2026 university admissions shift to flexibility and diversity

GD&TĐ - Although the 2025 university admissions season has not yet ended, many higher education institutions have begun to develop and announce admission plans for 2026.

The Ministry of Education and Training requires schools to promptly inform about admission methods to help students proactively orient and prepare mentally for the new admission period.

Early announcement of enrollment plan

Hanoi University of Science and Technology is one of the first higher education institutions to announce the 2026 Thinking Assessment (TSA) exam schedule, expected to be held in 3 sessions: late January, mid-March and mid-May 2026. Organizing separate exams early will give candidates more opportunities to test themselves and adjust their study and review plans accordingly.

In the South, the International University (Ho Chi Minh City National University) plans to increase the proportion of admission quotas based on the results of the competency assessment exam organized by Ho Chi Minh City National University. This is considered a new trend, as schools gradually shift from considering academic records and high school graduation exam scores to comprehensively assessing candidates' thinking ability, application ability and creativity.

In 2026, the National Economics University plans to significantly reduce the admission quota based on high school graduation exam results, while expanding the combined admission method and using results from specialized competency assessment exams.

At the University of Commerce, 2026 marks a turning point when the school opens the Computer Science major with a training program on Artificial Intelligence Applications in Business.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoang - Principal of the school, in the context of strong digital transformation, training human resources with knowledge of AI applications in business is an inevitable requirement. The school has prepared for nearly 2 years for this plan, from building a team of lecturers, investing in facilities to cooperating with strategic partners, to ensure the program is implemented effectively and practically.

According to Associate Professor Dr. Nguyen Hoang, the University of Commerce will continue to expand its international career-oriented training programs (IPOP), including: Logistics and Multimodal Transport Management, Event Management and Entertainment Services, Data Analysis in Economics and Business.

These programs are designed according to international standards, focusing on vocational skills and the ability to apply technology, contributing to the training of high-quality human resources for the digital economy. Currently, the school has enrolled 15 IPOP programs out of a total of 45 undergraduate training programs - a breakthrough in innovation in training content and methods, towards international integration and meeting social needs.

In the South, Ho Chi Minh City University of Industry and Trade plans to continue applying 5 admission methods as in 2025. Dr. Thai Doan Thanh - Vice Principal said that from 2028, the school is expected to stop considering admission based on high school transcripts and switch to assessing comprehensive capacity.

In addition, the school announced a great support policy: Candidates admitted by direct admission will be exempted from 100% of tuition fees for the entire course and supported with living expenses of 3 million VND/month - a policy highly appreciated for its humanity and encouragement of talent.

University of Commerce provides admissions consultation for parents and candidates. Photo: TG

Create maximum convenience for candidates

At the 2025 Higher Education Conference, the Ministry of Education and Training requested training institutions to announce the 2026 enrollment method in October 2025 and complete the 2027 enrollment plan earlier to facilitate candidates.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao - Director of the Department of Higher Education said that the early announcement helps students have more time to find information, choose suitable majors and prepare their documents early. At the same time, this is the basis for high schools to orient their teaching in line with the entrance requirements of higher education.

Currently, the Ministry of Education and Training is seeking opinions from schools on whether to maintain or abolish the high school transcript admission process, as well as limit the number of candidates' registration wishes. The revised admission regulations are expected to be issued soon, to ensure fairness, transparency and reliability between admission methods; and at the same time, in accordance with the 2018 General Education Program.

In addition, the Ministry of Education and Training also plans to issue a new regional priority policy in the context of administrative boundary mergers in some provinces, ensuring the rights of candidates in disadvantaged areas.

Training institutions are required to complete the 2025 enrollment work in accordance with regulations, strictly control risks, promptly handle arising issues and fully implement the reporting regime as prescribed by the Ministry. The enrollment work is gradually shifting towards a more professional, flexible and diverse direction, helping schools proactively improve input quality, while creating conditions for candidates to choose the most suitable learning path.

For schools planning to open new majors, Dr. Nguyen Duy Hong - Operations Director of YCH - Protrade Company recommends that training institutions should develop output standards and training programs with consultation from businesses. This not only demonstrates a sense of responsibility, but also concretizes the policy of socializing education, with the cooperation between the State - schools - businesses to improve the quality of national human resources.

Source: https://giaoducthoidai.vn/tuyen-sinh-dai-hoc-2026-chuyen-huong-linh-hoat-va-da-dang-post752627.html