University applicants using IELTS for admissions will see their advantage reduced compared to previous years, with bonus points halved and a new 10-point conversion scale requiring at least five distinct levels, according to the Ministry of Education’s proposals.

All 2026 admission combinations at the University of Finance - Marketing (UFM) will include mathematics, with the score weighted by a factor of 2.

9 universities convert IELTS scores from 4.5 upwards for admissions, with University of Science and Technology of Hanoi (USTH) requiring the highest score, where an IELTS 8.0 is equivalent to 10 English points.

Candidates from many provinces and cities flocked to Hanoi University of Science and Technology from 6 AM in cold, rainy weather to take the thinking assessment (TSA) test, aiming for admission to nearly 50 universities.

Hue University of Medicine and Pharmacy converts IELTS and TOEFL scores into English subject points for combined admission with graduation exam scores across all majors, with a minimum IELTS of 5,5.

Candidates holding an IELTS certificate of 5.5 or higher will receive two to three bonus points when applying for combined admission to Ho Chi Minh City University of Law.

The Military Technical Academy (MTA) expects to increase its civilian enrollment quota by 120 compared to last year, introducing two new training programs: biomedical electronics and automotive engineering.

Thuong Mai University (TMU) plans to launch sau new programs, including computer science, with admissions starting in 2026.

The 2026 SPT competency assessment exam by Hanoi National University of Education (HNUE) will comprise two rounds, with added subjects including informatics, technology, and economic and legal education.

In 2026, Foreign Trade University (FTU) plans to introduce 10 new programs, including artificial intelligence, data science, and financial technology.

For the first time, Van Lang University will admit students based on a competency profile, combining academic transcripts, a career orientation assessment, and foreign language proficiency.

Over 30 universities have announced their provisional admission methods for 2026, revealing a clear differentiation in the use of academic transcripts and the rise of competency assessment exams.

Starting in 2026, Ho Chi Minh City University of Law plans to discontinue using the C00 (literature, history, geography) and A00 (mathematics, physics, chemistry) combinations for admissions.

The University of Economics, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (UEB) will no longer use high school transcripts and will reduce three admission subject combinations for its domestic regular training programs.