Candidates who only take the high school graduation exam and have only their high school transcripts are still eligible for admission to the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.

The Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) affirms that it does not mandate candidates to participate in the Aptitude Assessment Exam for admission to its member universities. Candidates can use their high school graduation exam results or other valid results for admission consideration.

On the afternoon of December 14th, the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) officially announced its 2026 admissions process. This move comes two days after Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Minh Tam, Vice Director of VNU-HCM, stated that the university system aims to implement a unified, integrated admissions method, with the results of the Aptitude Test playing a pivotal role. The model aims to reduce the number of admissions methods, minimize confusion for candidates, and create uniformity in entrance assessments. However, this has caused confusion among many candidates who believe they must take the Aptitude Test to be considered for admission.

According to the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), in recent years the institution has consistently pursued a policy of streamlining, standardizing, and reducing complexity in university admissions, while fully complying with the Ministry of Education and Training's admissions regulations and ensuring fairness for candidates. By 2025, VNU-HCM has clearly defined its direction for building a unified admissions framework at the system level, in which member universities are empowered to autonomously select, combine, and determine the weighting of admission criteria appropriate to the specific training characteristics of each institution.

The 2026 admissions guidelines are a continuation and further refinement of this policy, not a sudden change or elimination of the admission categories currently implemented under the existing regulations.

According to the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), the "integrated admission method" is understood as the use of a unified admission formula framework, in which candidates can participate in the admission process through various input data sources such as the results of the High School Graduation Examination, the results of the Aptitude Test organized by VNU-HCM, high school academic results, and other valid criteria as prescribed. These criteria are combined through weighting and clear, public, and transparent conversion principles to ensure fair access for candidates and facilitate the organization of admissions for training institutions.

There is no mandatory requirement for candidates to take the aptitude test in order to be considered for admission.

The Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) stated that the practical implementation at the University of Technology has shown that the combined admission method has been effectively applied since 2022. Accordingly, the university uses a combined admission method as its main admission method, with scoring components including the results of the VNU-HCM's Aptitude Test, the results of the high school graduation exam, and high school academic performance. Candidates can use either the results of the high school graduation exam or the Aptitude Test for admission. The results show that this method contributes to reducing the complexity of admissions, ensuring fair access for candidates, and improving the quality of incoming students.

Candidates taking the 2025 high school graduation exam

Based on this practical experience, the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) is orienting its research, refinement, and gradual expansion of a suitable model throughout the entire system, tailored to the conditions and specific training characteristics of each member university. Member universities are currently in the process of compiling, reviewing, and finalizing their own admission plans, including determining weighting, conversion methods, and specific guidelines for each target group, to ensure maximum accessibility for all candidates.

Based on proposals from member universities, the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City will review and finalize the admission plan and publicly announce it within the stipulated timeframe.

Regarding the Aptitude Assessment Exam organized by the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM), this continues to be identified as one of the important tools for assessing academic ability and its use is encouraged based on the autonomy of member universities. However, VNU-HCM does not mandate that candidates must participate in the Aptitude Assessment Exam for admission consideration; candidates using the results of the high school graduation exam or other valid results according to regulations are still guaranteed their rights and will receive specific guidance in the admission plan of each unit.

The direct admission and priority direct admission policies stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training will continue to be fully and consistently implemented without change; and will be harmoniously integrated into the general admission plan of each school, ensuring compliance with regulations and upholding the principles of fairness and transparency.

The Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) affirms that the implementation of regular undergraduate admissions in 2026 will be carried out cautiously, consistently, and in full compliance with legal regulations and the Ministry of Education and Training's admissions regulations. All content related to the admission methods, criteria, and roadmap will be publicly and transparently announced on time; any adjustments will follow a suitable roadmap, prioritizing the legitimate interests of candidates, aiming to improve the quality of incoming students and the stability of the entire system.

Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/thi-sinh-chi-thi-tot-nghiep-hoc-ba-van-duoc-xet-tuyen-vao-dh-quoc-gia-tphcm-2472361.html