University Application Guide 2025: Complete A-Z Process

Did you know that 2025 is the first year to apply completely new university admission regulations in Vietnam? The university application guide will change completely with the removal of early admission and many other important changes. Millions of students and parents are worried about not knowing how to apply correctly.

Don't let these changes confuse you! This article will provide detailed A-Z guidance on the 2025 university application process, accurate timeline and golden tips to help your child increase their chances of getting into their dream school.

University admission 2025 has many new changes

Why is 2025 completely different?

"Historic" changes in university admissions

Three biggest changes in the new regulations

Circular No. 06/2025/TT-BGDDT dated March 19, 2025 from the Ministry of Education and Training has officially changed the entire "rules of the game" for university admissions. This is not just a small adjustment but a real revolution in the university application guide!

3 biggest changes

1. Complete removal of early admission: Universities are no longer allowed early admission and must convert scores from all methods to a common scale
   

2. Automatic system chooses the best method: Students don't need to choose method codes or subject combination codes... just need to clearly identify programs, majors, and training groups
   

3. Consider grade 12 transcripts for the whole year: Transcript-based admission must be based on results from the entire grade 12 year instead of just the first semester
   

Why should parents care right now?

These changes directly affect your child's study strategy and application process. Understanding the new process will help families prepare suitable plans early according to the updated university application guide.

Golden Timeline - Important deadlines you cannot miss

Phase 1: Preparation and exam registration (April-June 2025)

Important timeline for April-June 2025

April: High school graduation exam registration

• April 21-28, 2025: From April 21 to 5 PM on April 28, 2025, Departments of Education and Training will organize exam registration for students

June: High school graduation exam

• June 25-28, 2025: The high school graduation exam takes place over 4 days
  
• Before June 30: Students eligible for direct admission or priority direct admission must submit their applications to universities by June 30 at the latest, following the proper university application guide process

Phase 2: Application registration (July-August 2025)

July: Registration portal opens

• July 16-28, 2025: From July 16 to July 28: Open online application registration system on the Ministry of Education and Training information portal
  
• July 21: The Ministry of Education and Training will announce quality assurance thresholds for teacher training and health programs on July 21
  

Early August: Fee payment

• July 29 - August 5, 2025: July 29 to August 5: Students pay admission application fees online

Phase 3: Receive results and enrollment (August-September 2025)

Enrollment confirmation deadline before August 30

Mid-August: Application processing

• August 13-20: From August 13 to 5 PM on August 20, organize admission application processing

Late August: Enrollment confirmation

• Before August 30: Before 5 PM on August 30, 2025: Students confirm enrollment for round 1

From September: Supplementary admission

• September 1 - December 2025: From September 1 to December 2025: Universities conduct supplementary admission (if quotas are not filled)

Who can apply? - Specific conditions for each group

Groups eligible for admission application

Grade 12 students in 2025

Important new requirements:

• Must have academic results for the entire grade 12 year (not just the first semester)
  
• The weight of grade 12 academic results must not be less than 25%
  

Special note: Your child needs to maintain stable grades throughout the entire school year, not just focus on the first semester like before, following the new university application guide.

Graduated students

Including:

• High school graduates from previous years
  
• Vocational school graduates who completed the high school curriculum
  
• Additional accounts for students (high school graduates, vocational graduates) who don't have admission application accounts yet
  

Direct admission students

Important change: Students eligible for direct admission cannot confirm enrollment early like before. They still must register applications on the system

Where to apply? - Comprehensive new system

Single online application system

Only official system

Online on Ministry of Education portal (100% mandatory) All students must register applications on the Ministry of Education's unified admission system. This is a mandatory step for valid admission consideration according to the official university application guide.

Additional documents at schools (Depending on schools) Some schools may require additional supporting documents submitted directly or by mail.

Registration locations by group

• Grade 12 students: Register at their current high school
  
• Independent candidates: Contact local Department of Education and Training for account creation
  

University Application Guide: Required documents checklist - A-Z preparation

Personal identification documents (Mandatory)

ID card/citizen identification requirements in applications

Citizen identification card/ID card:

• Photocopy of both sides of ID card or citizen identification card on one side of A4 paper
  
• Students must consistently use one type of identification document throughout the registration process
  

Photos and registration forms (Mandatory)

Standard photos:

• 2 photos sized 4x6cm, portrait style, taken within the last 6 months
  
• Student photos on the system must ensure minimum resolution of 400x600 pixels
  
• Write full name and date of birth on the back of both photos and put them in a small envelope
  

Registration forms:

• 02 exam registration forms (form 1 and form 2)
  
