-CP stipulates the subjects eligible for a 70% tuition fee reduction, including: "Students studying the majors of court music, Cheo, Tuong, Cai Luong, dance, circus; some heavy, toxic, and dangerous teaching professions for vocational education according to the list of heavy, toxic, and dangerous teaching professions regulated by the state management agency for vocational education at the central level".
Clause 5, Article 19 of Decree No. 238/2025/ND-CP stipulates: "Freeze, reduce, or support tuition fees are not applied to cases of receiving salary or living expenses when going to school, cases of studying for a master's degree or research student (except for subjects specified in Clause 9, Clause 11, Article 15 and Point b, Clause 3, Article 16 of this Decree)".
Clause 6, Article 19 of Decree No. 238/2025/ND-CP stipulates: "The regime of tuition fee exemption, reduction, and support is not applied to learners in cases where they have enjoyed this regime at a vocational education institution or a higher education institution, and now continue to study further at another vocational education and higher education institution of the same level and training level. If learners are eligible for tuition fee exemption or reduction and study at multiple educational institutions or multiple faculties, multiple majors in the same educational institution, they are only entitled to one regime of tuition fee exemption or reduction".
Thus, students of Pharmacy majors belonging to the "List of heavy, hazardous, and dangerous majors and professions at intermediate and college levels" issued in Circular No. 05/2023/TT-BLĐTBXH dated June 15, 2023, and at the same time must ensure the requirement not to apply tuition fee reduction in degree 1 and not to receive salary or living expenses when going to school, they are entitled to a 70% tuition fee reduction policy according to the provisions of Decree No. 238/2025/ND-CP.
