Universities in Bangladesh are mainly categorized into four differential types:public (government owned and subsidized),private (private sector owned universities),international (operated and funded byinternational organizations such as theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation), and the latest Cross Border Higher Education (CBHE) which are either study centres or branch campuses managed by of top universities in the world. Bangladeshi universities are affiliated with theUniversity Grants Commission, a commission created according to the Presidential Order (P.O. No 10 of 1973) of the government of thePeople's Republic of Bangladesh.[1]
Most universities focus ongeneral studies, mixing together such areas of study asbusiness,engineering andtechnology. Twenty-two universities have specialized curricula. Two of these are focused onIslamic studies, four onhealth science, six onagricultural science, six on engineering, one ontextile engineering, one onVeterinary medicine, one onAeronautical science, one onocean science and one onwomen's studies.[2]
Bangladesh has 55[3] public universities to the bulk of higher studies students. These universities are funded by the government while managed as self-governed organizations.
Dhaka Division is home to 14 public universities, among which 9 are inDhaka City. There are nine public universities inChittagong Division, theKhulna Division has seven,Rajshahi Division has six, each ofMymensingh Division,Rangpur Division andSylhet Division has four. AndBarisal Division has three. As of 2022 the University Grants Commission of Bangladesh has introduce the cluster system for students enrollment. According to this system allpublic universities in Bangladesh should be sorted in five clusters i.e.one for agricultural universities; one for science and technology universities, one for engineering universities, one formedical universities and the last one for general studies universities.[4][5][6]
University[a] | Acronym | Established[b] | Location | Division | Specialization | Ph.D. granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
University of Dhaka[7] | DU | 1921 | Shabagh, Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | Yes | link |
University of Rajshahi[8] | RU | 1953 | Motihar, Rajshahi | Rajshahi Division | General | Yes | link |
University of Chittagong[9] | CU | 1966 | Hathazari, Chattogram | Chattogram Division | General | Yes | link |
Jahangirnagar University[10] | JU | 1970 | Savar, Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | Yes | link |
Islamic University, Bangladesh[11] | IU | 1979 | Kushtia Sadar, Kushtia | Khulna Division | General | Yes | link |
Khulna University[12] | KU | 1991 | Harintana, Khulna | Khulna Division | General | Yes | link |
Jagannath University[13] | JnU | 2005 | Sadar Ghat, Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | Yes | link |
Comilla University[14] | CoU | 2006 | Sadar Dakkhin, Comilla | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University[15] | JKKNIU | 2006 | Trishal, Mymensingh | Mymensingh Division | General | Yes | link |
Bangladesh University of Professionals | BUP | 2008 | Mirpur, Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | Yes | link |
Begum Rokeya University[16] | BRUR | 2008 | Kotwali | Rangpur Division | General | Yes | link |
University of Barisal[17] | BU | 2011 | Bandar, Barisal | Barisal Division | General | No | link |
Rabindra University, Bangladesh[18] | RUB | 2017 | Shahjadpur, Sirajganj | Rajshahi Division | General | No | link |
Netrokona University[19][20] | NkU | 2018 | Netrokona Sadar, Netrokona | Mymensingh Division | General | No | link |
Kishoreganj University | KgU | 2020 | Kishoreganj Sadar, Kishoreganj | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Meherpur University | MU | 2022 | Mujibnagar, Meherpur | Khulna Division | General | No | |
