In the trend of innovating university teaching methods in the direction of student-centered learning, this article proposes the application of problem-based learning (PBL) in teaching English communication skills to engineering students at University of Engineering and Technology, Vietnam National University. With a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods, the research showed that PBL was an ideal teaching method since it enabled engineering students not only to improve their communication skills but also to apply the content knowledge in the English course. In addition, the study identified the main challenges faced by students in implementing group projects. It is hoped that this study can provide researchers and teachers with useful implications for using English as a medium of instruction in science-related subjects.