Which fields of study are attracting the most applicants?

According to statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training, in 2025, the number of students enrolling in business and management-related fields will continue to lead with approximately over 146,000 new students, accounting for 21%. Meanwhile, many fields of study that are strategically oriented towards technology and will experience a shortage of human resources in the next 10 years, as well as basic sciences, have not yet attracted as many students as expected.

On average, one in five students will choose to study Business and Management.

According to the Ministry of Education and Training, the number of candidates taking the 2025 high school graduation exam is 1,160,033, of which more than 681,000 successful candidates have enrolled in universities and colleges in early childhood education majors, accounting for approximately 59% of the total number of candidates taking the graduation exam. Statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training also show that in the last four years, 2025 has the highest enrollment rate (90%) at 90%.

Notably, among the 681,688 candidates admitted and enrolled in universities and teacher training colleges in 2025, the Business and Management group of majors continues to lead with over 146,000 new students, accounting for 21%. This is the group of majors offered at many universities and has the highest number of applicants choosing to enroll; on average, one in five students will choose this field. However, the percentage of students studying this field in 2025 has decreased by about 4% compared to the 25% of 2024, indicating that while the appeal of this group of majors remains strong, it is no longer experiencing the same rapid growth as before.

Business and management fields consistently rank among the top 10 most popular majors chosen by prospective students.

Coming in second is the Engineering Technology group with over 72,500 enrolled students, accounting for 10.6%, an increase of more than 1% compared to last year. This is seen as a clear signal indicating a growing trend towards technology-related fields.

In particular, the Ministry of Education and Training noted a significant improvement in the strategic technology sector. Accordingly, 44 majors in this group recruited 150,400 students, accounting for 22% of the total, demonstrating the growing appeal of these fields that are fundamental to the digital economy and modern industry.

In addition, the teacher training sector also recorded a strong increase in both admission scores and the number of applicants, and the enrollment rate for 2025 also increased significantly with 37,988 candidates. This is a positive sign in the context of the education sector needing to supplement its high-quality workforce.

The remaining fields of study in the Top 10 with the highest number of enrolled students in 2025 remain stable, including: Humanities with 65,826 enrolled students; Computer Science and Information Technology with 63,297 enrolled students; Health Sciences with 53,250 enrolled students; Engineering with 39,934 enrolled students; Social Sciences and Behavioral Sciences with 33,004 enrolled students; Hospitality, Tourism, Sports and Personal Services with 29,372 enrolled students; Law with 27,812 enrolled students; Architecture and Construction with 22,075 enrolled students...

Conversely, according to statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training, there are 12 training groups with enrollment numbers below 10,000 students per group. These include: Social Services (3,179 students); Veterinary Medicine (3,522 students); Transportation Services (4,084 students); Mathematics and Statistics (4,189 students); Natural Sciences (4,699 students); and Life Sciences (4,828 students)…

Choosing a field of study should be based on data rather than habit.

According to Associate Professor Pham Manh Ha, a career guidance and admissions consultant, based on statistics from the Ministry of Education and Training, the Business and Management ngành in 2025 will have twice the number of students enrolling compared to the Technology and Engineering ngành, which ranks second in the overall ranking.

Meanwhile, the Information Technology sector, which currently faces a shortage of over 400,000 workers annually, ranked only 4th with 63,297 applicants. Businesses complain about the difficulty in recruiting. Starting salaries for skilled IT graduates are 2-3 times higher than those in other fields, yet students still don't choose these majors. Notably, sectors like Logistics, Semiconductor Microelectronics, and Renewable Energy – areas where Vietnam places strategic bets – are also absent from the Top 10 in terms of applicant numbers.

Students should choose their field of study based on their own abilities and market demands, avoiding simply following trends.

"Why is there this disparity? Is it because students are still choosing majors based on habit rather than data? Parents choose majors for their children that are 'safe, broad, and easy to find jobs' based on the experiences of their generation, 20 years ago. Students choose based on friends, entrance exam scores, and the 'brand' of top universities, rather than their own abilities and the market demand for the next 10 years?" - Associate Professor Pham Manh Ha raised the issue.

According to Associate Professor Pham Manh Ha, fields related to technology, artificial intelligence, finance, and business are currently trending career paths attracting many students. However, opportunities for high-paying jobs always come with challenges, as fields like technology and finance require continuous intellectual activity and persistent self-learning. In the context of a rapidly changing labor market, a field considered popular today may be different in a few years. Therefore, students should choose their field of study based on their understanding, long-term career orientation, and personal abilities, rather than simply following trends.

According to Master Hoang Bao Long, a senior lecturer in the Department of Computer Science and Technology at the British University Vietnam, the most important starting point for students to avoid getting lost in choosing a career path today is self-positioning. Clearly understanding one's abilities, personality, and personal goals is the most solid anchor, preventing students from being swept away by trends.

Therefore, whether choosing a new or traditional field of study, the most important factor remains its suitability to the student's abilities and interests. Before applying for admission, candidates should thoroughly research the program, core subjects, skills acquired, and career opportunities after graduation. In addition, researching the school's reputation, its connections with businesses, and internship opportunities are also crucial factors in making the right choice.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/giao-duc/nhung-nganh-hoc-nao-dang-hut-thi-sinh--i804248/