Circular 52/2026/TT-BGDDT on permeable training among vocational secondary, intermediate, college and undergraduate levels

CIRCULAR

Providing for permeable training among vocational secondary, intermediate, college and undergraduate levels

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Pursuant to the Education Law No. 43/2019/QH14 dated June 14, 2005, which has a number of articles amended and supplemented under the Education Law No. 123/2025/QH15 dated December 12, 2025;

Pursuant to the Law on Higher Education No. 125/2025/QH15 dated December 10, 2025;

Pursuant to the Law on Vocational Education No. 124/2025/QH15 dated December 10, 2025;

Pursuant to the Government’s Decree No. 37/2025/ND-CP dated February 26, 2025, defining the functions, tasks, powers and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decision No. 1981/QD-TTg dated October 18, 2016 of the Prime Minister approving the Framework Structure of the National Education System;

Pursuant to Decision No. 1982/QD-TTg dated October 18, 2016 of the Prime Minister approving the Vietnamese Qualifications Framework;

At the proposal of the Director of the Higher Education Department;

The Minister of Education and Training promulgates the Circular providing for permeable training among vocational secondary, intermediate, college and undergraduate levels.

Article 1. Scope of regulation & Subjects of application

1. This Circular provides for permeable training among vocational secondary, intermediate, college and undergraduate levels, including: principles of permeable training; forms of permeable training; training programs; enrollment; organization of training; recognition of learning outcomes, credit transfer and responsibilities of relevant parties.

2. This Circular applies to educational institutions providing permeable training; learners participating in permeable training; and relevant agencies, organizations and individuals.

Article 2. Interpretation of terms

In this Circular, the following terms are construed as follows:

1. Recognition of learning outcomes means the assessment and recognition by an educational institution of the knowledge, skills, competencies, learning outcomes or experience accumulated by learners for exemption from or conversion of part of the learning requirements of a training program.

2. Permeable training means the use by learners of accumulated learning outcomes to continue studying at the same training level or at a different training level in order to meet the learning outcome standards of a training program.

3. Credit transfer means the determination by an educational institution of the equivalent value of recognized learning outcomes to replace part or all of the learning requirements of a training program.

4. Equivalent learning outcome standards means the equivalent level of fulfillment, in terms of knowledge, skills, autonomy and responsibility, of accumulated learning outcomes compared with the requirements of a course, subject, module or training program under consideration for recognition.

5. Learning outcomes means the knowledge, skills, competencies, learning outcomes or experience accumulated by learners upon completion of a course, subject, module or training program.

6. Exemption from courses, subjects or modules means that learners are not required to study or participate in the assessment of courses, subjects or modules that have been recognized as meeting equivalent learning outcome standards in accordance with the regulations of educational institutions.

Article 3. Principles of permeable training

1. Ensuring permeability, continuity and consistency within the national education system; facilitating learners' transition between education levels and programs in accordance with the Vietnamese Qualifications Framework and promoting lifelong learning, improvement of qualifications, career change and human resource development.

2. Ensuring training quality and learning outcome standards of training programs at the corresponding levels; uniformly applying conditions for learning, examination, assessment, recognition of graduation and issuance of diplomas to learners participating in permeable training as to other learners enrolled in the same training program and form of training.

3. Ensuring fairness, transparency and equality in access to learning opportunities, enrollment, recognition of learning outcomes and organization of permeable training for learners.

4. Heads of educational institutions shall be responsible for recognizing the accumulated learning outcomes of learners if such outcomes meet the equivalent learning outcome standards of another training program or training level in which the learners are enrolled; shall not require learners to repeat learning content that has been recognized, except where otherwise provided by specialized laws and to ensure the minimum learning volume at the degree-awarding institution as prescribed in Clause 5 Article 8 of this Circular.

5. For training disciplines and fields for which specialized laws provide for enrollment, organization of training, recognition of learning outcomes, issuance of diplomas or other matters related to permeable training, the provisions of specialized laws shall apply; for matters not prescribed by specialized laws, the provisions of this Circular shall apply.

Article 4. Forms of permeable training

1. Permeable training between training levels, whereby learners use accumulated learning outcomes to continue studying at a different training level in order to meet the learning outcome standards and satisfy the graduation requirements of the training program.

