Students are exempt from tuition fees for national defense and security education subjects

Lawyer Cong Thuy Duong, YouMe Law Company Limited answers:

Article 21 of Decree No. 271/2026/ND-CP stipulates the exemption of fees for general education textbooks and tuition fees, curriculum for national defense and security education subjects at higher education and vocational education institutions (effective from July 3, 2026) stipulates the subjects and policies for tuition fee exemption for national defense and security education subjects as follows:

1. Students studying at training institutions are exempt from tuition fees for the first session of the subject of national defense and security education according to the compulsory training program prescribed by competent authorities.

2. Case of re-study

a) No tuition fee exemption policy is applied to students who retake the subject of national defense and security education due to failure to pass the exam, absenteeism for more than the prescribed time or other subjective reasons according to the training regulations.

b) In case students have to stop studying or retake the subject of national defense and security education due to illness, accident or force majeure reason not due to discipline or voluntarily dropping out of school and are confirmed by the training institution, they are considered to continue to enjoy the policy of tuition fee exemption for the next study according to the regulations of the training institution.

3. The State ensures funding from the state budget to implement the policy of tuition fee exemption for national defense and security education subjects for training institutions according to the provisions of this Decree.

Clause 2, Article 22 of Decree No. 271/2026/ND-CP stipulates the implementation roadmap as follows:

From the 2027 - 2028 school year: Implement funding to allow training institutions to waive tuition fees for all subjects specified in Clause 1, Article 21 of this Decree.

Based on the above regulations, students will be exempt from tuition fees for national defense and security education subjects for the first study session according to the compulsory program and will be applied from the 2027 - 2028 school year. In case students have to retake classes due to failing exams, voluntarily taking leave from school and other subjective reasons, they will not be entitled to this tuition fee exemption policy.