The University of Economics Ho Chi Minh City (UEH) is committed to ensuring equitable access to higher education for students belonging to the bottom 20 percent of household income groups (bottom quintile), aligned with national and global efforts to end poverty and improve quality of life in developing countries. UEH implements an inclusive admission policy with no quota limitations for applicants from disadvantaged and vulnerable classes, including poor and near-poor households, ethnic minorities, residents of extremely disadvantaged areas, persons with disabilities, and dependents of national contributors. This ensures non-discrimination, equal opportunity, and access to basic services such as higher education for poor and vulnerable groups in developing countries.

UEH aligns the definition of “bottom 20%” with the national poverty line, poverty eradication programs, and the official list of extremely disadvantaged areas, operationalized through priority-group categories defined in the national admission guidelines. The policy is publicly announced on the official admission portal with clear, specific, and accessible documentation instructions to ensure equality and social justice.

UEH has published Instructions on Proof of Priority Applicants and Regions in Full-time Undergraduate Admission 2024, reaffirming the University’s commitment to financial inclusion, wealth distribution fairness, and social protection systems that enable sustainable access to education for low-income classes and vulnerable populations. Within this framework, bottom 20 percent is defined according to Vietnamese law in accordance with governmental social protection systems and equity policies, including:

+ Poor and near-poor households (below the national poverty line);

+ Ethnic minorities in Region 1 – disadvantaged and marginalized groups;

+ Residents living over 18 months in extremely disadvantaged communes;

+ Persons with disabilities and limited economic resources;

+ Dependents of national contributors;

+ Military personnel serving in remote and vulnerable areas.

These provisions are built upon the national poverty standards, social welfare policies, and poverty eradication frameworks, thereby taking a quantitative approach to directly ensure enrollment targets are oriented toward the lowest-income households according to national standards

The policy is transparent, publicly accessible, and uniformly applied nationwide, demonstrating UEH’s strategic goal of promoting social equality, providing opportunities for disadvantaged students to access higher education, thereby contributing to the commitment to sustainable development in line with SDG 1 – No Poverty and SDG 4 – Quality Education.

REGIONAL PRIORITY 

No.  Case Supporting Documents
1 Priority by high school’s location – the admission region is determined by the school where the student studied the longest during high school (or equivalent). If equal, by the most recent school attended. Based on the full 3-year high school transcript.
2  Priority by Permanent Residence Permanent residence information and declared residence duration in the Ministry of Education and Training’s admission system.
2.1. Students of ethnic boarding schools are entitled to State preferential policies for poor and vulnerable communities
2.2. Students residing (> 18 months) in:

+ Region III communes and hamlets recognized as extremely disadvantaged;

+ Coastal and island communes with limited economic resources;

+ Border and safety-zone communes under Program 135 (Decision No. 135/QĐ-TTg);

+ particularly disadvantaged villages and communes in areas as prescribed by the Prime Minister if studying at high school (or intermediate) level in a location in a district, town, or city under the province with at least one of the communes being particularly disadvantaged.
2.3. Soldiers, officers, non-commissioned officers, and conscripts in the People’s Public Security Force who are sent to participate in university admissions:

+ If they have been stationed for 18 months or more in a certain region, they are entitled to regional priority based on that region or their permanent residence before enlistment, whichever provides a higher level of priority;

+ If they have been stationed for 18 months or more across regions with different levels of priority, they are entitled to the priority of the region where they have served for the longer period;

+ If they have served for less than 18 months, their regional priority is determined based on their permanent residence before enlistment.

 Certification from the unit on service duration and location. UEH relies on the information declared by the candidate online.

2. PRIORITY CATEGORIES

No.  Priority Category Supporting Documents Types of documents
  • PRIORITY 01 
1 Category 01: Vietnamese citizens who are ethnic minorities with permanent residence for more than 18 months during high school in Region 1. Birth certificate (copy or extract). (Already in admission file) Certified copy

=> Since the birth certificate is already included in the admission file, the student does not need to submit it again
2 Category 02: Direct production workers employed continuously for ≥5 years, including at least 2 years as an “Outstanding Worker” recognized at provincial level or higher.  (1) Certification of employment duration.

(2) Commendation or Decision of Outstanding Worker.

 Original / Certified copy
3 Category 03:

(a) Wounded soldiers or persons recognized as enjoying similar benefits.

 Certificate recognizing status as a war invalid or illness invalid (or War Invalid Identification Card, Illness Identification Card); Certificate certifying entitlement to benefits and policies applicable to war invalids. Certified copy 
(b) Active-duty military personnel; officers, non-commissioned officers, and conscripted soldiers in the People’s Public Security currently serving and sent for study, having served for 12 months or more in Region 1. Certification letter or Decision of the unit dispatching for study, issued from the Regiment level or higher Original 
(c)  Active-duty military personnel; officers, non-commissioned officers, and conscripted soldiers in the People’s Public Security currently serving and sent for study, having served for 18 months or more. Conscription order or Certification of the Police unit or local authority where the preliminary examination was conducted. Certified copy
(d) Military personnel; officers, non-commissioned officers, and conscripted soldiers in the People’s Public Security who have been discharged and are recognized as having completed their compulsory service in accordance with regulations. Decision to discharge from the military Certified copy
4 Category 04:
a) Relatives of martyrs 1. Birth certificate of the candidate

2. Death certificate or “The Fatherland acknowledges the merit” certificate; Statement of the situation of relatives of martyrs (Form No. 05 issued with Decree 131/2021/ND-CP); Decision on granting the Certificate of Martyr Family and survivor benefits by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs (if any).

