University Admissions 2026: What's new in the admission subject combination?

Universities are developing and finalizing their expected enrollment plans for 2026. In particular, the combination of subjects for admission is information that many candidates are particularly interested in because it has a strong impact on the choice of subjects for the high school graduation exam and the choice of majors for university admission.

Expected subject combinations for 2026 university entrance exams

Up to this point, some northern universities plan to remove some important admission subject combinations in the 2026 admission year. For example, recently, the University of Technology ( Hanoi National University) announced that it plans to remove the D01 (math - literature - English), B00 (math - chemistry - biology); X26 (math - English - IT) combinations from the school's 2026 admission combination.

Meanwhile, universities in the South tend to remain stable compared to the previous year. For example, the leader of Ho Chi Minh City University of Economics said that the admission combination in 2026 is expected to remain stable as in 2025. Accordingly, in 2025, this University will use 30 admission combinations, in which math is present in all combinations. In addition to math, most of the remaining combinations will use one of the foreign languages ​​(English, Chinese, Japanese, French, German, Korean, Russian). Notably, the school has a regulation that candidates (TS) who take other foreign languages ​​must still meet specific requirements on English proficiency when participating in the admission process.

Candidates take the high school graduation exam for university admission in 2025

PHOTO: NHAT THINH

Dr. Nguyen Trung Nhan, Head of Training Department of Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry, said that the combination of subjects for admission to majors in 2026 will basically remain unchanged compared to 2025 to avoid disrupting the subject choices of candidates from the 10th grade entrance exam. Specifically, in 2025, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry stipulates that the combination of subjects for admission will include 3 subjects, of which 2 are compulsory according to the school's regulations. In the third subject, candidates can choose one of the remaining subjects as prescribed by the school. For example, in the field of engineering technology, the school stipulates 2 compulsory subjects (math and physics), and in the remaining subject, candidates can choose one of the subjects (literature, English, chemistry, industrial technology, information technology, economic and legal education ).

However, Dr. Nhan said that the school plans to make minor adjustments related to the core subject combination of the law group. Specifically, in 2025, candidates applying for the law group will be able to choose one of two core subject groups: literature and history, or math and English. But in 2026, the school plans to adjust to only one core subject group including English and math.

Associate Professor, Dr. To Van Phuong, Head of Training Department of Nha Trang University, said that the school has asked for opinions from faculties/institutes on the admission combination in 2026. Basically, the school agreed to keep the admission combination of 4 subjects (in which literature or math or English is multiplied by a coefficient of 2 depending on the training major). Each major has from 3 to 5 admission combinations. However, the school expects some majors to update the combination. For example, some economic majors add information technology to build an additional combination of math - literature - information technology (in which math is multiplied by a coefficient of 2).

"The school's policy is to adjust the admission combination to minimize the impact on TS. Since 2024, the school has announced the admission direction so that the Department of Education and Training and high schools can know and guide students in choosing appropriate subjects," Associate Professor Phuong added.

Admission adjustments should be made with social responsibility.

Commenting further on the change in admission combinations, Associate Professor To Van Phuong said that adjusting admission combinations is the autonomy of schools but needs to be considered in a socially responsible manner. "Each change affects the 3-year study path of hundreds of thousands of students. Therefore, schools need to announce early, transparently and stably. For example, adjustments need to be announced early, at least 3 years before the admission time - that is, right when that generation of students starts grade 10, so that they can orient themselves in choosing the right subjects," Associate Professor Phuong said.

According to Associate Professor To Van Phuong, universities should develop and announce their admission orientation before September every year, so that the Department of Education and Training and high schools can integrate it into career counseling for students from grade 9 to grade 10. Universities should announce stable admission orientations for 3-5 years. If there is any change, there should be an official announcement at least 2 years before the relevant entrance exam. In addition, there should be a role in coordinating admission information between universities and the high school system, to avoid the situation where each school announces a different way, making it difficult for students and parents to follow.

High school graduation exam results are one of the main methods for university admission.

Photo: Nhat Thinh

Dr. Pham Tan Ha, admissions and training consultant of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (Ho Chi Minh City National University), said that the current admissions regulations do not specify how long in advance universities must announce admissions information. However, university admissions information needs to be announced in advance so that students can prepare. Especially with the 2018 General Education Program, students have career orientation and subject choices as soon as they enter grade 10. Therefore, universities making major adjustments in admissions, especially admission combinations, will affect students' choices of subjects, exams, and careers.

Therefore, according to Dr. Ha, universities need to maintain stable announced enrollment information. Any adjustments, if any, need to be announced at least 2 years in advance so as not to affect students.

In the 2025 enrollment year, a number of schools in the social sciences and humanities sector have simultaneously sharply reduced or eliminated the C00 group (literature-history-geography) - one of the traditional groups in university enrollment. Upon receiving feedback that some training institutions have completely eliminated the C00 group, the Ministry of Education and Training reminded training institutions that the selection of graduation exam subjects had been completed before the time the schools announced enrollment information. The Ministry requested that after making adjustments, schools would soon inform candidates and explain to society.

What students expect from the high school graduation exam and university entrance exam

I think we should keep the high school transcripts for low-scoring schools and expand the ability assessment for many schools. Schools should announce the admission methods early so that students can complete them in time. Eliminating many combinations will be disadvantageous for students, and if it is eliminated, universities should announce it early. In addition, if the high school graduation exam is held earlier than usual, we will not have enough time to review and practice the questions thoroughly.

Lu Phuong Bao Han (Vo Thi Sau High School, Gia Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City)

I want to consider admission by the method of competency assessment exam and high school graduation exam because these are two fair methods. If the university eliminates traditional subject combinations such as C00, D01 and B00, it will be a bit disadvantageous for students to choose that subject combination, because these are important subject combinations, the foundation for other subject combinations to develop. What I am worried about is the exam structure and knowledge that will be in the upcoming high school graduation exam. I hope that there will be an "easy" exam but still full of knowledge that high school students can apply to their work.

Pham Hoang Phuong Anh (12th grade student in Ho Chi Minh City)

I hope that when considering admission, universities will keep the form of competency assessment test as well as academic transcript scores, I hope the converted scores will not be too low. I am aiming for the D14 subject group (literature-history-English) and D01, so with the information that some universities have removed the D01 group, it means taking away the opportunity for admission for PhDs. In addition, I am also afraid that there will be last-minute decisions from the Ministry of Education and Training as well as universities. I hope this year's high school graduation exam will go smoothly.

Tran Nguyen Nha Uyen (Vo Thi Sau High School, Gia Dinh Ward, Ho Chi Minh City)

Khanh Nhi (written)

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tuyen-sinh-dh-2026-to-hop-mon-xet-tuyen-co-gi-moi-185251030180954239.htm