Thakurgaon University | TU | 2022 | Thakurgaon Sadar, Thakurgaon | Rangpur Division | General | No | |
Naogaon University | NgU | 2022 | Noagaon Sadar, Naogaon | Rajshahi Division | General | No |
University | Acronym | Established[b] | Location | Division | Specialization | Ph.D. granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh University of Engineering & Technology[32] | BUET | 1962 | Palashi, Dhaka | Dhaka Division | Engineering | Yes | link |
Rajshahi University of Engineering & Technology[33] | RUET | 2003[34] | Motihar, Rajshahi | Rajshahi Division | Engineering | Yes | link |
Khulna University of Engineering & Technology[35] | KUET | 2003[36] | Daulatpur, Khulna | Khulna Division | Engineering | Yes | link |
Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology[37] | CUET | 2003[38] | Raozan, Chittagong | Chittagong Division | Engineering | Yes | link |
Dhaka University of Engineering & Technology[39] | DUET | 2003[40] | Joydebpur, Gazipur | Dhaka Division | Engineering | Yes | link |
Military Institute of Science and Technology[41] | MIST | 1998[42] | Mirpur Cantonment, Dhaka | Dhaka Division | Engineering | Yes | link |
University | Acronym | Established[b] | Location | Division | Specialization | Ph.D. granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh Agricultural University[43] | BAU | 1961 | Kotwali, Mymensingh | Mymensingh Division | Agricultural Science | Yes | link |
Gazipur Agricultural University[19][44] | GAU | 1998 | Salna, Gazipur | Dhaka Division | Agricultural Science | Yes | link |
Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University[45] | SBAU | 2001 | Sher e Bangla Nagar, Dhaka | Dhaka Division | Agricultural Science | Yes | link |
Sylhet Agricultural University[46] | SAU | 2006 | Uttar Baluchar, Sylhet | Sylhet Division | Agricultural Science | Yes | link |
Khulna Agricultural University[47] | KAU | 2019 | Daulatpur, Khulna | Khulna Division | Agricultural science | No | link |
Habiganj Agricultural University | HAU | 2020 | Habiganj Sadar, Habiganj | Sylhet Division | Agricultural science | No | link |
Kurigram Agricultural University | KuriAU | 2022 | Kurigram, Kurigram | Rangpur Division | Agricultural science | No | link |
Shariatpur Agriculture University | ShAU | 2021 | Shariatpur, SadarShariatpur | Dhaka Division | Agricultural science | No |
University | Acronym | Founded | Location | Division | Specialization | Ph.D. granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bangladesh Medical University | BMU | 1998 | Shabagh, Dhaka | Dhaka Division | Medical | Yes | link |
Chittagong Medical University | CMU | 2016 | Salimpur, Chittagong | Chittagong Division | Medical | No | link |
Rajshahi Medical University | RMU | 2017 | Rajpara, Rajshahi | Rajshahi Division | Medical | No | link |
Sylhet Medical University | SMU | 2018 | Ambarkhana, Sylhet | Sylhet Division | Medical | No | link |
Khulna Medical University | KMU | 2020 | Labanchara, Khulna | Khulna Division | Medical | No |
University | Acronym | Founded | Location | Division | Specialization | Ph.D. granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Chittagong Veterinary and Animal Sciences University[48] | CVASU | 2006 | Jhautala, Chittagong | Chittagong Division | Veterinary Science | Yes | link |
Bangladesh University of Textiles[49] | BUTEX | 2010 | Tejgaon Industrial area, Dhaka | Dhaka Division | Textile Engineering | Yes | link |
Bangladesh Maritime University[19][50] | BMU | 2013 | Sitakunda, Chittagong | Chittagong Division | Maritime transport | No | link |
Bangladesh Digital University[19][51] | BDU | 2018 | Kaliakoir, Gazipur | Dhaka Division | ICT in education | No | link |
Aviation and Aerospace University Bangladesh[19][52] | AAUB | 2019 | Lalmonirhat Sadar, Lalmonirhat | Rangpur Division | Aeronautical Science | Yes | link |
The following are the public universities that operate through a number of colleges all over Bangladesh instead of a localized campus.
