The class brings together three significant milestones: the 20th cohort graduating from the school's International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, its largest full-diploma cohort to date consisting over 120 students, and its 20th and 21st students to achieve the perfect score of 45.

Beyond academic performance, the class also represents multilingual identity, personal growth, and aspirations for top global universities, reinforcing the school's position as a trusted choice for internationally minded families who understand what their students require, within the context of living in Vietnam.

Students from the British International School Ho Chi Minh City's Class of 2026 pose on their graduation day. Photo courtesy of the school

A standout year of achievement on the global stage

The Class of 2026 achieved an average subject score of 5.8, compared with 4.93 worldwide, while its Diploma pass rate was 99.2%.

Six students achieved 44 points, while 18 earned 42 points or above. Overall, 28% of the cohort achieved at least 40 points. Nearly two-thirds of all subject grades, or 61.7%, were awarded a 6 or 7, demonstrating consistently strong performance across the wider graduating class.

Students from the class have received offers from leading universities across the United Kingdom, the United States, Asia and Australia, including the University of Cambridge, Imperial College London, Dartmouth College, Columbia University, University of Pennsylvania, the National University of Singapore, and KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology).

Students from Class of 2026 at the British International School Ho Chi Minh City hold banners indicating their future universities. Photo courtesy of BIS HCMC

The breadth of these destinations reflects the diversity of students' ambitions. Beyond traditional academic pathways, students also secured offers in art, design, sport and STEM, including five from the University of the Arts London and one from Loughborough University—institutions internationally recognized in their specialist fields.

Behind each offer is a guidance process centered not simply on institutional reputation, but on individual fit. Working closely with university counsellors, students explore programmes that reflect their academic strengths, personal interests and long-term ambitions—helping each graduate move beyond examination success towards a pathway that is meaningfully their own.

From Fundino shirts to graduation gowns

For some members of the Class of 2026, their journey began at just 2 to 3 years old, when they first joined Foundation Stage 1 at BIS HCMC, wearing the school's red Fundino shirt. Others joined in the years that followed. Their different starting points ultimately converged on the same graduation stage.

These different journeys reflect both the continuity of a through-school education and the school’s ability to welcome students at every stage. Those who grew up at BIS HCMC carried years of shared experiences with them, while later arrivals built their own sense of belonging through friendships, teacher guidance and family support.

Nearly 30-year story in Vietnam

A teacher is with young students at BIS HCMC. Photo courtesy of the school

BIS HCMC was found in 1997 with one family's vision. Nearly three decades later, that vision has grown into a school spanning three purpose-built campuses and educating more than 2,400 students aged 2 to 18 from over 55 nationalities.

Since becoming part of the Nord Anglia Education family in 2015, BIS HCMC has combined the character and continuity of its local heritage with global opportunities through collaborations with The Juilliard School, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and UNICEF.

As the Class of 2026 now moves towards universities and careers around the world, its graduates carry forward a connection to the community where their journeys began.