Eight Ho Chi Minh City National University Member Universities to Primarily Use Combined Admissions from 2026

Most admission slots at Ho Chi Minh City National University will be allocated through a combined method, integrating scores from the high school graduation exam, competency assessment tests, and academic transcripts.

On 11/12, Ho Chi Minh City National University (VNU-HCM) announced plans to streamline, standardize, and enhance the quality of its admissions process starting next year.

Specifically, the university has agreed to adopt a combined admission method based on three criteria: high school graduation exam scores, competency assessment test scores, and academic transcripts. Competency assessment test scores will be the primary factor.

Ho Chi Minh City National University 2026 competency assessment test schedule

The weighting of these three criteria will be determined by actual admissions data from the past three years, ensuring alignment between student intake and educational quality. Students with exceptional achievements from specialized and gifted schools will receive priority points.

VNU-HCM explained that this combined admission approach will reduce the number of methods, minimize confusion for candidates, and create consistency in evaluating applicant quality.

A representative from a member university added that this implies most of VNU-HCM’s admission quotas will be allocated through the combined method, with a small portion reserved for direct admissions for national and international award recipients, as stipulated by the Ministry of Education and Training.

This combined admission method is similar to the approach adopted by Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology since 2022. However, the specific ratios and weighting of component scores will be determined by each member university.

In 2025, VNU-HCM admitted over 25,700 students. Nearly 14,500 of these enrolled using the competency assessment method (V-ACT exam). In addition to V-ACT scores, member universities also offered direct admission, priority consideration, and admission based on high school graduation exam scores.