Welcome to V-PASS
Empowering Vietnamese students to pursue doctoral education through mentorship and guidance
Learn MoreAbout Us
Our Mission
The Viet PhD Application Support System (V-PASS) supports and empowers aspiring Vietnamese students who seek to pursue doctoral education beyond Vietnam. We facilitate sustained mentorship by connecting applicants with current Ph.D. students and candidates who have firsthand experience navigating the application process and unique insights into institutional environments. Through this peer-based network, we aim to demystify the path to graduate education and expand equitable access to guidance and support.
Our Values
Beyond individual mentorship, V-PASS is committed to cultivating a growing, inclusive community of Vietnamese academics across disciplines and geographies–one grounded in shared experience, mutual support, and a long-term vision for collective advancement.
What We Offer
Mentorship
One-on-one guidance from current PhD students to help you navigate the application process.
Networking
Connect with fellow Vietnamese students and build a supportive community of scholars.
Application Support
Comprehensive assistance with personal statements, research proposals, and interview preparation.
General Guidelines
General Information
Mentor-Mentee Match
V-PASS helps connect Vietnamese students who wish to pursue an academic doctoral degree (mentees) with current PhD students (mentors) in the same field. The mentors will provide tailored support and advice for the mentees as they explore their field of interest and apply for grad school.
Students are encouraged to join at various stages in their journey, even as early as their first year of college if they have had a clear research direction (broadly defined) that they wish to pursue.
Students from smaller or lesser-known colleges are especially encouraged to apply.
Mentor-mentee matching process occurs twice a year (tentatively September and February).
Mentor sign-up is open year-round.
How does it work?
- In the application form, prospective mentees are asked to describe where they are in their academic journey and what support they would need if paired with a mentor. Though laying out exact sub-fields of interest is not necessary, mentees are expected to be driven and have a good sense of academic direction. They must provide the broad academic field they wish to pursue a graduate degree in.
- Mentees are paired with mentors based on their broad field or, if possible, sub-field of interest.
- The support and mentorship provided by the mentor depends on the needs of the mentee. It could range from early guidance (eg. how to apply to work in a lab, discuss research ideas, etc.) to PhD application support (eg. who should I ask for LOR, what to write in the SOP, etc.).
- After pairing, each mentor-mentee pair has an orientation meeting to set expectations. After that, mentors and mentees meet however frequently as they agree on, but no less than once a month.
- Mutual respect is expected of both mentors and mentees during the mentorship.
Mentor-Mentee Yearly Check
- Each mentor-mentee pair that has not finished the PhD application process will be asked to confirm annually whether they wish to continue for the following year.
- We actively seek and welcome feedback from both mentors and mentees to improve the program.
Financial Transparency
- Each mentee contributes a one-time fee of $20. This fee is to make sure the commitment is serious and the mentorship is sustainable.
- Fee waivers are available for students who may face financial hardship. Please indicate so in your application form.
- A public finance sheet will be shared to maintain transparency. Funds will go toward: scholarships or financial support for mentees in the future.
Program Statistics
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I become a mentee?
To become a mentee, please fill out our application form on the Mentee page. We review applications biannually and will contact you if you're selected for the program.
How can I become a mentor?
We're always looking for experienced graduate students and professionals to join our mentor network. Please contact us with your background and areas of expertise through our People page.
What is the duration of the mentorship program?
There is no specific duration for the mentorship program. It is flexible and depends on the mentee's needs and the mentor's availability. Many mentees continue their relationship with mentors throughout their academic journey.
Is there a cost to participate?
Our program requires a one-time fee of $20 per mentee to maintain program operations. This fee covers your participation for as many years as you would like to be advised, regardless of your academic year.
We use these funds to support scholarships for other mentees.
For detailed financial information, please visit our Finance page.
Note: We DO offer scholarships for mentees, so please mention this in your application.
How can I support V-PASS financially?
We welcome donations and sponsorships to help expand our program and provide more opportunities for Vietnamese students. Please visit our Finance page for more information or contact us directly.