2. Permeable training within the same training level, whereby learners use accumulated learning outcomes to study and complete another training program at the same training level.

Article 5. Training program

1. The training program applicable to learners participating in permeable training shall be the current training program at the corresponding training level, issued and implemented by the educational institution in accordance with law.

2. The actual learning volume of learners participating in permeable training shall be determined on the basis of the results of recognition of learning outcomes and credit transfer; learners shall complete the remaining courses, subjects, modules and learning requirements to meet the learning outcome standards and graduation requirements of the training program.

Article 6. Enrollment for permeable training

1. Enrollment for permeable training shall be conducted in accordance with the current enrollment regulations applicable to the corresponding training level and the provisions of this Circular.

2. Applicants for permeable training shall meet the admission requirements, minimum entry quality assurance thresholds and requirements of the training program in accordance with law; possess diplomas or satisfy other entry requirements as prescribed by the training program.

3. The enrollment quotas in permeable training shall be included in the total enrollment quota of the corresponding training program and determined in accordance with current regulations.

4. For teacher training disciplines, disciplines in the health field requiring professional practice licenses, the fields of law, national defense and security, and other specific training disciplines and fields, enrollment for permeable training shall comply with this Article and Clause 5 Article 3 of this Circular.

Article 7. Organization of permeable training

1. Permeable training shall be organized in accordance with the current training regulations applicable to the corresponding form of training and this Circular.

2. Educational institutions shall determine appropriate learning roadmap for learners on the basis of recognized and transferred learning outcomes, ensuring that the learning outcome standards and graduation requirements of the training program are met.

3. For permeable training to the undergraduate level in disciplines in the health field, the higher education institutions may only organize permeable training in disciplines for which at least one course for full-time undergraduate students is completed. Educational institutions shall not organize permeable training in the form of continuing education for the disciplines of Medicine, Traditional Medicine, Preventive Medicine, Odonto-Stomatology and Pharmacy.

Article 8. Recognition of learning outcomes and credit transfer

1. Learning outcomes eligible for consideration for recognition include courses, subjects, modules and higher education certificates completed or obtained by learners at educational institutions in accordance with law, or learning outcomes from foreign training programs recognized in accordance with law; in case learning outcomes are accumulated through higher education certificates, the consideration for recognition shall be conducted on the basis of comparison of learning outcome standards, content, learning volume and requirements of the training program.

2. National vocational skills certificates, higher education certificates and other learning outcomes issued or recognized in accordance with law may be used as a basis for considering the recognition of learning outcomes and credit transfer at each corresponding training level. Recognition of learning outcomes and credit transfer shall be carried out in accordance with the internal regulations of educational institutions on the basis of comparison of learning outcome standards, learning content and volume, assessment methods and results, learners' levels of attainment and the requirements of training programs.

3. Educational institutions shall internally prescribe the criteria, conditions and procedures for considering the recognition of accumulated learning outcomes, ensuring conformity with learning outcome standards, requirements of training programs, training quality and accountability.

4. On the basis of the results of recognition of learning outcomes and credit transfer, the educational institutions shall decide on the recognized learning volume and additional learning requirements (if any). Recognized learning outcomes must be clearly recorded in learners' academic records in accordance with the regulations of educational institutions.

5. Educational institutions shall prescribe the minimum learning volume that learners must complete at the degree-awarding institution, which shall not be less than 50% of the total volume of the degree-awarding training program; or may prescribe a higher percentage under the requirements of the educational institution. The determination of the minimum learning volume must ensure compliance with learning outcome standards, graduation requirements and training quality, and must be explained and publicly and transparently disclosed by educational institutions.

6. Educational institutions may enter into agreements on mutual recognition of learning outcomes, credits, courses, subjects, modules or higher education certificates on the basis of ensuring learning outcome standards, training quality and accountability. Mutual recognition must be carried out on the basis of verifiable learning data, ensuring the completeness, accuracy, traceability and sharing of information among educational institutions in accordance with law; relevant records and data must be retained and publicly disclosed in accordance with regulations and made available for inspection, examination, quality accreditation and post-inspection by competent authorities.

