On-time graduation rate is very low, why?

The rate of on-time graduation is only 20% to 30% in some universities. Many students have to extend their studies or drop out.

In many schools, less than 50% of their students graduate on time.

Looking at the public information of universities in the past few years, it can be seen that the rate of students graduating on time is very low.

At the International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University), in 2023, the rate of students graduating on time was only 24.9%. In 2024, it increased to 48.6%.

Ho Chi Minh City University of Technical Education also has a very low rate when in 2022 only nearly 25% of students graduated on time. By 2023 it was 31.56% and in 2024 it was 41.14%.

In 2024, the University of Information Technology (Ho Chi Minh City National University) will have 57.6% of students graduating on time. This figure is 57% at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade (2024), 46.17% at Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry (2023) and 40% at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education (2024), 63.29% at Ho Chi Minh City University of Education (2024)...

The rate of students graduating on time at many universities is very low, even at universities with high entrance requirements; in which engineering and technology majors are often lower than other majors.

PHOTO: HA ANH

Some schools with a graduation rate of more than 70% are Ho Chi Minh City University of Law with 74.36% (in 2024) but previously in 2023 it was only 50%. This rate in 2024 of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics is 74.6%, Hanoi University of Industry is 74.6% (in 2023 it is 68.6%), University of Economics (University of Danang) is 85%...

Master Pham Thai Son, Director of the Admissions and Communications Center of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade, said that the rate of students graduating on time is often low in engineering and technology majors because engineering is more difficult to study, requires more practice, and engineering students' English ability is also more limited. "At the school, about 55-60% of engineering and technology students graduate on time depending on the year," said Master Son.

In private schools, the rate of students graduating on time is also quite low. Saigon International University had 37.3% of students graduating on time in the 2023-2024 school year, 37.8% in the 2024-2025 school year. Saigon University of Technology had 44% in 2024 and 54% in the previous school year. Van Lang University had 44% in 2025. Hoa Sen University had 48.9% in 2024, 50.9% in 2025. Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology had 57.3% in 2024-2025. Eastern University of Technology had 78% in 2025...

According to Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh, Deputy Director of the branch, Head of Training Department ofFPT University in Ho Chi Minh City, the rate of students graduating on time at the school usually fluctuates between 30-40%.

According to university representatives, students graduating late every year not only affects the school's determination of enrollment targets for the following year, but also affects students' job opportunities and career development, increases training costs, and puts mental pressure on themselves and their families.

DEBT OF SUBJECTS, DEBT OF OUTPUT STANDARDS OF A LANGUAGE ...

According to Master Pham Thai Son, there are many reasons why students graduate late. "Firstly, it is due to the student's study plan. For example, some students want to gain work experience in businesses before graduating from university, so they plan to get a degree in 4.5 years instead of 3.5 years as prescribed by the school's training program. Second, it is due to failing subjects, especially English output standards. This case is very common at the school, accounting for about 30% of students. Third, it is because students work too much so they do not have time to focus on studying," Master Son informed.

Dr. Vo Van Tuan, Vice Principal of Van Lang University, informed that the main reason why students graduate late is because they do not meet the English output standards, because the school sets a rather high standard - 6.0 IELTS.

At the University of Technology (Ho Chi Minh City National University), the rate of students graduating on time each year is only about 50-60%. Associate Professor, Dr. Bui Hoai Thang, Head of the school's Training Department, commented: "The main reason is that students do not study on schedule. Specifically, there are many situations such as a careless learning attitude, lack of goals, lack of motivation. Many students are admitted to their favorite major but that major is not in their field of expertise, so they do not have enough learning capacity. There are students who do not have effective learning methods, or do not have a suitable learning roadmap with accompanying requirements (English output, soft skills, student activities...). In addition, financial difficulties cause students to work part-time, study slowly, leading to many subjects being owed...".

Mr. Nguyen Tuan Anh also said that partly because students work part-time, partly because they do not have a suitable study plan, poor study results lead to debt...

To increase the rate of students graduating on time, universities need to monitor, advise, support their studies, and have financial solutions so that students can focus more fully on their studies.

Illustration: Ngoc Duong

SCHOOL CONSULTATION AND SUPPORT; STUDENTS NEED TO HAVE A CLEAR PLAN

To increase the rate of students graduating on time, Mr. Bui Hoai Thang said that universities need to monitor, advise, support students in their studies, and have financial solutions for students so that they can focus more on their studies. On the students' side, they need to have a plan and method, and proactively seek support from the school, friends, and family.

Master Trinh Huu Chung, Vice Principal of Gia Dinh University, advised students to have a study plan for each semester and to be conscious of studying to achieve their goals on schedule. "There are students who fail the exam and do not register to retake the course immediately, so they miss it. After the semester, they will have to wait a long time. The long time leads to frustration and lack of spirit to retake the course. Many students subjectively think that they should just go to work and come back to make up for it later, their studies are delayed, and they do not know when they will pass the prescribed time. If they graduate late but within the allowed time, students can still get a degree, but if they pass the prescribed time, they will not have the opportunity to receive a degree," Master Chung noted.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Doan Ngoc Phi Anh, Vice Principal of the University of Economics (University of Danang ), universities need to have good academic counseling to help students choose a reasonable study path. Students who want to graduate without being late must be more proactive, follow the output standards to implement, have a study plan and take exams on time.

Meanwhile, Dr. Vo Van Tuan said that to limit the situation of students graduating late, it is necessary to control the study plan of each semester of students by specific actions. For example, control the registration of students, must register at least according to the requirements of the faculty to set a standard study plan. Absolutely do not allow students to cancel their registration of courses without a valid reason. In addition, it is necessary to strengthen effective study counseling, helping students understand the training program. In addition, it is necessary to understand the students' circumstances to promptly support them in studying and finance. Regularly review data on debt subjects, actively and flexibly open classes to repay debt for students...

Maximum time for students to complete the program

Circular 01 (2024) promulgating standards for university education institutions stipulates that university education institutions must meet standards on enrollment and training, in which the graduation rate is determined by the rate of students graduating within a period of no more than 2 years behind the standard study plan, not lower than 60%; the on-time graduation rate is not lower than 40%.

Regarding the maximum time for students to complete the course, Circular 08 (2021) promulgating the university training regulations stipulates that it must not exceed twice the time according to the standard study plan for the entire course for each training form of the university. For example, if a university stipulates a training program of 3.5 years, students have a maximum of 7 years to complete it.

Many students drop out of school

Statistics show that the dropout rate at Eastern University of Technology in 2024 is 6.6%, in 2025 is 2.2%; Saigon International University in 2024 is 8.2%, in 2025 is 4.8%; Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology and Van Lang University in 2025 is about 10%...

In public universities, this rate is from 0.5-10%, depending on the school. It is worth noting that the on-time graduation rate must still be calculated based on the number of students entering the school, not subtracting the dropout rate. For example, if the entrance of a course is 5,000 students and 1,000 students drop out, the on-time graduation rate must still be calculated based on 5,000 students. Therefore, the on-time graduation rate at schools is often very low.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sinh-vien-tot-nghiep-dung-han-rat-thap-vi-sao-185251003230017054.htm