• 01 envelope with clear recipient name, contact address, phone number of student and parents
  

Academic records (Mandatory)

High school transcripts and graduation certificates with valid notarization according to regulations

High school transcripts:

• High school transcripts (notarized copies), or test certificates for students studying through self-study at continuing education centers
  
• High school transcripts or result confirmation with complete information for admission application and school verification stamp
  

Graduation certificates (if available):

• Junior high school or vocational graduation certificates (notarized copies)
  
• High school graduation certificates (for students who graduated before 2025)
  

Priority documents (If applicable)

Types of priority supporting documents: academic competition awards, international language certificates

Regional priority proof:

• Priority and encouragement certificates (if any) (household registration copy if eligible for priority based on permanent residence)

Achievement certificates:

• Certificates for national or international academic olympiad awards organized by the Ministry of Education and Training
  
• Certificates for national science and technology competition awards
  
• Provincial/city-level excellent student certificates (First, Second, Third prizes, Encouragement awards)
  

International language certificates:

• English certificates TOEFL IBT from 75/120 points or IELTS from 5.0/9.0 and above issued by authorized international organizations within validity period
  
• SAT, TOEFL, TOEIC, Cambridge certificates, etc.
  

Special documents (Case by case)

Additional documents for special cases

Students with reserved scores:

• Reserved score confirmation (if any) verified by the principal of the high school where the student previously took exams

Independent candidates:

• Independent candidates must request accounts for university admission applications at local Departments of Education and Training

Students applying for programs with special requirements:

• Students applying with aptitude test combinations for majors like Graphic Design, Interior Design, Fashion Design, Architecture, Sports Management must register for aptitude tests
  
• Health examination certificates (for Medicine, Pharmacy, Physical Education majors...)
  

Important notes on document preparation according to university application guide

Important points to note when preparing documents

About notarization:

• All copies must be legally notarized
  
• If students lose original high school transcripts, they need re-issued transcript copies after verification with school records
  

About priority bonus points:

• New note: From 2025, total bonus points cannot exceed 10% of the admission score scale
  
• Example: With a 30-point scale, maximum bonus points will be 3 points
  

About document validity:

• Language certificates must be valid at the time of application submission
  
• Photos must be taken within 6 months before application submission
  

Super simple 3-step application process

Three simple and effective application steps

Step 1: Online application registration

Great new feature

• Students don't need to register by method, just register for majors
  
• The Ministry of Education's unified admission support system will not distinguish admission methods
  

Benefits for students: The system automatically chooses the highest scoring method, helping optimize admission chances according to the latest university application guide.

Step 2: Fee payment

Exact time: July 29 - August 5, 2025 Method: Online payment through the system

Step 3: Enrollment confirmation

Extremely important deadline: Before 5 PM on August 30, 2025 Note: No confirmation = losing admission slot

10 "golden" tips to increase university admission chances 2025

Smart application strategy

Smart application tips for students

1. Take advantage of "unlimited subject combinations" The Ministry of Education removed limits on subject combination numbers for each major. This means your child has more opportunities to choose suitable combinations.

2. Understand diverse admission methods University of Commerce admits 5600 students with 45 training programs through 06 admission methods. Schools are diversifying to increase opportunities for students.

3. Take advantage of unlimited applications Students can choose unlimited admission applications, but must arrange them in priority order from high to low

Application improvement tactics

Ways to improve application quality

4. Maintain stable grades throughout grade 12 This year will use academic results from the entire grade 12 year. This is the most important change in the 2025 university application guide!

5. Invest in international certificates International certificates SAT ≥ 1000; IELTS Academic ≥ 5.5, TOEFL iBT ≥ 50 are increasingly required by many schools.

6. Participate in competency assessment exams The exam is expected to be held in 3 rounds on weekends, each round will have 3-4 sessions at 30 test centers

Effective application tactics

Effective application tips for students

7. Continuously monitor updated information So far, about 140 universities have announced preliminary admission information. This number continues to increase.

8. Prepare complete priority documents With maximum 10% bonus point regulations, accurate document preparation is very important.

9. Learn about new subject combinations

10. Make backup plans With supplementary admission extending to year-end, there's always a second chance for those who don't get accepted in round 1.

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Golden opportunity in your hands

University admission 2025 brings many great opportunities with new regulations that are more transparent and fair. Removing early admission, unlimited subject combinations, and automatic best method selection all create maximum convenience for students.

Most important thing: Master the accurate timeline, prepare complete documents, and follow updated information from the Ministry of Education and Training. With thorough preparation and the right strategy, your child can completely conquer their dream school.