On March 12, 2025, QS announced the QS World University Ranking by Subject 2025. According to the rankings, Van Lang University was placed in the global top 51-100 for Performing Arts and the top 101-150 for Art & Design.

With this achievement, Van Lang University shares the same ranking with 50 prestigious universities globally in Performing Arts and with other 48 universities worldwide in Art & Design. These include Newcastle University (Australia), Seoul National University, Hanyang University (South Korea), the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the University of Pennsylvania, Cornell University (USA), the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University (Singapore), Sorbonne University (France), the Australian National University (Australia), National Taiwan University, UCSI University (Malaysia), Peking University (China), and others.

Visit QS’ website for more information: https://www.topuniversities.com/ 

The QS World University Rankings by Subject 2025 analyzed 55 academic disciplines across 5,203 universities from 148 countries, with rankings published for 1,747 institutions. In the field of Performing Arts, QS ranked 150 universities globally out of 1,812 surveyed institutions. For Art & Design, 260 universities were ranked out of 2,760 institutions assessed. Notably, Van Lang University is the only institution from Vietnam to be featured in the global rankings for both subjects.

In the fields of Performing Arts and Art & Design, Van Lang University currently offers 7 academic programs at both undergraduate and master's levels under the Faculty of Arts & Design. These programs include Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, Industrial Design (Product Design), Digital Art & Design, Applied Arts, and Art Theory & Application (Master’s level).

The Faculty of Arts & Design at Van Lang University is renowned for its continuously evolving curriculum that keeps pace with and anticipates global design trends. It provides a comprehensive learning environment enriched with diverse community engagement activities, cultural exploration, and a deep appreciation for national identity. With strong connections to leading enterprises and prestigious art associations, along with a thriving network of talented students and alumni, the faculty has built a reputation for excellence. Today’s QS ranking is a testament to the Faculty of Arts & Design’s unwavering dedication and 20-year journey of steady progress and achievement.

20 years of legacy

Established in 2005, the Faculty of Arts & Design at Van Lang University has seen over 4,500 graduates. The faculty focuses on key academic pillars, including Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Interior Design, and Industrial Design. Its training philosophy integrates "art" within "design" and blends tradition with practical application, fostering a distinctive approach aligned with modern global design thinking.

M.A., Artist Phan Quan Dung, Dean of the Faculty of Arts & Design, shared: "A designer must continuously cultivate artistic thinking. At Van Lang, art and design go hand in hand, creating a harmonious whole. This strategic mindset has been embedded in the faculty's foundation from the very beginning, aligning with the global trend of interdisciplinary education. With this approach, design students at Van Lang University participate in annual workshops and creative camps, working alongside and observing painters, sculptors, and visual artists - both local and international - as they blend performance art, installations, and creative expressions. This deep artistic foundation fosters innovative and distinctive design thinking, inspiring both lecturers and students in their creative journey."

Traditional art courses have been integrated into Van Lang University’s modern Design curriculum and have been well received by students. Subjects such as woodcut painting and monoprinting provide students with the opportunity to work alongside leading Vietnamese and international artists

Seven years after its establishment, in 2012, the Faculty of Arts & Design introduced the Ancient Heritage Studies course - now a signature component of Van Lang University's design programs. Originating from field trips dedicated to researching and documenting national heritage, this course has evolved into community design initiatives, spreading artistic values to positively impact local communities. Each year, students from Graphic Design, Interior Design, and Fashion Design embark on study trips to the ancient capital of Hue to explore Central Vietnamese culture, sketching patterns and motifs found in the Imperial City, communal houses, pagodas, traditional Hue-style homes, and decorative screens. Fashion students travel to the A Luoi border region, immersing themselves in the traditions of the Ta Oi and Co Tu ethnic groups, learning their brocade weaving techniques and natural dyeing methods. Several graduation projects have successfully incorporated traditional heritage into modern design, earning national recognition. Notable examples include The Am Phu Culinary Restaurant project by Le Ngo Ngoc Tin (Interior Design), and Wedding Jewelry Inspired by the Phoenix Motif in Hue Imperial Patterns by Nguyen Vo Kim Anh (Industrial Design), both of which received awards at the National Applied Arts Exhibition.