University | Acronym | Founded | Location | Specialization | Ph.D. granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
National University Bangladesh[53] | NU | 1992 | Joydebpur, Gazipur | General | Yes | link |
Bangladesh Open University[54] | BOU | 1992 | Joydebpur, Gazipur | General | Yes | link |
Islamic Arabic University | IAU | 2013 | Mohammadpur, Dhaka | Islamic | No | link |
Dhaka Central University | DCU | Proposed | Dhaka | General | No |
Colleges | Acronym | Founded | Affiliation | Location | Division | Specialization | Ph.D. granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sylhet Engineering College.[55] | SEC | 2007 | SUST | Tilagarh, Sylhet | Sylhet Division | Engineering | No | link |
Mymensingh Engineering College.[55] | MEC | 2009 | DU | Kotwali, Mymensingh | Mymensingh Division | Engineering | No | link |
Faridpur Engineering College.[55] | FEC | 2014 | DU | Kotwali, Faridpur | Dhaka Division | Engineering | No | link |
Barisal Engineering College.[55] | BEC | 2018 | DU | Kotwali, Barisal | Barisal Division | Engineering | No | link |
Colleges | Acronym | Founded | Affiliation | Location | Division | Specialization | Ph.D. granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Textile Engineering College, Chittagong.[56] | CTEC | 2006 | BUTEX | Mirsharai, Chittagong | Chittagong Division | Textile Engineering | No | link |
Pabna Textile Engineering College .[56] | PTEC | 2006 | BUTEX | Shalgaria. Pabna | Rajshahi Division | Textile Engineering | No | link |
Textile Engineering College, Noakhali.[56] | TECN | 2007 | BUTEX | Begumganj, Noakhali | Chittagong Division | Textile Engineering | No | link |
Tangail Textile Engineering College,Tangail.[56] | TTEC | 2007 | BUTEX | Kalihati, Tangail | Dhaka Division | Textile Engineering | No | link |
Barishal Textile Engineering College.[56] | BTEC | 2010 | BUTEX | C&B Road, Barisal | Barisal Division | Textile Engineering | No | link |
Jhenaidah Textile Engineering College, Jhenaidah.[56] | JTEC | 2016 | BUTEX | Aruakandi, Jhenaidah | Khulna Division | Textile Engineering | No | link |
Rangpur Textile Engineering College.[56] | RTEC | 2018 | BUTEX | Pirganj, Rangpur | Rangpur Division | Textile Engineering | No | link |
Gopalganj Textile Engineering College.[56] | GTEC | 2021 | BUTEX | Ghonapara, Gopalganj | Dhaka Division | Textile Engineering | No | link |
Jamalpur Textile Engineering College ,Jamalpur. | JmTEC | 2022 | BUTEX | Melandaha, Jamalpur | Mymensigh Division | Textile Engineering | No | [link] |
University | Acronym | Established | Location | Division | Specialization | PhD granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
International University of Business Agriculture and Technology[57] | IUBAT | 1992 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
North South University[58] | NSU | 1992 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Independent University, Bangladesh[59] | IUB | 1993 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
American International University-Bangladesh[60] | AIUB | 1994 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Dhaka International University[61] | DIU | 1995 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
International Islamic University, Chittagong | IIUC | 1995 | Chittagong | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Asian University of Bangladesh[62] | AUB | 1996 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
East West University[63] | EWU | 1996 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Gono Bishwabidyalay[64] | GB | 1996 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
People's University of Bangladesh[65] | PUB | 1996 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Queens University | QU | 1996 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
University of Asia Pacific (Bangladesh)[66] | UAP | 1996 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Chittagong Independent University (CIU)[67] | CIU | 1999 | Chittagong | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Bangladesh University[68] | BU | 2001 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
BGC Trust University Bangladesh[69] | BGCTUB | 2001 | Chittagong | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Brac University[70] | BracU | 2001 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | Yes | link |
Manarat International University[71] | MIU | 2001 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Premier University, Chittagong[72] | PU | 2001 | Chittagong | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Southern University, Bangladesh[73] | SUB | 2001 | Chittagong | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Sylhet International University[74] | SIU | 2001 | Sylhet | Sylhet Division | General | No | link |
University of Development Alternative[75] | UODA | 2002 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
City University, Bangladesh[76] | CUB | 2002 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Daffodil International University[77] | DIU | 2002 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Green University of Bangladesh[78] | GUB | 2002 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
