Dhaka University sticks to admission test schedule despite UGC decision

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has decided to defer public university admission tests following the re-evaluation of HSC results and supplementary examinations.

The Dhaka University, however, has chosen to stick to its original schedule.

On Monday afternoon, the university's General Admission Committee held an emergency meeting and decided to hold the 2026-27 academic year's admission tests "on time".

The decision came just hours after the UGC held a consultation with public university vice-chancellors and announced a coordinated admission timeline.

In a statement after the meeting, UGC Chairman Prof Mamun Ahmed said applications for public university admissions would open in January 2027, with admission tests scheduled to begin in February.

He said the decision was intended to give students who pass through HSC result re-evaluations or supplementary examinations a chance to apply.

The government aims to publish the re-evaluation and supplementary examination results by Dec 31, after which the university admission process will begin, he added.

Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Prof ABM Obaidul Islam did not attend the UGC meeting.

At an Aug 2 Admission Committee meeting, the university had set Dec 5-26 for the unit-based admission tests.

Regarding the university’s decision, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Prof Mohammed Almujaddade Alfasane said the university wanted to avoid another academic backlog.

The university had fallen behind by around one to one-and-a-half years during the COVID-19 pandemic and took four years to recover, he said.

Delaying the admission tests by nearly three months could trigger another session jam and return the university to its previous difficulties.

He said students who passed after HSC result re-evaluations would still be eligible to apply if they met the university's admission requirements, as they would receive an additional two days to submit applications after the publication of the revised results.

The university's arrangements would ensure that no meritorious student missed the opportunity to sit its admission tests, he added.

The Admission Committee also expects fewer applicants this year due to the lower pass rate in the HSC and equivalent examinations.