From 2025, the Ministry of Education and Training (MOET) will no longer allow early admission to universities and colleges.

All admission methods will follow a unified schedule set by the ministry, ending the practice of early screening that previously could account for up to 20% of total admission quotas.

The decision was made official with the issuance of Circular 06/2025, amending and supplementing regulations on university and college admissions for preschool education, effective from May 25, 2025.

Unified admission process

Under the new regulations, all admission methods, including exam-based, academic record-based, and direct admissions, will be processed in a single round according to the ministry's timeline. While direct admission remains permitted as per the existing rules, other methods must adhere to the unified process.

If universities use high school academic records as admission criteria, they are required to include the full-year results of grade 12, with a minimum weight of 25% given to these scores.

Additionally, institutions that apply multiple admission methods must establish a standardized conversion system to ensure uniformity between different selection methods.

These conversion criteria must be published alongside the minimum quality assurance thresholds, allowing students to make informed choices when applying.

Automatic admission processing

One significant improvement is the elimination of the need for students to choose admission methods or subject combinations manually.

The national admission system will automatically process and select the method that yields the highest result for each candidate. This change aims to reduce administrative burdens and maximize students' chances of successful admission.

Due to the new high school curriculum introduced from 2025, the ministry has also lifted the previous limit on the number of admission combinations per program.

Previously, each major could only use up to four combinations. However, to maintain consistency, each combination must include at least three relevant subjects, with Mathematics or Literature accounting for at least 25% of the overall weight.

Starting from 2026, at least 50% of subjects between combinations must overlap to ensure consistency in evaluating candidates’ competencies.

Managing foreign language certificates

The ministry has addressed the growing issue of over-reliance on foreign language certificates in admissions, which has disadvantaged students from remote areas.

While universities may continue to convert language certificates into admission points, the score contribution from these certificates must not exceed 50% of the total score.

This policy ensures that candidates who possess language certificates can still benefit, but without disadvantaging those from regions with limited access to certification opportunities.

Limiting bonus points

To further enhance fairness, the ministry has set a cap on bonus points, ensuring they do not exceed 10% of the maximum admission score. For example, with a 30-point scale, the maximum bonus allowed is three points.

Institutions may still consider bonus points for specific training programs but must comply with this limit.

The new regulations also aim to minimize disparities between students who gain additional points through achievements or special considerations and those who do not, maintaining fairness in the admission process.

Thuy Nga