Candidates participating in the 2026 high school graduation exam. Photo: NAM NGUYEN
No need to erect additional barriers.
According to the Admission Regulations issued with Circular 06/2026/TT-BGDĐT, candidates must achieve a minimum of 15 points in the combination of three subjects for admission or in the combination of Mathematics, Literature and one other subject to be eligible for university admission.
Immediately after the new regulations were announced, there was much debate about whether the 15-point figure was too high for students in disadvantaged areas.
Based on the 2025 high school graduation exam score distribution, Dr. Dang Quang Vinh, lecturer at the Faculty of Computer Science and Technology, British University Vietnam (BUV), conducted a probability analysis of achieving a score of 15 points or higher across different subject combinations. The results showed that the probability of achieving 15 points or more in three subjects was approximately 91.2%. If limited to combinations including Mathematics or Literature, this rate still reached nearly 89%.
This means that the vast majority of candidates remain within the eligibility range for admission. The group primarily affected are those with very low academic results. This is also the group where pursuing a university education poses the greatest risks.
Dr. Dang Quang Vinh argues that the 15-point threshold should not be seen as a new "barrier" but rather as a minimum quality assurance standard for entry. In reality, 15 points for three subjects is only equivalent to an average of 5 points per subject. This is the basic academic level for a student who has completed the high school program. If even this threshold is not met, pursuing a university program, which requires self-study, research, and the ability to acquire in-depth knowledge, will be extremely difficult.
Professor Nguyen Dinh Duc (Vietnam National University, Hanoi) contributed his opinion, stating that the policy's message is not about reducing the scale of higher education , but rather about ensuring that students enter university with the necessary minimum academic foundation. The demand for high-quality human resources is increasing. If the entry requirements are too low, universities will have to spend more time compensating students for their foundational knowledge, affecting the quality of education. According to him, establishing a minimum threshold is not intended to restrict learning opportunities, but rather to ensure the value of degrees and the quality of future human resources.
Another question raised is whether the new regulations will create difficulties for universities, especially those that have been under pressure to recruit students for many years?
According to experts, in the short term, there will be a certain impact. Some less attractive fields of study or schools with low competitiveness may have more difficulty recruiting enough students. In recent years, many local or private schools have had to conduct multiple rounds of supplementary admissions to fill their quotas. Some fields of study have only achieved 60-70% of their projected enrollment after actual enrollment.
Dr. Nguyen Trieu Duong, Head of Training Department, Hanoi Law University, commented that the minimum score of 15 points is not too high for students who have completed the high school program. The important thing is that this regulation helps universities recruit candidates with a solid foundation of basic knowledge to pursue university programs.
According to Dr. Nguyen Trieu Duong, the quality of input and output are always closely related. Schools can support students during their studies, but it is very difficult to completely fill the gaps in general knowledge that have persisted for many years. Therefore, establishing a common minimum threshold will create more favorable conditions for schools in organizing training.
For top universities like Hanoi University of Science and Technology, National Economics University, and Hanoi Law University, the admission scores have consistently been much higher than 15 points for many years. Therefore, the new regulation is unlikely to create significant changes in the pool of applicants. The main impact will be concentrated in universities with lower admission scores or in majors that are struggling to attract students.
Meanwhile, for local training institutions or fields of study that lack appeal, the new regulations are seen as an impetus for curriculum reform, strengthening business linkages, and improving employment opportunities for graduates.
University is not the only path.
The issue of university entrance requirements is not only about the quality of admissions but also about the goal of educational streaming and the efficient use of human resources. Many parents still consider university to be almost the only path to success. This leads many students to try to enter university at all costs, even when their abilities and aptitudes are better suited to vocational education.
However, the reality of the labor market is showing a different picture. In many industrial zones and high-tech manufacturing enterprises, the demand for skilled workers with formal training from colleges and vocational schools is growing. Many mechatronics technicians, automation specialists, high-tech welders, or intelligent system operators earn starting salaries of 12-18 million VND per month, equivalent to or higher than some university-trained fields.
Le Trong Hieu, a 12th-grade student at Kim Lien High School (Hanoi), said he doesn't feel pressured by the new regulations. "I think 15 points isn't a difficult score. If you've decided to go to university, you need a minimum foundation of knowledge. Those who don't meet the requirement can choose vocational training or college and then transfer later," Hieu shared.
From a student's perspective, Nguyen Thanh Dat, a third-year Information Technology student at Hanoi University of Science and Technology, shared that many of his classmates had to drop out or switch majors due to a weak foundation in the subject. "Many students failed advanced mathematics or basic programming courses in their first semester. If there were a specific entrance requirement, it could help students think more carefully before making their choices," Dat said.
Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Phu Khanh (Phenikaa University) believes that, in the current competitive environment for student recruitment, the deciding factor is no longer low or high admission scores, but rather the quality of training and career prospects. A field of study with a modern curriculum and clear job opportunities can still attract students even with higher entry requirements. “Today’s candidates are very practical in their choices. They are more concerned about what they will study, where they will work after graduation, and what their income will be like, rather than just finding a school with low admission scores to easily get accepted,” Dr. Khanh observed.
The reality at the National Economics University shows that the demand from businesses for high-quality human resources is growing. At the 2025 NEU Career Week, themed "Human Resources Adapting to Artificial Intelligence," the program attracted nearly 20,000 students and approximately 50 businesses participating in recruitment and career guidance. Many businesses stated that, in addition to professional knowledge, they are particularly interested in students' data analysis skills, digital thinking, and ability to apply AI in their work.
Representatives from the university's Career and Employment Center stated that the digital transformation trend is changing recruitment requirements in most economic, financial, management, and commercial fields. This requires educational institutions not only to innovate their curricula but also to select students with a sufficiently strong knowledge base to access new fields such as data science, business analytics, or applied artificial intelligence.
According to education experts, the most important thing is not how many students go to university, but that each student finds a path that suits their abilities, strengths, and societal needs. In the modern education system, universities, colleges, and vocational schools all play a distinct role in providing human resources for the economy.
According to Nhandan.vn
Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/giu-chuan-dau-vao-dai-hoc-a489143.html
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