UNAM schedules control exam for 58,000 applicants amid admission scandal; Sheinbaum offers free places at Rosario Castel

UNAM control exam admission scandal Claudia Sheinbaum Universidad Rosario Castellanos

The Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM) detected irregularities in its 2026 online admission exam, including cell‑phone use, third‑party assistance, identity fraud and AI‑flagged cheating. About 2 % of the 158,727 examinations were cancelled. A technical commission recommended a presencial control exam to verify results and ensure equity. UNAM will administer this exam to roughly 58,000 candidates – about 22,000 who had already received a selection notice and 36,000 who were near the historic minimum score.

Rector Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas emphasized that the control exam is not a new admission test but a verification mechanism. In the same week, UNAM appointed Javier de la Fuente Hernández as its new Secretary General, replacing Patricia Dávila Aranda.

President Claudia Sheinbaum announced that applicants rejected by the control exam will be admitted free of charge to the Universidad Nacional Rosario Castellanos. She said, “Si hay un estudiante rechazado en ese examen, le vamos a abrir la puerta en la Universidad Nacional Rosario Castellanos para que pueda estudiar de manera gratuita.” The government instructed the Secretary of Public Education to coordinate with the university’s rector.

UNAM is also investigating the contractor Territorium Life, whose contract for the online exam exceeded 100 million pesos, with the Attorney General’s Office supporting the probe.

Entities

Attorney General’s Office (FGR) · Claudia Sheinbaum · Comisión Técnica para la Revisión del Proceso de Ingreso · Eduardo Bárzana García · Federal Attorney General’s Office (FGR) · Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) · Javier de la Fuente Hernández · Leonardo Lomelí Vanegas · Patricia Dolores Dávila Aranda · Patricia Dávila Aranda · Technical Commission for the Review of the Admission Process · Territorium Life

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 13 SOURCES] Rector Leonardo Lomelí approved the control exam and apologized to affected applicants. www.quinceminutos.mx · nuevolaredo.tv · deultimominuto.net · jornadabc.com.mx
[DISPUTED] The 2026 admission exam was conducted online for the first time. www.quinceminutos.mx · nuevolaredo.tv · www.adnsureste.info · deultimominuto.net · jornadabc.com.mx
[● 13 SOURCES] The share of applicants scoring 100 + correct answers rose to about 16 % from a historical average of 3‑4 %. www.quinceminutos.mx · nuevolaredo.tv · deultimominuto.net · jornadabc.com.mx
[● 13 SOURCES] Irregularities detected included use of cell phones, external assistance, identity fraud, and AI‑flagged cheating. www.quinceminutos.mx · nuevolaredo.tv · deultimominuto.net · jornadabc.com.mx
[● 8 SOURCES] The Attorney General’s Office (FGR) will support an investigation against the platform provider Territorium Life. www.quinceminutos.mx · www.adnsureste.info · deultimominuto.net · jornadabc.com.mx
[● 14 SOURCES] Approximately 2 % of the 158,727 exams were cancelled due to irregularities. www.quinceminutos.mx · nuevolaredo.tv · deultimominuto.net · jornadabc.com.mx · cronicadelpoder.com
[● 13 SOURCES] UNAM's technical commission recommended a presencial control exam for 2026‑2027 admission applicants. www.quinceminutos.mx · nuevolaredo.tv · jornadabc.com.mx · deultimominuto.net
[● 13 SOURCES] The control exam will be offered to both accepted applicants and those whose scores meet or exceed historic minimums for their program, campus and modality. www.quinceminutos.mx · nuevolaredo.tv · jornadabc.com.mx · deultimominuto.net
[● 6 SOURCES] UNAM's technical commission recommended a presencial control exam for selected applicants. nuevolaredo.tv · www.quinceminutos.mx
[DISPUTED] UNAM dismissed Secretary General Patricia Dávila amid the admission scandal. www.adnsureste.info · lajornadaestadodemexico.com · nortedigital.mx · www.firmas.mx · formato7.com
[● 5 SOURCES] Approximately 58 000 applicants will need to retake the exam. nuevolaredo.tv · jornadabc.com.mx · deultimominuto.net
[DISPUTED] Patricia Dolores Dávila Aranda resigned as UNAM Secretary General amid the admission scandal. www.adnsureste.info · lajornadaestadodemexico.com · nortedigital.mx · cntamaulipas.mx · carlosmartinhuerta.com.mx · +3 more