Universities in Bangladesh

Bangladesh has both public and private universities. Public universities are created by their own acts of parliament: Jahangirnagar University, for example, is a public university established on 20 August 1970 and governed by the Jahangirnagar University Act, 1973. Private universities operate under the Private University Act, 2010, under the supervision of the University Grants Commission (UGC), which also nominates a member to each private university's syndicate.

Most universities in our directory are in and around Dhaka, the capital. Jahangirnagar University is a residential campus at Savar, about 30 kilometres from Dhaka, with 36 departments, six faculties and four institutes. Among the private universities, Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology (AUST) was founded by the Dhaka Ahsania Mission, a non-profit organisation, in 1995. American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB), United International University (UIU), University of Asia Pacific (UAP) and Stamford University Bangladesh are other private universities in Dhaka listed here.

How it works

Universities award bachelor's (honours), master's and doctoral degrees and count study in credit hours rather than ECTS. Typical structures are:

• Bachelor's degree: usually four years or eight semesters, for example 130 credit hours for a BBA or 153 for a B.Sc. in Computer Science and Engineering at UAP
• Architecture: five years (ten semesters) at UAP
• Master's degree: usually one to two years, depending on the student's previous degree; at Stamford University some programmes allow a minimum of one year and a maximum of four
• Doctorate (PhD) and MPhil: offered by public universities such as Jahangirnagar

Calendars vary. Jahangirnagar's academic year runs from 1 July to 30 June. Stamford University has two semesters a year, Spring from January to June and Summer from July to December, while other private universities use trimesters. Professional programmes are accredited by sector bodies: engineering degrees at AUST and UIU, for example, are accredited by the Board of Accreditation for Engineering and Technical Education (BAETE).

Admission

International students apply directly to the university. At UIU, applicants email their documents to the international office, receive an offer letter and then apply for a student visa. UIU's requirements for international applicants include:

• 12 years of schooling for a bachelor's programme, or 12 years plus a bachelor's degree for a master's
• at least 50% marks, or an equivalent grade in the home system
• TOEFL or IELTS (minimum 6.0) if previous studies were not in English
• bank statements for the last three months and a bank solvency certificate
• a health report and medical insurance

Some fields have extra rules. For pharmacy, foreign applicants need an equivalence certificate from the Pharmacy Council of Bangladesh, and at Stamford University foreign students can enter the M.Pharm only through seats reserved for them by the government.

Costs and funding

Private universities publish their fees, usually per credit hour. At AIUB, tuition from the Fall 2026-27 semester is Tk 8,000 per credit hour for the BBA, Tk 8,500 for Computer Science and Engineering and Tk 6,000 for the MBA, plus a one-time admission fee of Tk 25,000. UAP lists the total cost of its BBA (130 credit hours over eight semesters) at Tk 722,700 including admission. Stamford University charges foreign bachelor's students one-time admission and other fees of Tk 46,400. UIU gives international students a 25% scholarship at admission.

For living costs, UIU's international office estimates Tk 10,825 to Tk 28,925 a month, excluding tuition, depending on whether a student lives in the university hostel with meals or rents a private flat.

Visa and residence

Foreign students need a student visa. The application is made online at visa.gov.bd and the visa is issued through the Bangladesh embassy in the student's country. After arrival the visa must be extended every year, which includes a police report from the Special Branch that usually takes three to four weeks; the visa is valid for at most one year at a time. Universities such as Stamford have a foreign students' cell that processes visa extensions with the government offices. UIU notes that its visa guidance is being reviewed, so confirm the details with the university.

How to choose

• Public or private: public universities are created by their own acts; private universities publish their own fees
• Accreditation: check professional accreditation for engineering, pharmacy or architecture
• Language: confirm the language of instruction and any English test required
• Costs: compare the total cost of the degree, not only the fee per credit hour
• Support: look for an international office that helps with the visa, arrival and accommodation

Frequently asked questions

How long does a bachelor's degree take in Bangladesh?

Usually four years, or eight semesters. Architecture takes five years at the University of Asia Pacific.

How much does a private university cost in Bangladesh?

It depends on the programme. At AIUB, tuition from Fall 2026-27 ranges from Tk 6,000 to Tk 8,500 per credit hour for the programmes listed above, plus an admission fee of Tk 25,000.

Do I need a visa to study in Bangladesh?

Yes. Apply online at visa.gov.bd after you receive an offer letter; the visa is issued by the Bangladesh embassy and must be extended every year.

Do I need an English test to apply?

At UIU, international applicants need TOEFL or IELTS (minimum 6.0) if their previous studies were not in English.