Too small for school? Hanoi University introduces minimum height for admission

The School of Management and Business (HSB) at the Vietnam National University in Hanoi recently announced significant demand for student enrollment.

For admission this year, female students must be at least 1.58 meters tall and male students must be at least 1.65 meters tall. The University notes that certain exemptions from this criterion will be accepted in exceptional cases.

According to the university, shorter students tend to be less successful than their taller peers. The school justified the criteria by saying that height is important for leadership and self-confidence, the Economic Times reported. However, he failed to present credible evidence to support his statements.

In fact, a 2004 study by the American Psychological Association showed that people 6 feet (1.83 m) or taller generally earn more than others. However, no direct correlation has been established between a person’s height and their success.

Furthermore, this requirement discriminates against a significant portion of the Vietnamese population, where the average height for women is 1.53 meters and for men is 1.65 meters.

In an article in the Vietnamese-language newspaper Tuoi Tre, the announcement of this new measure on height requirements for admission sparked significant debate on social networks.

Following the intervention of the Ministry of Education, the university removed the quantitative criteria from three of the four programs it was offered. The school will maintain a specific requirement for its management and security plan.