The University of Danang (UD) is one of Vietnam’s most prominent regional universities, recognized as a center of innovation, knowledge creation, and development for Central Vietnam and the Central Highlands.
Established in 1994 by the Government of Vietnam, UD inherits more than five decades of academic tradition from its founding institutions and over 30 years of its own development. Over time, it has grown into a large, multidisciplinary university system known for excellence in teaching, research, and community service. Its hundreds of thousands of alumni—ranging from professionals to managers and industry experts—have made significant contributions to both regional and national progress.
UD consists of six member universities: the University of Science and Technology, the University of Economics, the University of Science and Education, the University of Foreign Language Studies, the University of Technology and Education, and the Vietnam-Korea University of Information and Communications Technology. It also includes additional units such as the School of Medicine and Pharmacy, UD Campus in Kon Tum, the Vietnam-UK Institute for Research and Executive Education (VNUK), the Danang International Institute of Technology (DNIIT), the Faculty of Physical Education, the Center for Defense and Security Education, and various other specialized training and research centers.
Situated in Da Nang City—an economic and cultural hub in Central Vietnam and a gateway to several UNESCO World Heritage Sites including Phong Nha-Ke Bang, Hue Monuments Complex, Hoi An Ancient Town, My Son Sanctuary, and Marble Mountains—UD attracts top-tier students from across Vietnam and abroad.
The university employs nearly 2,600 academic and administrative staff, with almost half holding doctoral degrees. Many faculty members have received advanced training overseas, adding a strong international dimension to UD’s teaching and research. UD also hosts foreign experts and volunteers who contribute to its academic environment. With more than 60,000 full-time students from over 20 countries, UD ranks among the largest institutions in Vietnam in terms of student enrollment.
UD offers a wide variety of academic programs designed to meet the changing needs of society, including 135 undergraduate programs, 49 master’s programs, and 29 doctoral programs.
Quality assurance is central to UD’s mission. Many of its programs have earned national and international accreditation from organizations such as AUN-QA (Southeast Asia), CTI (France), ASIIN (Germany), and HCERES (Europe). With 100 accredited programs, UD consistently ranks among Vietnam’s leaders in academic quality.
UD is also active in research and innovation. It promotes interdisciplinary research teams (TRTs) and produces more than 500 international publications each year in high-impact journals indexed by WoS/Scopus. The UD Journal of Science and Technology is listed in several global academic databases, supporting international knowledge exchange. The university also maintains partnerships with local governments, businesses, and international organizations to advance applied research, technology transfer, and innovation for regional and national development.
International cooperation is one of UD’s key strengths. The university has established partnerships with over 250 institutions worldwide, including in the United States, Japan, France, Germany, the UK, South Korea, and Australia. UD regularly hosts major international conferences and academic events to support global collaboration.
UD is the first non-European member of the Ulysseus European University Alliance and an active member of AUF, AUN, ASEA-UNINET, and UMAP. It also participates in major international projects such as PHER, Erasmus+, DIGITAL MOVE, V2WORK, and HARMONY.
Consistently ranked among Vietnam's and Asia’s top universities (Top 3 by uniRank, Top 8 by Webometrics, and Top 400 in Asia by QS), UD continues to strengthen its influence and reputation nationally and regionally.
With sustained support from the Vietnamese Government, UD is undergoing major development as part of the national higher education strategy. The expansion of the UD Urban Area in Hoa Quy – Dien Ngoc reflects the university’s long-term vision to become a National University—joining Vietnam National University Hanoi and Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City—in leading the future of globally integrated higher education.
