Experts say the universities should announce the decision two to three years in advance so that students can choose their study tracks accordingly.

Nguyen Minh Chau, a 12th grader in Dien Bien, said she felt as if “three years of studying (at high school) were overturned after just one announcement” when she heard that the University of Social Sciences and Humanities under Vietnam National University Hanoi would no longer enroll students with the C00 exam subject group (literature, history, geography).

Chau had pursued C00 since grade 10 with the goal of applying to the Psychology major at this university. But after the school announced that this major would no longer accept C00, she felt sad and confused.

“Most of my classmates also chose C00 because we do not have good conditions to learn foreign languages like students in big cities. My strengths are Literature, History, and Geography, while English is only average,” Chau said.

As more universities drop C00, she feels she has “lost a clear opportunity.” Some teachers advised Chau and her classmates to switch to other groups, but the major she wants mainly accepts D14 (literature, history, English) or D15 (literature, geography, English).

“I started intensively studying English this month, but the more I study, the more pressure I feel. Sometimes I feel discouraged because the admission plan has changed so suddenly,” she said. 

“If schools had announced earlier, in grade 10 or 11, we would have had time to prepare. Now there are only six months left, which is extremely stressful. But if I do not switch, I will have no chance at all,” she said.

Similarly, Khuong Duy from Son La was shocked and worried when he heard that the Border Guard Academy would remove C00 and A01 (math, physics, English). Although academically strong, he chose C00 because he liked History and found Math, Physics, and Chemistry too stressful.

But when the academy suddenly changed the enrollment method, he felt unprepared with only a few months left before the exam.

“Last year, when some schools discussed removing C00, many students prepared alternatives, but I was too careless. Now I feel I have lost an advantage compared to those who planned early,” Duy said.

Due to the tight timeline, Duy quickly changed course, deciding to study Math to switch to C03 (Literature, Math, History) to apply to the Border Guard Academy. Additionally, he also plans to apply to a pedagogical university with C00.

“In my opinion, if universities want to remove a combination, there should be at least a 2–3 year roadmap or gradually reduce quotas each year so we are not caught off guard at the critical stage,” Duy said.

While many friends are studying extra subjects to expand their admission options, Hoang Mai Anh in Hanoi chose not to rush into a new exam subject group. Instead, she redirected her plan toward majors that recruit based on competency-assessment tests.

Mai Anh said she will now focus on fundamental knowledge to take the aptitude test by Vietnam National University Hanoi. She will also continue studying Literature, History, and Geography to apply for majors that still accept this combination.

“I do not know whether I can catch up or not, but this is the least stressful option for me right now. I just hope universities announce their combinations early and stabilize their admission plans so we are not placed in such a passive position,” she said.

So far, many universities have announced adjustments to their admission combinations. For example, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities announced that 15 out of its 30 majors will no longer consider C00 (Literature, History, Geography), including many popular majors such as Journalism, Oriental Studies, Public Relations, Tourism and Travel Services Management, and Psychology.

The school will also not use C03 (Math, Literature, History), C04 (Math, Literature, Geography), or X78 (Literature, English, Economic and Legal Education).

The Political Officer College also announced that it will stop using C00 (Literature, History, Geography) and A00 (Math, Physics, Chemistry) for the 2026 admission cycle. Another military school, the Border Guard Academy, has made similar adjustments.

Meanwhile, the University of Engineering and Technology under Vietnam National University Hanoi plans to remove D01 (Math, Literature, English), B00 (Math, Chemistry, Biology), and X26 (Math, English, Informatics) when evaluating students based on national high-school exam scores.

Dang Hong Son, Vice Rector of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, said removing C00 in certain majors is part of the university’s overall admission roadmap. The school considered the impact on students preparing for C00 and finalized and announced the list of combinations in December.

Thuy Nga