 Certified copy

=> Since the birth certificate is already included in the admission file, the student does not need to submit it again.
b) Children of war invalids, children of sickness invalids, children of those entitled to policies equivalent to war invalids with labor capacity reduction of 81% or more. 1. Birth certificate of the candidate;

2. Certificate of war invalidity or sickness invalidity (or War Invalid Card, Sickness Invalid Card); Certificate of entitlement to policies equivalent to war invalids with labor capacity reduction of 81% or more issued by the competent authority as regulated.

 Certified copy

=> Since the birth certificate is already included in the admission file, the student does not need to submit it again.
c) Children of those who fought for national independence and freedom and were exposed to toxic chemicals with labor capacity reduction of 81% or more. 1. Birth certificate of the candidate;

2. Certificate of persons who participated in resistance activities and were exposed to toxic chemicals with labor capacity reduction of 81% or more issued by competent authorities (Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security, Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, etc.).

 Certified copy

=> Since the birth certificate is already included in the admission file, the student does not need to submit it again.
d)  Children of Heroes of the People’s Armed Forces, children of Labor Heroes during the resistance war.  1. Birth certificate of the candidate;

2. Decision recognizing/acknowledging the Hero of the People’s Armed Forces or Labor Hero during the resistance war. 

 Certified copy

=> Since the birth certificate is already included in the admission file, the student does not need to submit it again.
e) Children of persons who participated in resistance war, suffering deformities or disabilities due to toxic chemical consequences and who receive monthly allowances. 1. Birth certificate of the candidate;

2. Decision granting monthly allowances (issued by the Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs) for children of persons who participated in resistance activities suffering deformities or disabilities due to toxic chemical consequences.

 Certified copy

=> Since the birth certificate is already included in the admission file, the student does not need to submit it again.
  • PRIORITY 02
Category 05:
a) Concentrated youth pioneer assigned to study  Confirmation letter or Decision of assignment for study.
b) Military personnel; officers, non-commissioned officers, conscripted soldiers in the People’s Public Security on active duty sent for study with service time less than 12 months in Region 01 1 and less than 18 months in other areas. 1. Confirmation letter from the sending unit at Regiment level (or equivalent) or higher;

 

 Original 
2. Conscription order or Confirmation letter from the Police unit or local authority where preliminary examination was conducted. Certified copy
Category 06: 
a) Vietnamese citizens of ethnic minorities residing outside the designated regions in Category 01; Birth certificate of the candidate Certified copy

=> Since the birth certificate is already included in the admission file, the student does not need to submit it again.
b) Children of war invalids, sickness invalids, children of those entitled to policies equivalent to war invalids with labor capacity reduction below 81%; 1. Birth certificate of the candidate

2. Certificate of war invalidity or sickness invalidity (or War Invalid Card, Sickness Invalid Card); Certificate of entitlement to policies equivalent to war invalids issued by the competent authority as regulated.

 

 Certified copy

=> Since the birth certificate is already included in the admission file, the student does not need to submit it again.
c) Children of persons who participated in resistance wars were exposed to toxic chemicals with labor capacity reduction below 81%. 1. Birth certificate of the candidate;

2. Certificate of persons who participated in resistance activities and were exposed to toxic chemicals with labor capacity reduction of 81% or more issued by competent authorities (Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Public Security, Department of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs, etc.).

 Certified copy

=> Since the birth certificate is already included in the admission file, the student does not need to submit it again.
Category 07: 
Persons with severe disabilities with disability certification issued by competent authorities according to Circular No. 01/2019/TT-BLDTBXH dated January 2, 2019 of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs regulating the determination of disability levels by the Council for Disability Assessment. Disability certification issued by competent authorities according to Circular No. 01/2019/TT-BLDTBXH dated January 2, 2019 of the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs. Certified copy

QUANTITATIVE RESULTS – ADMISSION OF “BOTTOM 20%” STUDENTS (2022 – 2024) 

Year  New Students (Bottom 20%) Share of Total New Students Source
2022 206 3,10% Admission Report 2022
2023 158 2,17% Admission Report 2023
2024 169 2,16% Admission Report 2024

→ In 2024, 169 newly admitted students were identified as belonging to the poor and vulnerable households under the national poverty line.

Compared to 2023, UEH’s 2024 Guidelines for Priority Category and Regional Eligibility Documentation demonstrate several notable improvements. Specifically, the 2024 version provides clearer multi-sector legal references (Education; Labour – Invalids and Social Affairs; Committee for Ethnic Minorities), details the criteria for identifying disadvantaged and vulnerable groups and extremely difficult regions, and adds explicit instructions regarding residency duration, conditions of military service, and valid supporting documents. The format of public disclosure has also been standardized on UEH’s official admission website, with a clear and user-friendly layout that helps applicants easily access and verify information.

These updates reflect continuity, transparency, and professionalism in implementing UEH’s admission priority policies, which directly support students from low-income households and vulnerable communities, thereby contributing to the eradication of poverty, enhancement of social equality, and promotion of sustainable development aligned with SDG 1 – No Poverty and SDG 4 – Quality Education.

Open related links: 

1. August 9, 2024 – Instructions on Proof of Priority Applicants and Regions in Full-time Undergraduate Admission 2024 – https://tuyensinh.ueh.edu.vn/bai-viet/huong-dan-ho-so-minh-chung-doi-tuong-uu-tien-khu-vuc-uu-tien-trong-tuyen-sinh-dai-hoc-chinh-quy-nam-2024/

2. Official admission portal of UEH – https://tuyensinh.ueh.edu.vn/