IBAIS University[79] | IU | 2002 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Leading University[80] | LU | 2002 | Sylhet | Sylhet Division | General | No | link |
Northern University, Bangladesh[81] | NUB | 2002 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Prime University[82] | PU | 2002 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Southeast University[83] | SEU | 2002 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Stamford University Bangladesh[84] | SU | 2002 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
State University of Bangladesh[85] | SUB | 2002 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Eastern University, Bangladesh[86] | EU | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Metropolitan University[87] | MU | 2003 | Sylhet | Sylhet Division | General | No | link |
Millennium University[88] | MU | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Primeasia University[89] | PAU | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Royal University of Dhaka[90] | RUD | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
United International University[91] | UIU | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
University of Information Technology and Sciences[92] | UITS | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
University of South Asia, Bangladesh[93] | USAB | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Presidency University[94] | PU | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Uttara University[95] | UU | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Victoria University of Bangladesh[96] | VUB | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
World University of Bangladesh[97] | WUB | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Asa University Bangladesh[98] | ASAUB | 2006 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Bangladesh Islami University[99] | BIU | 2006 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
East Delta University[100] | EDU | 2006 | Chittagong | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Northern University of Business and Technology Khulna | NUB | 2010 | Khulna | Khulna Division | General | No | link |
Britannia University[101] | BU | 2010 | Comilla | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Feni University[102] | FU | 2010 | Feni | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Khwaja Yunus Ali University[103] | KYAU | 2010 | Sirajgonj | Rajshahi Division | General | No | link |
European University of Bangladesh[104] | EUB | 2012 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
First Capital University Of Bangladesh[105] | FCUB | 2012 | Chuadanga | Khulna Division | General | No | link |
BGMEA University of Fashion & Technology | BUFT | 2012 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Hamdard University Bangladesh | HUB | 2012 | Munshiganj | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Ishakha International University[106][1] | IIUB | 2012 | Kishoreganj | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
North East University Bangladesh | NEUB | 2012 | Sylhet | Sylhet Division | General | No | link |
North Western University, Bangladesh | NWU | 2012 | Khulna | Khulna Division | General | No | link |
Port City International University[107] | PCIU | 2012 | Chittagong | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Varendra University[108] | VU | 2012 | Rajshahi | Rajshahi Division | General | No | link |
Sonargaon University[109] | SU | 2012 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Cox's Bazar International University[110] | CBIU | 2013 | Cox's Bazar | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Fareast International University[111] | FIU | 2013 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
German University Bangladesh[112] | GUB | 2013 | Gazipur | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
North Bengal International University[113] | NBIU | 2013 | Rajshahi | Rajshahi Division | General | No | link |
Notre Dame University Bangladesh | NDUB | 2013 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Ranada Prasad Shaha University | RPSU | 2013 | Narayanganj | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Sheikh Fazilatunnesa Mujib University[114] | SFMMU | 2013 | Jamalpur | Mymensingh Division | General | No | link |
Times University Bangladesh[115] | TMUB | 2013 | Faridpur | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Canadian University of Bangladesh[116] | CUB | 2015 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Global University Bangladesh[117] | GUB | 2015 | Barisal | Barisal Division | General | No | link |
NPI University of Bangladesh[118] | NPIUB | 2015 | Manikganj | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Rabindra Maitree University[119] | RMU | 2015 | Kushtia | Khulna Division | General | No | link |
University of Scholars[120] | IUS | 2015 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
University of Creative Technology Chittagong[121] | UCTC | 2015 | Chittagong | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
