Cuba allows university admission without entrance exams.

Cuban students will be admitted to university based on their cumulative academic scores, amidst a strained education system facing financial constraints.

Cuban medical students during a practical session - Photo: AP

On May 20, Cuban Education Minister Naima Ariatne Trujillo Barreto announced special measures for the Cuban education system in the current difficult circumstances, including the abolition of university entrance exams and an early end to the 2025-2026 school year at all levels.

According to Minister Trujillo Barreto, university admissions will no longer depend on entrance exams, but will be based on the average academic scores that students accumulate in pre-university programs.

University placement will be done using a system of pre-filled application forms, ensuring a place for everyone, although specific placement will depend on academic achievement and available spots.

For his part, the Minister of Higher Education, Walter Baluja García, said there are enough places for more than 32,000 pre-university students, allocated to over 100 degree programs, in addition to thousands more places through supporting means such as distance learning courses.

Cuban officials also announced that the school year would end early, around June 15-30 (15 days earlier than usual), although this would be gradual and would not mean the immediate closure of educational centers. Educational facilities would remain open for supplementary activities, assessments, and information processes.

Minister Trujillo Barreto said the adjustment was due to connectivity and transportation difficulties, forcing the university to prioritize final-year students and rearrange the class schedule.

Ms. Trujillo Barreto also emphasized the need to adapt the education system to the country's conditions, prioritizing support for vulnerable students and ensuring the continuity of education through blended learning models that combine in-person and online learning and community-based approaches.

Higher education is one of the sectors most severely affected by the problems caused by fuel shortages. Most schools have shifted to a hybrid model of in-person and online teaching and learning.

VNA

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/cuba-cho-vao-dai-hoc-khong-can-thi-tuyen-20260521072923877.htm