Jahangirnagar University (JU) administration has yet to make a final decision on holding admission tests in divisional cities for the 2026–27 academic year.
Every year, admission seekers from across Bangladesh have to travel to the JU campus. This means extra travel costs, accommodation problems and other logistical challenges. Although the university has discussed decentralising admission tests for several years, no final decision has been made.
According to university sources, administrative steps were recently taken to introduce the new system from the 2026–27 academic session. Four sub-committees were formed to assess its feasibility, and all submitted their reports.
The reports were reviewed at a meeting of the Central Admission Management Committee on 22 September, but the meeting ended without a final decision.
The main challenges include arranging examination centres in divisional cities, coordinating JU’s admission test schedule with those of other public universities and managing a possible increase in application fees.
Syed Mohammad Ali Reza, Deputy Registrar (Education) and Member Secretary of the Central Admission Management Committee, said coordinating admission test schedules with other public universities was a major challenge.
Several public universities have already announced their admission tests from December to February and up to Ramadan. This makes it difficult for JU to set a suitable schedule and secure examination centres in divisional cities.
Holding tests outside the campus would require JU to use examination halls and other logistical facilities of regional universities. This would increase costs and could lead to higher application fees.
JU’s admission application fee is currently relatively lower than that of many other public universities. Officials fear that higher fees would put an additional financial burden on prospective students.
Officials also noted that students could save travel costs by sitting for tests in their home divisions. However, Dhaka-based students who might have to travel to other divisions would face higher expenses.
Syed Mohammad Ali Reza said the decision involved not only administrative matters but also the university’s policy-making governance structure.
Since academic decisions fall under the Academic Council, the feasibility, estimated costs and existing challenges will be placed before the Council.
The Academic Council’s decision will determine whether JU can introduce admission tests in divisional cities for the 2026–27 academic year.