Anwer Khan Modern University[122] | AKMU | 2016 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
University of Global Village[123] | UIGV | 2016 | Barisal | Barisal Division | General | No | link |
Khulna Khan Bahadur Ahsanullah University | KKBAU | 2018 | Khulna | Khulna Division | General | No | link |
Trust University, Barishal[124] | TUB | 2018 | Barisal | Barisal Division | General | No | link |
University of Brahmanbaria[125] | UOB | 2018 | Brahamanbaria | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
University of Skill Enrichment and Technology | USET | 2018 | Narayanganj | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
International Standard University[126] | ISU | 2018 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
ZNRF University of Management Sciences[127] | ZUMS | 2018 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | General | No | link |
Bandarban University[128] | BdU | 2019 | Bandarban | Chittagong Division | General | No | link |
RTM Al-Kabir Technical University[129] | RTM-AKTU | 2020 | Sylhet | Sylhet Division | General | No | link |
International Islami University of Science and Technology Bangladesh | IIUSTB | 2023 | Dhaka | Dhaka | Science and Technology | No | https://www.iiustb.ac.bd/ |
Microland University of Science and Technology | MUST | 2014 | Dhaka | Dhaka | Science and Technology | No | https://www.microlanduniversity.org/ |
Lalon University of Science & Arts | LUSA | 2023 | Kushtia | Khulna | Science and Arts | No | https://www.lusa.ac.bd/ |
Grameen University[130] | GU | 2025 | Dhaka | Dhaka | General | No |
University | Acronym | Established[b] | Location | Division | Specialization | PhD granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Central Women's University[143] | CWU | 1993 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | Women's studies | No | link |
Shanto-Mariam University of Creative Technology[144] | SMUCT | 2003 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | Creative technology | No | link |
University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh[145] | ULAB | 2004 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | Media studies and journalism | No | link |
Bangladesh University of Health Sciences[146][147] | BUHS | 2012 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | Health Sciences | No | link |
Exim Bank Agricultural University Bangladesh[148] | EBAUB | 2013 | Chapainawabganj | Rajshahi Division | Agricultural Science | No | link |
Bangladesh Army University of Engineering & Technology[149] | BAUET | 2015 | Natore | Rajshahi Division | Engineering and Technology | No | link |
Tagore University of Creative Arts[150] | TUCA | 2016 | Dhaka | Dhaka Division | Creative | No | link |
There are only three international universities in Bangladesh according to UGC. They are neither managed nor funded by the government, like public universities, nor established under the Private University Act and managed by a private governing body, like private universities. International Culture University, established by civil society organization and branded by United Nations Academic Impact (UNAI)[151] and United Nations Global Compact (UNGC),[152] is an internationally accredited-affiliated and an active partner of different international organizations working for internationalization of education and international quality. Islamic University of Technology was established by theOrganisation of Islamic Cooperation and is located inGazipur, another is located inChittagong Division and funded by the Asian University for Women Support Foundation (AUWSF), a United States–based non-profit corporation.[153] later one is South Asian University.[154]
University | Acronym | Founded | Location | Specialization | Ph.D. granting | Website |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Islamic University of Technology[155] | IUT | 1978 | Gazipur | Engineering and Technology (Muslim students only) | Yes | link |
Asian University for Women[156] | AUW | 2008 | Chittagong | (Female students only) | No | link |
In 2016 Prime Minister of Bangladesh announced bringing out Higher Educations reforms to establish at least one university or sub-campus at district level across the country for promotion of higher education.[157][158]
University | Acronym | Location | Division | Specialization | Reference |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mymensingh University of Engineering and Technology | MUET | Mymensingh | Mymensingh Division | Engineering University | [159][160] |
Mymensingh Medical University | MMU | Mymensingh | Mymensingh Division | Medical University | [160][159] |
Thakurgaon University of Science and Technology | TSTU | Thakurgaon | Rangpur Division | STEM | [161] |
Marine Science University of Barisal | MSUB | Barishal | Barishal Division | Maritime studies | [162] |
Michael Madhusudan Cultural University | MMCU | Jashore | Khulna Division | Cultural studies | [162] |
Bangladesh University of Juridical Sciences | BUJS | Legal education | [162] | ||
Bangladesh University of Educational Planning and Administration | BUEdPA | Educational management | [162] |