Do college and university students have to do military service?

Some readers asked: Are college and university students exempted or deferred from military service?

According to point g, clause 1, article 41 of the 2015 Law on Military Service, any citizen who is studying at a general education institution; is receiving regular university training at a university, or regular college training at a vocational education institution during a training course of a training level will be temporarily deferred from military service and exempted from military service.

In 2025, the Ho Chi Minh City Military Service Council issued 4,197 orders calling citizens to join the army.

Thus, students studying at universities and colleges are eligible for a deferment of military service but not for exemption from military service.

Citizens who are 18 years old or older are called up for military service, the age of call up for military service is from 18 years old to 25 years old. For citizens who have received college or university degrees and have been temporarily deferred from military service, the age of call up for military service is up to 27 years old.

The young soldiers were excited and proud as they set off on their mission.

Based on the above, those who are studying at university are not exempted from military service. But they are eligible for a temporary deferment of military service until the age of 27. When they complete their studies at the training facility and receive a call-up notice, they will still perform military service normally like other citizens.

In case of secondary school students, they are not eligible for deferment from military service.

Procedures for requesting deferment of military service while studying at university or college

To apply for a temporary deferment from military service, the citizen must prepare a dossier to the People's Committee at the commune level, including: the original application for temporary deferment from military service in peacetime.

The application for deferment of military service must include complete information: the recipient of the application is the competent authority, which is the People's Committee at the district level; personal information; identity card; the application clearly states the reason for the deferment of military service (the reason must be permitted by law to defer military service); clearly states the deferment period; documents proving that you are deferred from military service in peacetime, which is a confirmation from the training facility where you are studying...

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/sinh-vien-dang-hoc-dai-hoc-cao-dang-co-phai-di-nghia-vu-quan-su-khong-185250214122345736.htm