7. For training disciplines in the field of health requiring professional practice licenses other than those specified in Clause 3 Article 7 of this Circular, the permeable training and recognition of learning outcomes shall comply with specialized laws; learning outcomes from programs outside the health field shall not be recognized as substitutes for core specialized courses.

8. Learners who have completed courses or subjects in physical education and national defence and security education shall be considered by educational institutions for recognition, exemption or conversion into credits in accordance with law.

9. Educational institutions shall establish Councils for assessment and recognition of learning outcomes in accordance with their internal regulations. Members of the Councils must possess expertise relevant to the fields under consideration for recognition or have experience in training management at the corresponding level.

Article 9. Responsibilities of educational institutions

1. Issue, publicly disclose and implement internal regulations on permeable training in accordance with this Circular and relevant laws. Internal regulations must clearly prescribe admission requirements; enrollment procedures; principles, criteria and procedures for recognition of learning outcomes and credit transfer; working principles, composition and duties of the Council for assessment and recognition of learning outcomes; and the order and procedures for resolving petitions and complaints and revoking recognition results, specifying the grounds, competence, order and procedures, learners' rights to provide explanations and lodge complaints, and responsibilities of relevant units and individuals.

2. Publicly disclose on the educational institution's website information on permeable training, including:  internal regulations; eligible applicants and admission requirements; enrollment methods; criteria and procedures for recognition of learning outcomes and credit transfer; time limits for processing applications; rights and obligations of learners; and other matters as prescribed by law.

3. Organize counseling and provide guidance to learners in developing appropriate learning roadmap on the basis of recognized learning outcomes; ensure that recognition of learning outcomes and credit transfer are carried out fairly, objectively, transparently and in accordance with regulations.

4. Manage and fully retain enrollment records, records of recognition of learning outcomes and credit transfer, decisions of the Council for assessment and recognition of learning outcomes, and relevant documents and supporting evidence in accordance with the law on archives; digitize records and update data in accordance with law, ensuring completeness, accuracy, searchability, verifiability and information sharing for management, inspection and examination purposes; the management, retention and utilization of data must comply with the law on personal data protection, archives and other relevant laws; fully update learner data in the Higher Education Management Information System (HEMIS).

5. Establish mechanisms for receiving and resolving learners' petitions, complaints and requests for review relating to enrollment, recognition of learning outcomes, credit transfer and other matters concerning permeable training; ensure that such matters are resolved objectively, transparently and within the time limits prescribed by law.

6. Take responsibility before the law for enrollment, organization of training, recognition of learning outcomes, credit transfer and issuance of diplomas to learners participating in permeable training; conduct self-inspections, fully provide records, documents and data, and provide explanations at the request of competent authorities for inspection and examination purposes.

Article 10. Transitional provisions

1. Learners who have been admitted under an Enrollment Notice or are studying in a permeable training program before the effective date of this Circular may continue to be subject to the regulations in effect at the time of enrollment and the internal regulations of the educational institution until they complete the training program or reach the maximum training duration prescribed by the training regulations and the regulations of the educational institution.

2. For permeable training programs organized under Circular No. 27/2017/TT-BLDTBXH before the effective date of this Circular, the regulations in effect at the time of enrollment shall continue to apply until learners complete the training program or reach the maximum training duration prescribed by the training regulations and the regulations of the educational institution.

3. For applications for recognition of learning outcomes and credit transfer received by educational institutions before the effective date of this Circular but for which recognition decisions have not yet been issued, educational institutions may continue to consider and process such applications in accordance with this Circular, provided that doing so does not reduce learners' rights and interests; in case the application of the regulations in effect at the time of receipt of the applications is more favorable to learners, such regulations may continue to apply.

Article 11. Effect

This Circular takes effect on August 15, 2026.

From the effective date of this Circular, the provisions on permeable training among training levels in vocational education under Circular No. 27/2017/TT-BLDTBXH dated September 21, 2017 of the Minister of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs shall cease to be effective.

Article 12. Responsibility for implementation

Heads of units under the Ministry of Education and Training, higher education institutions, vocational education institutions, and relevant agencies, organizations and individuals shall be responsible for implementing this Circular.