The Academy of Journalism and Communication (AJC) has officially announced its preliminary admissions plan for 2026, featuring significant changes. With the total enrollment quota increasing to 2,150 and a roadmap toward stricter admission criteria, holding an international certificate like IELTS is no longer just an advantage—it is a vital “passport” for entry into this prestigious journalism school.
IELTS to 10-Point Scale Conversion Table for AJC 2026
In 2026, the Academy of Journalism and Communication will apply a standardized foreign language certificate conversion table for both combined admission methods and high school graduation exam score-based admissions.
The details of the IELTS conversion table are as follows:
| IELTS Score Band | Converted Score (10-point scale) |
| 7.0 or higher | 10.0 |
| 6.5 | 9.5 |
| 6.0 | 9.0 |
| 5.5 | 8.0 |
| 5.0 | 7.0 |
Scoring Strategy: Candidates only need an IELTS 7.0 to secure a perfect 10.0. Notably, in the combined admission method, this score is multiplied by a factor of 2, creating a significant competitive edge over other applicants.
Applying IELTS in Key Admission Methods
The Academy is implementing three main admission methods, with IELTS playing a pivotal role in two of them.
Combined Admission Method (Method 2)
This method is for candidates with international certificates combined with their high school academic transcripts (6 semesters).
- Threshold requirement: Candidates must have a minimum IELTS score of 6.5 (or SAT 1,200/1,600).
- Scoring method: The admission score is calculated on a 40-point scale, which is the sum of the converted certificate score (multiplied by 2) and the academic transcript scores of two subjects.
- Subject combinations:
- History Major (Group 3): IELTS + Literature + History.
- Other groups (Groups 1, 2, 4): IELTS + Literature + Mathematics.
High School Graduation Exam Score Method (Method 3)
In this traditional method, AJC allows candidates to use an IELTS score of 5.0 or higher to replace the English subject in their admission combination. This helps candidates reduce the pressure of studying for foreign language exams, allowing them to focus on other core subjects.
Classification of 4 Major Groups and Changes in Subject Combinations
In 2026, AJC will continue to divide its majors into 4 groups with 16 admission combinations. However, a major change is that Informatics has been replaced by Geography.
- Group 1 (Journalism and Publishing): The main subject is Literature (multiplied by 2). Common combinations include Literature combined with English and an elective subject (Math/Geography/History/Economics & Law Education).
- Group 2 (Theoretical Block): No subject is multiplied by a coefficient. The combination consists of Literature, Math, and a third subject (English/Geography/History/Economics & Law Education).
- Group 3 (History Major): The main subject is History (multiplied by 2).
- Group 4 (Communication, Advertising, International Relations): The main subject is English (multiplied by 2). This is the group where IELTS provides the highest advantage, as the converted score is directly doubled in the total score.
Bonus Point Policy and Incentives for 2026
AJC recognizes the outstanding achievements of candidates by adding bonus points to the total admission score.
- For SAT certificates: Candidates receive bonus points ranging from 0.2 to 0.6 depending on their SAT score. Specifically, an SAT of 1,200 earns 0.2 points, and 1,520 or higher earns a maximum of 0.6 points.
- Excellent Student Awards: Candidates with a national consolation prize receive 1 point, while provincial-level prizes earn 0.4 – 0.5 points—a significant increase compared to 2025.
Reference for 2026 Benchmarks and Tuition Fees
Based on 2025 data, “hot” majors like Multimedia Communication and Economic Management consistently maintain the highest benchmark scores. Therefore, obtaining an IELTS certificate early is the safest strategy to avoid the unpredictable fluctuations of graduation exam scores.
Regarding projected tuition fees for 2026:
- Standard program: 560,000 VND/credit.
- High-quality program: 1.18 million VND/credit.
- Tuition exemption: Applies to students in political theory lecturer training majors (Philosophy, Scientific Socialism, Political Economy, Party History, Ho Chi Minh Ideology).
With a slight increase in quotas but growing competition in early admission methods, candidates should aim for an IELTS 7.0 to optimize their scores and receive the full 10-point conversion for the foreign language requirement.
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