Can First-Year Students Change Disciplines? Why?

The reason students want to change disciplines

Although the initial discipline choice was carefully considered, after enrolment, many students still develop the intention to change. Below are the most common reasons:

• Feeling unsuitable: After a period of really experiencing the university environment, students realise their personality and capacity are not compatible with the chosen discipline.
• Economic problem: Some training programmes (especially the high-quality or international-linkage system) have tuition exceeding the family’s long-term affordability.
• Development opportunity: Students realise the current discipline does not bring wide-open career opportunities or want to find a field with better development prospects in the future.
• Family problem: Pressure from relatives’ expectations or problems arising in the family are also factors that strongly affect students’ psychology and decision to change.

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Can first-year students change disciplines?

Can first-year students change disciplines? According to current regulations and opinions from education experts, first-year students are not yet allowed to carry out discipline-change or school-transfer procedures. This regulation aims to ensure training quality, keep stability in class organisation and student management.

In addition, in the early stage students mainly study general subjects with many similarities between disciplines. Therefore, changing disciplines early is usually emotional and does not have enough basis to accurately evaluate the level of suitability with the in-depth specialisation.

In which case are students allowed to change disciplines

Based on Article 16, Clause 1 of Circular 08/2021/TT-BGDĐT, students will be considered for changing disciplines if they meet the following 02 important groups of conditions:

Condition 1: On study status and time

• The student is not a first-year or final-year student.
• Not in the category being considered for forced dropout or currently under a warning-level discipline or above.
• Must still have enough study-time quota according to the regulation (the total study time does not exceed 02 times the design time of the standard training programme).

Condition 2: On the capacity and conditions of the training institution

• The student must meet the admission condition of the new training discipline (calculated by the same admission cohort).
• Having the consent of the heads of the specialised units (the Dean of the departing and receiving faculties) and the school’s Rector.
• The new discipline must ensure enough quality conditions and not exceed the training capacity (quota) according to the regulations of the Ministry of Education and Training.

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Procedures to change training discipline for students

The discipline-change process requires accuracy and time compliance. Below are the standard steps students need to clearly grasp:

Step 1: Make and submit the transfer application

Students need to download the discipline-change application template according to the school’s regulations, fill in full information and prepare the necessary evidence file. This file will be submitted directly at the Training Office.

Step 2: Consider the transfer-application submission time

This is the key factor. Students need to note submitting the application on the prescribed deadline, usually within 02 weeks before the start of semester 1 of the 2nd academic year. Note the file must be accompanied by the study transcript of previous semesters for the Training Office to use as a basis for consideration.

Step 3: Receive the decision

The school council will consider based on the wish and study results. After the file is approved, students have the responsibility to go to the Training Office to receive the official Discipline-Change Decision.

Step 4: Contact the discipline-change faculty and continue studying

After having the decision, students need to proactively:

• Contact the new Faculty Office and the new class officer board to grasp information.
• Meet the Academic Advisor for advice on the study path, especially registering to study make-up specialised subjects and resolving the credit-difference problem.

At HUFLIT, can first-year students change disciplines?

For students studying at Ho Chi Minh City University of Foreign Languages – Information Technology (HUFLIT), the regulation is applied consistently and clearly: First-year students are NOT allowed to change specialisation once they have confirmed enrolment.

This regulation strictly complies with Clause 1 Article 16 of the University Training Regulation (Circular 08/2021/TT-BGDĐT). The school wishes students to have enough deep experience before making a big change decision.

Note: If first-year students still want to switch to a new discipline at HUFLIT, the only option is to wait until the next admission season to be re-admitted from the start (based on high-school transcript results or high-school exam scores). This means you will re-enrol as a new student of a new cohort.

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Frequently asked questions about whether first-year students can change disciplines

What should students note when changing disciplines?

For the discipline-change decision to bring positive results, students need to prepare carefully in terms of information, psychology and study plan.

• Carefully learn information: Deeply research the training programme and career opportunities of the new discipline to avoid repeating the refrain of “avoiding the melon rind and hitting the coconut shell”.
• Finance and time: Changing disciplines means wasting part of the tuition and time of the old academic year. You also need to prepare finances to retake the different subjects.
• Comply with the process: Firmly grasp the application-submission milestone so as not to miss the opportunity (usually only considered 1 time/year).
• Consult experts: Proactively meet lecturers and the Academic Advisor to receive the most objective advice.

Does changing disciplines require meeting a minimum academic condition?

Yes. To ensure students have enough ability to pursue the new discipline, the school usually requires students to achieve a minimum grade point average (GPA) in previous semesters. The transcript will be the most important evidence in the consideration file.

Do first-year students need family consent to change disciplines?

In terms of administrative procedure, the regulation does not require a written consent or the parents’ signature (only the consent of the Board of Rectors and the Dean is needed). However, HUFLIT always encourages students to have consensus from the family. The family is not only an essential source of financial support but also a solid mental backing. Discussing frankly and early with relatives will help you avoid unnecessary conflicts and waste later.

The article above has helped you clearly answer whether first-year students can change disciplines and the important notes to grasp. Correctly understanding the regulation will help you be more proactive on your study journey. A well-timed decision can create a solid foundation for the long-term future. If you still wonder about the discipline orientation, contact HUFLIT for the most detailed and suitable advice.

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