HÀ NỘI — British University Vietnam (BUV) officially inaugurated the second phase of its 5-star campus on Tuesday—a development with a total projected investment of US$165 million—bringing world-class British education to thousands of students.

Construction of the second phase began in August 2022, with a US$33 million investment in the Ecopark Township. The new addition spans 16,300 sq.m and features a student hub, a food court, and more than 100 lecture halls and specialised classrooms. Combined with the first phase, BUV’s expanded US$85 million campus can now accommodate up to 5,500 students from both Việt Nam and abroad.

During the ceremony, BUV was awarded the EDGE Advanced Certification for the second phase of the campus, following the certification of the first phase in November 2024. As the first university in Việt Nam to receive EDGE certification, this recognition highlights BUV’s ongoing commitment to sustainability and its ambition to become the country's first zero-carbon university, aiming for 100 per cent operational carbon offset.

The construction coverage ratio stands at just 20 per cent, reflecting BUV’s dedication to preserving green, open spaces and promoting an environmentally conscious campus environment.

“The ongoing expansion of our 5-star campus underscores BUV’s mission to provide internationally accredited British education, foster purpose-driven learning, and equip students with the skills needed to thrive in an ever-evolving world,” said Professor Raymond Gordon, Vice-Chancellor and President of BUV. “This milestone brings us closer to our vision of becoming the number one international university in Việt Nam and the broader region.”

Looking ahead, BUV plans to launch a third phase by 2028, raising its student capacity to 10,000. The overall investment across all phases is projected to reach US$165 million.

The campus also sets new standards for sustainability, achieving impressive reductions in energy consumption (43 per cent), water usage (40 per cent), and carbon emissions (61 per cent) compared to conventional university designs—exceeding standard EDGE benchmarks.

This expansion forms part of BUV’s broader strategy to consolidate its academic leadership and reposition its brand. These efforts have garnered strong support from both Vietnamese and UK government agencies, as well as international partners.

In a significant development, Professor Wendy Thomson, Vice-Chancellor of the University of London, announced that BUV has been elevated from a ‘Recognised Teaching Centre’ to one of the University’s select ‘International Partners’—a prestigious designation shared by only a few institutions globally.

British Ambassador to Việt Nam, Iain Frew, remarked: “This inauguration marks a major expansion of BUV’s academic offering and deepens the already strong educational ties between the UK and Việt Nam. It is remarkable to see BUV become one of the few International Partners of the University of London, a status that reflects its outstanding reputation and further strengthens its position as a leading provider of British higher education in Việt Nam.”

Nguyễn Tiến Dũng, Deputy Director General of the Department of International Cooperation at the Ministry of Education and Training, added: “This event holds particular significance as the Vietnamese Government promotes the internationalisation of education, attracts foreign investment, and encourages institutions to meet global standards in the training of high-quality human resources for national development.” — VNS