Vietnam Ministry of Education sets 2026 university admission timeline and bans parent fund‑raising by school committees

The Ministry of Education and Training announced that the admission round for universities and colleges in 2026 will follow a strict timetable. Applicants must pay the online application fee between 15 July and 17 h on 21 July; the first round of admission results, including cut‑off scores and the list of successful candidates, will be released before 17 h on 13 August. About 1.24 million high‑school graduates are expected to sit the exam, with roughly 1.2 million registering online. Each student may list up to 15 preferences, a change from the previous unlimited system, and will be admitted to the highest‑ranked program for which they qualify.

In a related draft decree, the ministry proposes that parent‑teacher committees may no longer collect money on behalf of schools or invest parent contributions in school infrastructure. The proposal aims to separate fundraising from parent representation, stating that “the parent committee’s role is to support class activities, not to fund building projects.” School leaders said trust with parents will become crucial for voluntary donations, and that principals should coordinate any fundraising directly with donors, businesses or philanthropists.