Around 1.24 million candidates took the 2026 high school graduation exam in June.

Of those, more than 874,800 registered university preferences, an increase of nearly 25,000 from the previous admissions season, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Tien Thao, head of the Department of Higher Education under the Ministry of Education and Training, said as he noted that more than 633,000 candidates have now confirmed their university enrollment.

A notable feature of this year's admissions season is the heavy concentration in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), representing roughly 212,600 candidates.

Within that group, over 121,000 students enrolled in 15 core categories covering basic sciences, key engineering fields, and strategic technologies.

"The structure of the workforce is clearly shifting toward science, technology, and fields that the country needs," Thao said.

While the ministry did not publish overall STEM confirmation numbers last year, universities did report enrolling 150,400 students across 44 strategic technology disciplines, accounting for 22% of total admissions at the time.

To further encourage this shift, the government's Decree 179 offers eligible students in strategic fields monthly scholarships ranging from VND3.7 million (US$140) to VND8.4 million. This year, approximately 23,000 candidates qualified for the financial aid by scoring at least 22.5 points out of 30 in their three-subject combinations and ranking in the top 30% nationwide.

In Vietnam, high school students sitting the graduation exam take four subjects: math, literature, and two electives chosen from a range of options, including English, natural sciences, and social sciences. A combined score of three subjects will be used for university admissions.

Beyond sheer volume, Thao pointed out that admission standards for tech programs are soaring, rivaling traditionally competitive fields like education, healthcare, and law.

Many artificial intelligence and data science programs required admission scores above 25 points. Similarly, more than 60% of microchip and semiconductor programs demanded scores of at least 22.5. Programs in computer science, electrical and electronics engineering, mechanical engineering, and materials science frequently set their thresholds at this same level.

Enrollment in maritime and railway-related fields also saw a strong uptick this year.

"STEM is not only growing in proportion, but within the field, groups with strong appeal and high-quality incoming students are beginning to emerge," Thao concluded.