Candidates were shocked to learn upon entering school that they were not allowed to study the major they were admitted to.

When they come to complete the admission procedures, new students learn that they are not free to choose their major but must participate in a placement process based on their wishes and school scores.

Candidates and parents learn about study programs at the International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University) at the Career Counseling Day - Photo: TRAN HUYNH

Many candidates admitted to the International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University) said they were "shocked" to learn that their majors were not assigned according to their wishes, but had to go through a process of allocating majors according to groups after being admitted.

Missing the future if forced to study another major

Reflecting to Tuoi Tre , Ms. Nhung (a parent in Ho Chi Minh City) said: "My child had clearly determined his/her major from the beginning, so he chose logistics and supply chain management at the International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University), but only when he/she entered school did he/she know that the school selected students based on major groups.

My child has enrolled and paid the tuition but still does not know what major he will study because after enrolling, the school will assign specific majors based on scores and quotas for each major. My child will miss out on his future if he is forced to study another major.

Many new students also said that the school's admission information was unclear, causing confusion for candidates. Most candidates knew and understood the major classification mechanism after completing the admission procedures.

Candidate N. said that he had researched the major very carefully and had registered his wish to study control and automation engineering.

In the enrollment information of the International University, the group of engineering majors is announced, including: logistics and supply chain management, industrial systems engineering, electronics and telecommunications engineering; control and automation engineering, biomedical engineering, space engineering (analysis and application of big data), construction engineering, construction management.

"When I applied to the International University, I saw that my favorite major was in the engineering group, code IU05, so I applied and was accepted. But when I entered school, I found out that the school had reassigned majors. If I were assigned to another major, I probably wouldn't be able to study," N. worried.

Students can study two majors and change majors more easily.

According to MSc. Nguyen Thanh Tam - Deputy Head of University Training Department of International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University), this year's enrollment season, the school applies the form of enrollment by major group.

"The admission method by major group as well as the principle of major division has been announced in the school's admission information. This admission method is part of the school's strategic orientation for developing the training program, increasing the connection between majors, creating more conditions for students to be able to change majors, study dual majors, and interdisciplinary training programs," said Mr. Tam.

According to Mr. Tam, the school has implemented a dual-major training program between the training programs in the school, allowing students studying a first training program to simultaneously take subjects from another major to obtain a second university degree upon graduation.

For example, a student majoring in industrial systems engineering could enroll in a dual major with a second major in logistics and supply chain management, with an additional course load of only 30 credits to earn an additional degree in logistics engineering and supply chain management upon graduation.

Currently, the school has 21 dual-major training programs in operation.

The school bases its division of majors on the level of connectivity and the amount of general knowledge of the majors in each group.

On that basis, in 2025, the school updated the training program for all majors according to each major group, in which majors in the same major group can have the same amount of general and basic knowledge, creating conditions for students to transfer between majors as well as participate in dual major training programs more easily.

"Admission by major group is not a separate activity to meet the need to recruit enough students as some parents mistakenly believe," Mr. Tam affirmed.

"Students will not be assigned to majors that are too different"

In response to concerns from parents and candidates, a school representative affirmed: "The division of majors is not random, but based on the wishes, scores and abilities of students. In the case of many different admission scores (such as the ability assessment test scores and the high school graduation exam scores), the school will choose the option that is most beneficial for the candidates."

Mr. Tam also emphasized that students will not be assigned to majors that are too different from their original orientation. The advantage of this model is that majors in the same group have similar training programs, creating a solid common knowledge foundation for students.

After two years of study, if they wish and meet the requirements, students can completely register to study a second major through a dual major program, opening up opportunities to acquire interdisciplinary skills and knowledge.

In addition, after one year of study, if the student has good academic performance and wishes to change major to a more suitable major, the school will consider changing majors as prescribed in the university training regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training .

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TRAN HUYNH

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/thi-sinh-te-ngua-vi-nhap-hoc-moi-biet-khong-duoc-hoc-nganh-trung-tuyen-20250831163132153.htm