University Military Training (GDQP): How Long, What to Bring, 2026 Schedule

How many weeks does university national defense education last, and is it year one or year two?

National defense and security education is a compulsory subject at all universities, grouped with political theory and physical education. Unlike lecture-hall courses, at most schools it is delivered in a concentrated block: you eat and sleep at a GDQP center, wear a uniform and live on a military timetable for the whole session. That is why students simply call it "going to military training".

How many weeks? There is no single nationwide answer, because each school places the block in its own academic calendar. A real example: HCMUTE's 2025-26 calendar (Decision 1787/QĐ-ĐHSPKT) reserves a full 4 weeks, weeks 48 to 51 in the chart's own week numbering (counted from the start of the academic year, falling roughly in July–August 2026), for K2025's GDQP-AN term (as the chart labels it). Your school's block may be shorter or longer, so check the academic calendar or the training office's notice rather than word of mouth.

Whether it falls in year one or year two also depends on the school. Among the five schools surveyed, two state in public documents that it happens in the summer right after year one (HCMUTE for K2025, EIU for freshmen in the summer term). Others may put it in a regular semester or push it to year two, so if your school has not announced anything yet, do not book a ticket home for the whole summer.

The official name on transcripts and notices is "Giáo dục quốc phòng và an ninh" — when searching your school's website, look for GDQP or GDQP&AN rather than "học quân sự".

2026 national defense education schedule by school (HCMUT, UEH, HCMUTE, TDTU, EIU)

The 2026 schedules below come from each school's own 2025-26 academic calendar, 2026 framework or student handbook. Only HCMUTE and EIU spell out the GDQP&AN block in public documents; the other three could not be confirmed, so the table says "Chưa rõ (N/A)" instead of guessing.

For HCMUT, the 2025-26 calendar (Decision 1327/QĐ-ĐHBK) has a summer term from June to August 2026; the surveyed material does not identify a separate GDQP&AN block or a center name, so the exact dates and venue follow the training office's notice. For UEH, the 2026 framework (UEH-CV-282-2026) has a Mid term from 22 June to 9 August 2026 (7 weeks) — that is the general term window, not a GDQP&AN schedule. TDTU publishes its academic plan only to students logged into stdportal, so it cannot be checked from outside. As for where the training takes place — which center HCMUTE, UEH or TDTU use — the schools' public documents do not say either; the center name appears only in the training office's reporting notice before the session.

If your school is not in the table, the fastest route is its academic-plan chart: recently HCMUT issued it in April (2025 and 2026), HCMUTE in May 2025, UEH in January 2026 — several months before the session. On the chart, the GDQP&AN block is usually marked as a separate band of weeks labelled with the cohort (K2025, K26…), and that is the band to circle.

The calendar is only a week-level plan. The exact reporting date, center name, company roster and payment deadline come in a separate training-office notice before the session — watch your student email and faculty website.

What to bring and prepare for military training: checklist and the white round-neck T-shirt

"What do I bring?" and "what do I need to prepare?" come up in freshman groups every single year. The uniform, cap and shoes are usually rented or sold by the center according to the school's notice (the cost is included in what you pay), so you do not need to buy them in advance; the items below are what you must arrange yourself. The official list is always in the school's notice — this checklist just covers what those notices tend to leave out.

The plain white round-neck T-shirt gets mentioned so often because most centers require it under the uniform jacket and for physical training. Bring a few more than the minimum in the notice: the session often lands in the rainy season, laundry dries slowly and you sweat every day. Pick plain ones with no prints, since centers may call you out for patterned shirts.

