A score may define a top admission result, but behind it are months and years of study, examinations, and family expectations. For these freshmen, today's recognition is not a destination, but the beginning of their university journey.
Nguyễn Thành Trọng Chooses His Major Out of Passion
Nguyễn Thành Trọng, a freshman in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, achieved the highest admission result at Industrial University of Ho Chi Minh City (IUH) in 2026, with a score of 27.69 in the X07 subject combination of Mathematics, Physics, and Technology, excluding priority points.
Ranking first among more than 12,000 freshmen of Cohort 22, Trọng received a VND 10 million award from the University, along with a special prize from Nam A Commercial Joint Stock Bank: a motorcycle valued at VND 50 million.
Before applying to IUH, Trọng learned about the University through newspapers and media channels. Information about IUH's educational environment, research activities, industry engagement, and development orientation gave him a clearer basis for choosing where he wanted to spend the next several years of his education.
For Trọng, Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology was a choice driven by personal interest and a desire to pursue an engineering field he genuinely enjoys. In his view, choosing a major is not simply about selecting a future career. It should first be a field interesting enough to sustain long-term learning and deeper exploration.
His decision also reflects labor market developments. Electrical and electronic engineering is closely connected with industrial production, automation, and the advancement of emerging technologies. Demand for technical professionals in these areas continues to attract attention, while admission scores for electrical and electronic engineering, mechatronics, and automation have risen at some universities. The electronics and semiconductor sectors are also facing growing demand for skilled professionals.
The majors chosen by the other eight top-performing freshmen span a similarly diverse range of fields, from Computer Engineering Technology, Automotive Engineering Technology, and Chemical Engineering Technology to Pharmacy, Accounting, Economic Law, Marketing, and English Language. Each field has its own requirements. What matters, therefore, is not which major is considered more popular, but whether students find a field that matches their abilities and aspirations.
For Trọng, achieving the University's highest admission result is a source of pride and a new beginning. At the opening ceremony, he shared his hope of not only performing well academically but also gaining new experiences, participating in research, and engaging in activities that would help him grow.
"I will do my best to make my years at IUH a truly memorable journey," Trọng said.
Nine Top-Performing Freshmen, Nine Individual Stories
Alongside Nguyễn Thành Trọng, who achieved both the University's highest overall admission result and the highest result in Electrical and Electronic Engineering Technology, IUH recognized eight other top-performing freshmen across different fields of study in the 2026 admission cycle.
Nguyễn Tấn Phát achieved the highest admission result in Chemical Engineering Technology; Trương Bá Khang in Computer Engineering Technology; and Nguyễn Lê Thanh Sang in Automotive Engineering Technology. In the health sciences, Huỳnh Hồ Ngọc Diệp achieved the highest result in Pharmacy. Hoàng Thị Như Quỳnh ranked first in Accounting; Trần Hữu Ly in Economic Law; Nguyễn Hồng Thắm in Marketing; and Trương Anh Minh in English Language.
The results of one admission cycle determine an admission distinction. A university journey lasts much longer. For IUH's nine top-performing freshmen of 2026, the opening ceremony marked the day the University community recognized their names. What comes next will be shaped by their learning, experiences, and continued efforts.
IUH Introduces Integrated Admission Method, Assessing Cohort 22 Through Multiple Sources of Data
In 2026, IUH introduced an integrated admission method that combines multiple data sources to calculate admission scores, rather than considering each method separately.
According to Dr. Nguyễn Trung Nhân, Head of the Office of Academic Affairs at IUH, the new method simultaneously incorporates three groups of results: scores from the national high school graduation examination based on the relevant subject combination; scores from competency assessment tests administered by universities; and Grade 12 academic results based on the corresponding subject combination.
Grade 12 academic results are incorporated into the overall formula used to calculate the admission score rather than being considered as a separate admission method.
"This is the first time IUH has used an integrated admission method. It provides the University with more data to assess applicants' academic readiness instead of relying on the result of a single examination," Dr. Nguyễn Trung Nhân said.
According to the Head of the Office of Academic Affairs, combining different data sources in a single formula allows the University to assess students' academic readiness from multiple perspectives while giving applicants more opportunities to use results achieved throughout their studies and examinations.
The new approach was also a notable change in IUH's 2026 admission process, contributing to a more comprehensive assessment of the incoming Cohort 22.
