Dhaka University Will Not Postpone Admission Tests

Applications for admission to public universities for the 2026-27 academic year will open on January 1, according to a decision taken at a meeting of the University Grants Commission (UGC). However, Dhaka University (DU) has said the decision does not apply to its admission process, with two pro-vice-chancellors indicating that postponing its admission tests is highly unlikely.

DU Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Mohammad Almozaddedi Alfesani said applications and admission tests would proceed according to the previously announced schedule. Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) Professor Dr Abdus Salam said the issue might be discussed at a meeting of the university’s general admission committee on Monday afternoon.

The UGC announced the decision at a meeting with public university vice-chancellors at its office on Monday (November 9). The meeting decided that applications for university admission would begin on January 1 and that admission tests would start after February 1. DU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr ABM Obaidul Islam was reportedly absent from the meeting.

Dhaka University has already published its admission circular, stating that online applications will open at noon on November 11 and close at 11:59pm on November 25. Admission tests are scheduled to begin with the IBA Unit on December 5.

Asked about the UGC decision, Professor Dr Mohammad Almozaddedi Alfesani told The Daily Campus on Monday (November 9), “DU has no connection with the UGC decision. Applications and examinations will proceed according to the schedule set by the university’s highest forum. The application process begins on November 11.”

Pro-Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Abdus Salam also indicated that the admission tests would not be postponed. “It is almost certain that the admission tests will not be postponed, because many things are involved. The circular has already been issued after finalising all the matters. However, the issue may be discussed at the admission committee meeting this afternoon,” he told The Daily Campus.

Following the UGC meeting, Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed was asked whether autonomous universities were included in the decision. He replied, “Yes, they are included.”

He said universities that had already announced their admission test dates had been asked to reconsider their schedules in view of national interests and students’ convenience.

“We have emphasised coordination to ensure that the examination dates of universities do not conflict. We want students to have the opportunity to sit for admission tests at multiple universities,” he said.

The UGC chairman said all results, including those of the HSC supplementary examinations, would be available by December 31. University admission activities would begin after that date, and institutions that had already started the process would coordinate their schedules with the decision.

“The implication is that we are creating an opportunity for supplementary examinees. The decision has been taken to ensure that all candidates, including those participating in this process, can sit for admission tests. Ensuring opportunities for higher education admission and evaluating students’ merit are very important,” he said.

Dhaka University Admission Test Schedule

According to DU’s admission circular, the admission tests for the 2026-27 academic year will be held on the following dates:

• IBA Unit: December 5 (Saturday)

• Science Unit: December 12 (Saturday)

• Arts, Law and Social Science Unit: December 19 (Saturday)

• Fine Arts Unit: December 22 (Tuesday), including general knowledge and drawing

• Business Studies Unit: December 26 (Saturday)

All unit admission tests, except those for the IBA Unit, will be held from 11am to 12:30pm. The IBA Unit test will take place from 10am to noon.

Admission tests for the three units other than Fine Arts and IBA will be held in eight divisional cities, including Dhaka.

The divisional centres are Rajshahi University, Chittagong University, Barishal University, Khulna University, Shahjalal University of Science and Technology, Bangladesh Agricultural University in Mymensingh, and Begum Rokeya University.