The 2026 enrollment season recorded a clear trend when many medical and pharmaceutical universities adjusted the method of converting IELTS scores to English subject scores in the direction of raising requirements. This move is aimed at ensuring input quality, while reflecting increasingly fierce competition in the healthcare industry group.
At the University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Vietnam National University, Hanoi), the conversion table is considered quite high compared to the general level when candidates must achieve IELTS 7.5 or higher to be considered equivalent to 10 points in English. Specific conversion levels include: IELTS 5.5 equivalent to 8.0 points; 6.0 is 8.5 points; 6.5 is 9.0 points and 7.0 is 9.5 points.
Similarly, the University of Medicine and Pharmacy (Hue University) also applies an IELTS level of 7.5 to achieve maximum scores. Notably, for highly competitive majors such as Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmacy, the school requires a minimum certificate threshold of 6.5 or higher. Meanwhile, Da Nang University of Medical and Pharmaceutical Engineering continues to maintain the IELTS conversion method to replace English scores in admission combinations such as D07, D08.
In another approach, Hanoi Medical University does not directly convert but applies the mechanism of adding bonus points to the total admission score. Accordingly, candidates with IELTS from 5.5 to 6.0 are given 0.75 points; 6.5 is given 1.0 point; 7.0 is 1.25 points and from 7.5 points or higher is given a maximum of 1.5 points.
Notably, in 2026, Ho Chi Minh City University of Medicine and Pharmacy officially abolished the combined admission method. Instead, candidates with IELTS scores of 7.0 or higher will be directly added bonus points to the total score, with a maximum addition of up to 1.5 points.
Some other schools even offer higher bonus points to attract candidates with good foreign language skills. Hai Duong Medical Technical University stipulates that candidates with IELTS 5.5 are given 1.0 points, while from 6.0 or higher are given directly 2.0 points. Hai Phong University of Medicine and Pharmacy also applies a bonus level from 1.0 to 2.0 points depending on the major for candidates with a certificate from 5.5 or higher.
Similarly, Thai Binh University of Medicine and Pharmacy maintains a bonus level of 1.0 to 2.0 points based on IELTS scores. Meanwhile, Can Tho University of Medicine and Pharmacy chooses the priority direction of direct admission for candidates achieving IELTS 7.0 or higher combined with good academic performance.
