In December 2025, a number of students and former students of the London College for Design & Fashion accused the school of charging hundreds of millions of dong in tuition fees for university top-up programs, only to be notified later that their bachelor's degrees were not recognized by the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET). 

In February 2026, the Minister of Education and Training established a specialized inspection team to examine the London College for Design & Fashion. Based on the inspection findings and the school's explanations, MOET has since announced the results.

MOET stated that during the inspection, the school failed to provide documents proving it had registered and received authorization from competent authorities to conduct foreign joint training in vocational education.

Furthermore, the school does not belong to the category of entities permitted to carry out joint foreign training at the university level under current regulations. Nevertheless, the institution still recruited students, organized joint training programs, and issued foreign diplomas and certificates.

Notably, during recruitment, training, and promotional activities, the school used multiple different names, including “Truong Cao dang Thiet ke va Thoi trang London (Ha Noi)”; “Hoc vien Thiet ke va Thoi trang London (Ha Noi); “London College for Design & Fashion (Hanoi)”, “The London College for Fashion Studies”, “LCDF – Ha Noi”  and several others.

The prolonged use of the name "Hoc vien Thiet ke va Thoi trang London (Ha Noi) showed signs of providing inaccurate information regarding legal status, organizational structure, nature, and training level, with the potential to confuse learners and the public.

Numerous irregularities 

Regarding student recruitment and management, MOET reported that training records failed to comply with regulations. Over multiple academic years, the school lacked recruitment plans, recruitment regulations, decisions on establishing recruitment boards, training management files, and student academic tracking records.

Regarding the teaching staff, management records were incomplete. Numerous cases lacked recruitment dossiers as required by law, failed to present documents proving professional qualifications, and lacked work permits for foreign lecturers in accordance with regulations.

In addition, the employing entity did not sign contracts with the teaching staff; instead, contracts were executed by London College of Fashion - Hanoi Co., Ltd.

Regarding the management of diplomas and certificates, provided documents showed that the school had not issued specific regulations on diploma and certificate issuance management. There were no tracking logbooks for diploma issuance and sign-offs, storage records were incomplete relative to the number of graduates, and diplomas and certificates used institutional names that were inconsistent with the school's legal name under its establishment and operating permits.

According to MOET, these shortcomings and violations occurred over many years, affecting a large number of learners and impairing their legitimate rights and interests, while displaying signs of opacity in foreign joint training activities.

However, at the time of issuing the conclusion document, MOET stated there were insufficient grounds to fully identify the violating entities, the scope of responsibility, and the legal liability of relevant organizations and individuals. Alleged violating content requiring further verification and clarification has been transferred to competent authorities for review and handling according to regulations.

MOET requested London College for Design and Fashion to strictly use the legal name authorized by competent authorities upon its establishment.

The school must cease student recruitment for foreign joint training programs in vocational and higher education, and refrain from conducting training programs with foreign joint elements, programs utilizing foreign degrees and certificates, and training programs at locations under the school's management until compliance with Vietnamese law is guaranteed.

The school is required to prepare plans to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of learners, including both graduates and currently enrolled students, and to execute these upon request by competent authorities once the matter is fully verified and resolved.

Thuy Nga