Bangladesh is ranked slightly below the median on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:
There are three kinds of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Bangladesh:
1. Public Universities: There are 54 Universities in Bangladesh that are funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC), including the highest ranked HEIs in the country. They have a diverse set of departments, ensuring teaching and research in multiple disciplines of study, including science, medicine, engineering, business, arts, and humanities. Some specialize in certain fields of study e.g. Science and Technology, Engineering, and Agriculture.
2. Private Universities: Unlike Public Universities, which are spread across all the major cities of Bangladesh, more than 50% of private Universities in the country are located in the capital city of Dhaka, and have significantly higher fees than Government-funded HEIs.
3. International Universities: The three International Universities in Bangladesh are funded and overseen by international organizations, and not by the Government of Bangladesh or private organizations in the country. For example, the Islamic University of Technology in Gazipur is funded by the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).
Bangladesh is also home to several Vocational Training Institutes, which directly serve the needs of the labor market, instead of being under the purview of the Ministry of Higher Education.
Most Certificate Programs in Bangladesh Universities are of two types: additional qualifications for experienced professionals, or language certificates for short term visitors and tourists. In the former case, the courses can be completed in virtual part time modes, while language learning courses are usually completed in 3-12 months.
Undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Bangladesh take 3 or 4 years to complete, depending on the field of study. The pattern is similar to that in Indian Universities, where students choose their UG major before starting their studies, and study specialized courses within their Department after completing their first year of general studies. Public, Private, and International Universities in Bangladesh are authorized to award UG degrees.
Postgraduate Master’s Programs in Bangladesh normally last two years. They involve specialized study in one or more subjects, and focus on topics that are relevant in current research or in the labor market. The final semester is usually spent on Master’s thesis work; this involves a complex project guided by a member of a research group. There is no requirement for original output, but the quality of work required is very high. Most postgraduates tend to take up full time jobs after receiving their degrees, though some immediately start with Doctoral studies. Finally, some Master’s degrees are also integrated with Bachelor’s programs (e.g. in the case of Medicine, Law, and Architecture).
PhD students in Bangladesh work towards their degrees for 4-5 years, of which the majority is spent in conducting original research within a research group. Faculty supervisors play an important role in guiding the direction of doctoral studies, and the award of the degree is based on a Thesis defense before a panel of external advisors. Most projects focus on advanced studies within a topic related to the Department, and students must prepare a research proposal before starting the main body of their work.
The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study. Some of the popular disciplines available to study in Bangladesh are-
Computer Science & Engineering | Sociology | Pharmacy |
Architecture | Electrical & Electronics Engineering | Law |
Social Science & Economics | Human Resources Management | Accounting |
Business Administration | Finance | English Literature |
Bangla Language & Literature | Mathematics | Marketing |
Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Bangladesh.
The name of the city | No. of Universities |
Dhaka | 74 |
Chittagong | 21 |
Khulna | 10 |
Rajshahi | 7 |
Gazipur | 10 |
Sylhet | 12 |
The tuition fee in Bangladesh Universities is much lower than in most other Asian countries. For example, even in private Universities, the tuition fee rarely exceeds $1,000 (110,000 Bangladeshi Taka) per semester. Even the MBBS course is not as costly as in neighboring countries like India.
The cost of living in Bangladesh is also much lower than in other Asian countries. For example, even in the capital city of Dhaka, students will not need to spend more than $300 (33,000 BT) per month. This covers accommodation, food, laundry, transportation, technical infrastructure, school supplies, and entertainment.
Applicants for a long term Bangladesh Student Visa must complete the steps listed below, and submit the following documents: