RU opens postgrad admission for affiliate colleges, other public uni students

Rajshahi University (RU) authorities have decided to open its doors to external students for enrollment in its regular postgraduate programmes. The revised admission policy was approved during the university's 537th syndicate meeting on March 9.

Under the new policy, students from other public universities and RU-affiliated colleges can apply for master's programmes, subject to seat availability and a competitive entrance exam.

However, students from the National University and Open University will not be eligible for this opportunity, according to university sources.

The revised policy includes six eligibility criteria for admission. Applicants must have a minimum CGPA of 3.00 in their undergraduate (honours) degree. They can only apply to the department in which they completed their bachelor's degree. Applications must be submitted within three academic years of completing the undergraduate degree. Admission will be based on an entrance exam, supervised by the respective department. An application fee of Tk 1,000 must be paid online for the entrance exam. The academic calendar for the master's programme will follow the university's regular schedule.

Addressing the change, RU Acting Registrar Prof Iftikharul Alam Masud confirmed that students from any public university and Rajshahi University-affiliated colleges, except those from the National University and Open University, can now seek admission through the entrance test.

University Vice-Chancellor Prof. Saleh Hasan Naqib said, "Every year, many postgraduate seats remain vacant. Through this process, students from other universities will have the opportunity to enroll, but only after RU's own undergraduate students have been accommodated."

"Only those who prove their merit in the highly competitive exam will secure a place in the master's programme," he added.

According to the university ordinance, Rajshahi University students typically gain direct admission to the master's programme after completing their undergraduate studies at the university. However, many students do not pursue further studies immediately, resulting in vacant seats. The new policy aims to fill those gaps.