The Ministry of Education and Training has just issued Circular No. 52/2026/TT-BGDĐT regulating articulation between vocational secondary school, intermediate level, college and university.
The Circular takes effect from August 15, 2026.
Expand learning opportunities, not lower output standards
According to the provisions of the Circular, learners can use the accumulated academic results to continue studying at another level or complete another training program at the same level, in accordance with the Vietnam National Qualifications Framework.
Intermediate learners study according to the current training program of the corresponding level. The actual learning volume is determined after the educational institution recognizes the learning results, converts credits and determines the learning requirements that must be completed.
Intermediate learners are applied uniform learning conditions, testing, assessment, graduation recognition and degree issuance like other learners in the same program and training form.
Inter-level enrollment is carried out according to the current enrollment regulations for each level; the number of inter-level enrollments is calculated in the total number of enrollments of the corresponding training program. For teacher training majors, majors in the field of health with practicing licenses, law, defense, security and other specialized training majors and fields, enrollment and training organization must also comply with the provisions of specialized laws.
Recognizing academic results, reducing attendance is unnecessary
An important point of the Circular is to improve the mechanism for recognizing academic results and credit conversion. The results considered for recognition may include modules, subjects, modules, higher education certificates completed at domestic or foreign educational institutions; national vocational skills certificates; and other academic results issued or recognized according to the provisions of law.
The recognition is carried out on the basis of comparing output standards, content, learning volume, methods and evaluation results, the level of achievement of learners and the requirements of the training program. Educational institutions are responsible for recognizing accumulated learning results when meeting equivalent output standards and do not require learners to retake the recognized content, unless specialized laws otherwise stipulate or to ensure the minimum learning volume at the degree granting institution.
Based on the results of recognition and credit conversion, the educational institution decides on the recognized learning volume, additional learning requirements if any, and develops a suitable learning roadmap for each learner. Recognition must be clearly stated in the learning records; criteria, conditions, and review procedures must be internally regulated, publicized, and have mechanisms for learners to propose and complain.
Students must complete at the degree-granting institution no less than 50% of the total volume of the degree-granting training program; educational institutions may stipulate higher rates depending on the requirements of the program. Educational institutions are allowed to sign agreements to recognize each other's academic results, credits, modules, subjects, modules or higher education certificates on the basis of ensuring output standards, training quality and accountability.
The Circular also empowers educational institutions to be proactive in issuing internal regulations on articulation training, along with accountability.
Educational institutions must publicize information related to articulation training; manage, store and fully digitize records; ensure data can be searched, verified, traced and shared; update articulated learner data on the Higher Education Specialized Database System (HEMIS); and at the same time be responsible before the law for enrollment, training organization, recognition of academic results, credit conversion and degree awarding.
