2026 Admissions: Many major changes in the admission process for the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City.

The Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) has just announced its university admissions policy for 2026, with several differences compared to recent years. This information is attracting much attention from candidates preparing to apply to the university's member schools.

UTILIZING A UNIFIED ADMISSION FRAMEWORK

The policy of unified admissions using a single method was agreed upon by the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City at the Conference summarizing the 2025 regular university admissions and implementing the 2026 admissions direction, which took place on December 10th. The new integrated method is designed based on a combination of three groups of criteria: high school graduation exam results, competency assessment results, and high school academic performance. The weighting of each criterion is determined based on actual data from the three most recent years to ensure a balance between input and training quality. Bonus points are awarded to students with outstanding achievements at specialized and gifted schools, with strict regulations to maintain fairness among different groups of candidates.

In 2025, the results of the aptitude test administered by the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City will be used for admission to more than 100 universities and colleges nationwide.

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

Member units are still granted autonomy in implementation details but must adhere to the general framework and ensure transparency and openness throughout the entire process. This approach allows for a reduction in the number of methods, limits disruption to candidates, and creates uniformity in the assessment of input quality.

Regarding the new admission method, the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) stated that the integrated admission method is understood as using a unified admission formula framework. In this framework, candidates can participate in the admission process through various input data sources such as the results of the high school graduation exam, the results of the aptitude test organized by VNU-HCM, high school academic results, and other appropriate criteria as stipulated. These criteria are combined using clear, publicly available, and transparent weighting and conversion principles to ensure fair access for candidates and facilitate the admission process for educational institutions.

3 admission methods in 2025

In 2025, the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) had three admission methods: direct admission and priority admission, admission based on aptitude test results, and admission based on high school graduation exam scores. As a result, 24,549 candidates enrolled (reaching a rate of 97.57%). Of these, the aptitude test method accounted for 56.32% of the total number of enrolled candidates.

Regarding the aptitude test, the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) considers it one of the important tools for assessing academic ability and continues to encourage its use based on the autonomy of its member universities. The university does not mandate that candidates must participate in the aptitude test for admission consideration. Candidates using their high school graduation exam results 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 schemes as stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training will continue to be fully and consistently implemented without change. The implementation of these admission categories will be harmoniously integrated into the overall admission plan of each institution, ensuring compliance with regulations and upholding the principles of fairness and transparency in admissions.

Candidates who do not take the aptitude test will not be at a disadvantage.

According to the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, the integrated admission method for 2026 within the system is implemented based on the practical experience of the University of Technology in recent years.

Accordingly, since 2022, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology has effectively implemented a comprehensive admissions method. The university uses only one comprehensive admissions method with the following score components: results from the aptitude test organized by the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City, results from the high school graduation exam, and high school academic performance. Candidates can use either the high school graduation exam results or the aptitude test results for admission.

Regarding the admission process, Associate Professor Bui Hoai Thang, Head of the Training Department at Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology, stated that in 2025, the university will use a combined admission score system including academic performance, bonus points, and priority points. Specifically, the academic performance score comprises the competency score with a weighting of 70%, the converted high school graduation score with a weighting of 20%, and the converted high school academic score with a weighting of 10%.

In this system, candidates with aptitude test scores will have their aptitude score component calculated as the total test score plus a weighting of 2 for the mathematics section. Meanwhile, candidates without the 2025 aptitude test results from the Ho Chi Minh City National University will have their scores replaced by their converted high school graduation exam scores. Therefore, candidates applying to the university may or may not participate in the aptitude test.

Dr. Pham Tan Ha, admissions and training advisor at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities in Ho Chi Minh City, said that in 2026 the university will recruit students using an integrated method in line with the general policy of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. However, the university will develop a scoring formula that suits its specific characteristics. In particular, with the policy of not requiring candidates to participate in the aptitude test for admission, the university must consider the possibility of candidates applying to the university without taking the aptitude test.

"At that time, the school's formula had to be based on the principle of ensuring fairness for candidates. The rights of candidates applying to the school but not participating in the aptitude test organized by the Ho Chi Minh City National University need to be ensured so that they are not disadvantaged, because not all candidates have the opportunity to take the exam," Dr. Ha added.

The Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City does not require candidates to participate in the aptitude test for admission consideration.

Photo: Dao Ngoc Thach

ARE BONUS POINTS ONLY GIVEN TO STUDENTS FROM SPECIALIZED AND TALENTED SCHOOLS?

For many years, the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) has implemented a direct admission method for the best students from high schools and prioritized admission for students from 149 high schools nationwide, according to VNU-HCM's regulations. Of these 149 high schools, 79 are specialized and gifted high schools, and the other 70 are high schools meeting VNU-HCM's criteria. A key question is whether VNU-HCM will continue this admission method in 2026.

Since 2022, when implementing a combined admissions method using multiple criteria, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT) no longer uses the direct admission and priority admission methods as stipulated by the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City. Instead, the university's admission score calculation formula includes not only academic performance but also bonus points and priority points. Bonus points are awarded based on other achievements, including arts, sports, social activities, and are limited to a maximum of 10 points, as decided by the Admissions Council depending on the number of applications and the candidate's achievements.

According to the policy of the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) at the conference on December 10th, bonus points in the integrated admission method will only be awarded to students with outstanding achievements at specialized and gifted high schools, with strict regulations to maintain fairness among different groups of candidates. If this policy is implemented correctly, only students from 79 specialized and gifted high schools will receive bonus points in the admission process to VNU-HCM next year.

However, the Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh City (VNU-HCM) stated that, based on the overall national university-level orientation, member universities are in the process of compiling, reviewing, and finalizing their specific admission plans, including determining weightings, conversion methods, and clear guidelines for each target group. These contents aim to ensure maximum accessibility for all candidates to the admission process. Based on the proposals from member universities, VNU-HCM will consider and finalize the plan and publicly announce it within the stipulated timeframe.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tuyen-sinh-2026-nhieu-thay-doi-lon-trong-xet-tuyen-vao-dh-quoc-gia-tphcm-185251216195633387.htm