The international exchange process of Van Lang University's Faculties of Arts is built on cultural exchange, drawing from the "hidden heritage" within Vietnamese folklore that carries unique cultural identities. Cultivating a generation of artists and designers capable of creating culturally distinctive works requires a structured, formal, and professional training system. The integration of traditional and modern cultural foundations in education has gradually borne fruit. In 2015, marking its 10th anniversary, the Faculty of Arts & Design made a significant impact by hosting the national conference "Applied Arts on the Path to Rediscovering Vietnamese Identity," solidifying Van Lang University's presence among arts and design institutions across the country.

Each year since then, the Art & Design Journal has been published consistently and continues to this day. Alongside creative camps and national and international academic conferences, these efforts have expanded the reputation of the Faculty of Arts & Design, attracting artists, painters, and designers from Vietnam and abroad to Van Lang University. Keeping pace with global design trends, recent approaches at VLU’s Faculty of Arts & Design focus on creative design for communities and sustainable design. Regularly organized artistic and research activities provide students with hands-on community experiences, fostering cultural understanding, patriotism, and aesthetic awareness - essential qualities for our young designers.

See more: The journey from concept to meaningful impact (Raw to Real) by VLU Digital Art & Design students through the viral short film project "Grandma’s Cookie Tin."

See more: The journey from concept to meaningful impact (Raw to Real) by VLU Interior Design students through the Istar Collection chair project— the valedictorian graduation project of 2024.

Committed to Quality, Striving for Excellence

The process of shaping the identity of the Faculty of Arts & Design at Van Lang University is closely aligned with its commitment to quality and pursuit of excellence.

Building a network of partners since its early years, the Faculty of Arts & Design at Van Lang University has become a strategic partner of major universities in South Korea - a global powerhouse in design. For over a decade, Van Lang's design programs have showcased students' graduation projects annually in South Korea through collaborations with Handong University, Kookmin University, Sunmoon University, and leading Korean design associations. In recent years, Van Lang has expanded its partnerships to Thailand (Khon Kaen University, Rajamangala University of Technology Rattanakosin), China (Kunming University), and Taiwan (Ming Chi University of Technology), further strengthening its international engagement.

The international and domestic collaboration network of the Faculty of Arts & Design has grown significantly, with nearly 50 partner institutions from Vietnam, Taiwan, South Korea, India, Thailand, and Sweden, along with businesses that actively support training and career development for students. Since the early 2010s, Van Lang University has been among the first institutions to organize graduate design exhibitions, directly connecting students with industry professionals through these events. Today, it is a point of pride that every VLU design graduation season creates a buzz on social media, showcasing impressive designs, professional runway shows, and viral projects.

In 2022, the Graphic Design program at Van Lang University was officially recognized for meeting the AUN-QA quality standards under the ASEAN University Network. Two years later, the Fashion Design and Interior Design programs also received outstanding evaluations from AUN-QA, further demonstrating the Faculty's commitment to sustainable development and international academic standards. The latest results from the QS World University Rankings 2025 for Performing Arts and Art & Design reaffirm Van Lang University's position and educational excellence on the global academic map.

The year 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of the Reunification of Vietnam, the 30th anniversary of Van Lang University, and the 20th anniversary of the Faculty of Arts and Design. In this milestone academic year, Van Lang University has been selected as the host institution for the International Student Media Arts Festival (ISMA) 2025, bringing together nearly 100 universities from 15 countries. This event highlights international cultural exchange and creative collaboration in the fields of media and the arts.
 

News: Mai Yen
Photos: Compiled from various sources

Read more:
QS Rankings 2025: Van Lang University Ranked Among Asia's Top 491-500 Universities