• Documents Citizen ID, student card, payment receipt or reporting notice, and a few ID photos if the center makes badges.
• White round-neck T-shirts Plain, worn under the uniform and for PT — the standard military-training white tee every notice mentions; bring 1–2 more than the notice says because laundry dries slowly.
• Toiletries Toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, towel, sandals, hangers and a clothesline, hand-wash detergent.
• Medicine and mosquito repellent Cold and stomach medicine, plasters, medicated oil, repellent; if you have a chronic condition, bring your prescription and tell your company officer.
• Small cash The center canteen does not always take bank transfers; bring modest small notes, not a lot.
• Power bank and 4G Few outlets in the room and limited phone hours; wifi is usually weak or absent, so top up a 4G plan beforehand.
• Leave at home Valuables, a laptop (unless the school asks for it), knives, alcohol — most centers ban them, and even if you bring them they are hard to keep safe.

Write your name or student ID on T-shirts, towels and sandals: the whole company wears identical gear and shares one clothesline.

On YourCampus: Your school's Freshman board on YourCampus is a quick place to ask seniors who just came back: which center, how many shirts, whether to bring a mosquito net. App user guide

How much does military training cost and what does it include?

How much it costs depends on the school and the center, and the figure changes yearly, so this article does not quote one number. Charges usually have three parts: tuition for the GDQP&AN course (charged the way your school charges tuition — per credit or as part of the term/annual fee), board and lodging at the center during the session, and rental or purchase of uniform and textbooks. The school's pre-session notice itemises each and sets the deadline.

Payment methods vary too: some schools fold it into summer-term tuition collected through the usual payment portal, others collect the board portion separately at check-in. Keep the receipt or a screenshot, because the center may check it when issuing uniforms. If your family is in hardship, ask student affairs about fee reductions before the deadline.

"Military training cost" figures floating around online are usually from an earlier cohort or another school. Trust only your school's official notice for this academic year (one with a dispatch or decision number is the safest bet).

National defense center rules: can you go home, is there wifi?

"Can I go home during military training?" is the most common question, and the short answer is: not on weekdays. The session is residential; you stay at the center and follow the schedule from the morning wake-up bell to evening roll call. A typical GDQP day runs to a rhythm: early wake-up bell and morning physical training, classroom theory, field practice on the training ground, then evening activities and roll call — the exact times are set by each center and handed out at check-in. Weekends depend on the center and the session: some allow leave from Saturday afternoon to Sunday evening, others keep students for the whole block and only allow family visits at set hours.

Center rules usually revolve around the same points: correct uniform whenever you leave the room, bunk and locker kept to the standard layout, punctual assembly, no leaving the area without permission and no alcohol. Violations cost conduct points for the session; serious ones can void your result.

"Is there wifi?" — ask seniors who went before you and the shared experience is "practically none". Many centers limit phone use to set hours (usually evenings after activities) and do not provide wifi to trainees, so 4G is what you should prepare. At most centers you can keep your phone with you, but not use it in class and not film the training ground without permission.

On YourCampus: Weekend leave and phone hours change with every session — the surest way is to ask the latest cohort on your school's board in YourCampus. App user guide

Exemptions from national defense education and whether it counts toward GPA

Exemption is not simply a matter of having a doctor's note. Exemption, reduction or deferral of GDQP&AN is governed by Ministry of Education and Training regulations and each school's training regulations; the common cases are already holding a GDQP&AN certificate (transfer students, second degrees) or having completed service in the army or police. For the exact list of exemption, reduction and deferral cases, ask the training office — do not infer it from another school's experience.

Exemption or deferral applications go to the training office before the reporting date, usually a form plus supporting documents (certificate, discharge decision, medical records). The exact list and deadline are in each school's training regulations, so do not wait until the bus day to ask.

Does it count toward GPA? Whether the GDQP&AN grade enters the cumulative GPA is set by each school's training regulations; many schools treat it like physical education — excluded from GPA but a mandatory pass to receive the certificate and graduate. Fail a component and you retake that component in a later session. Because this is a school-by-school rule, read the regulations or ask your academic advisor rather than guessing.

If you plan to transfer or take a second degree, keep your GDQP&AN certificate safe — it is the document for an exemption next time.