National University (NU) Bangladesh: Complete Admission, Results and Programs Guide

National University (NU) is the largest university in Bangladesh by enrollment. Established in 1992 under the National University Act, it is headquartered in Board Bazar, Gazipur, and serves as the affiliating university for over 2,000 government and private colleges spread across all 64 districts of Bangladesh. Unlike a traditional residential university with a single campus, NU administers academic programs, curricula, examinations, and results for millions of students studying at affiliated colleges throughout the country.

This guide covers everything you need to know about NU — from honours admission to degree pass programs, masters, professional courses, results, and the on-campus programs offered at the Gazipur headquarters.

What is National University (NU)?

National University is a public affiliating university created to standardise and oversee higher education across Bangladesh's college network. Its core responsibilities include:

• Designing and updating curricula for undergraduate and postgraduate programs

• Conducting examinations for all affiliated colleges

• Publishing results centrally through its online results portal

• Granting degrees to students who complete programs at affiliated colleges

• Running on-campus honours programs at its Gazipur headquarters

• Administering MPhil and PhD research degrees

Because NU does not operate as a single-campus residential university, most NU students never visit the Gazipur campus. They study at their local affiliated college, sit for NU-designed examinations, and receive NU degrees. This makes NU the most accessible higher education institution in the country, especially for students in rural and semi-urban areas.

Programs Offered by National University

NU offers a wide range of academic programs across multiple levels:

1. Bachelor Degree (Honours) — 4 Years

The honours program is NU's flagship undergraduate degree. It is a four-year program offered in hundreds of subjects across Science, Humanities, Business Studies, and Social Science faculties. Students study at affiliated colleges and take NU-conducted examinations at the end of each academic year.

Common honours subjects include:

• Bangla, English, History, Philosophy, Islamic Studies

• Economics, Political Science, Sociology, Social Work

• Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, Botany, Zoology

• Accounting, Management, Finance, Marketing

• Psychology, Statistics, Geography

2. Bachelor Degree (Pass) — 3 Years

The degree pass program is a three-year undergraduate degree available at many affiliated colleges. It is designed for students who completed HSC but did not enrol in a four-year honours program. Subject groups include BA (Pass), BSS (Pass), BSc (Pass), and BBus (Pass).

3. Masters Programs

NU offers two types of masters programs:

• Masters Preliminary — for students who completed a pass degree and want to pursue a masters

• Masters Final — for students who completed an honours degree and want to specialise

Masters programs are typically 1-2 years depending on the track and are offered at affiliated colleges as well as on-campus at Gazipur.

4. Professional Programs

NU administers several professional degree programs through affiliated colleges:

• MBA (Master of Business Administration)

• LLB (Bachelor of Laws)

• B.Ed (Bachelor of Education)

• BFA (Bachelor of Fine Arts)

• BPEd (Bachelor of Physical Education)

• BSS in Tourism and Hospitality Management

5. Research Degrees

NU offers MPhil and PhD programs for researchers. Admission to these programs involves a written examination followed by a viva/interview. The 2025-26 MPhil/PhD admission circular was published in September 2025, with written exams conducted in November-December 2025.

NU Honours Admission 2025-26

Application Timeline

The NU honours admission circular for the 2025-26 academic session was published on the official NU admission website. Key dates from the completed cycle:

• Online Application Start: November 23, 2025

• Online Application End: December 31, 2025 (11:59 PM)

• Application Fee: 300 BDT (through Sonali Seba)

• Admission Test Date: To be announced by NU

The application window has closed for the 2025-26 session. The next admission cycle (2026-27) is expected to open after HSC results are published, typically in October-November 2026.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility for NU honours admission depends on your HSC and SSC results and your study group:

For Humanities and Business Studies Students:

• Passed SSC/equivalent in 2022 or 2023

• Passed HSC/equivalent in 2024 or 2025

• Minimum GPA 2.00 separately in both SSC and HSC

• Combined minimum GPA of 4.50 (including fourth subject)

For Science and Vocational Students:

• Passed SSC/equivalent in 2022 or 2023

• Passed HSC/equivalent in 2024 or 2025

• Minimum GPA 2.25 in SSC and GPA 2.00 in HSC

• Combined minimum GPA of 4.75 (including fourth subject)

GPA calculations include the fourth subject in both SSC and HSC. Students who passed SSC before 2022 are generally not eligible.

Admission Test Pattern

The NU honours admission test is MCQ-based and stream-specific:

• Total Questions: 100

• Duration: 1 hour

• Streams: Science, Humanities, Business Studies

• Negative Marking: Yes (typically 0.25 deducted per wrong answer)

• Test Centres: Designated colleges across all divisions

The test covers subjects relevant to the student's HSC group. Science students are tested on Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Mathematics, and General Knowledge. Humanities students are tested on Bangla, English, General Knowledge, and subject-specific topics. Business students are tested on Accounting, Business Principles, Economics, and General Knowledge.

How to Apply for NU Honours Admission

1. Visit the official NU admission website at app1.nu.ac.bd

1. Register with your SSC and HSC roll, registration number, and board

1. Fill in the online application form with personal and academic details

1. Upload a recent passport-size photograph

1. Select your preferred colleges and subjects

1. Pay the application fee (300 BDT) through Sonali Seba or designated payment channels

1. Download and print the application confirmation

1. Wait for the admission test admit card to be published

Merit List and College Allocation

After the admission test, NU publishes a merit list based on combined scores of SSC GPA, HSC GPA, and admission test marks. Students are allocated to colleges based on their merit position and college preferences. There are usually multiple merit lists — if seats remain vacant after the first list, a second and sometimes third list is published.

Students who do not get their preferred college in the first merit list can:

• Wait for the second merit list

• Apply for a release slip to change colleges

• Accept the allocated college and complete admission

NU On-Campus Admission (Gazipur)

In addition to the affiliated college programs, NU runs on-campus honours programs at its Gazipur headquarters. These are competitive, limited-seat programs with a separate admission process.

On-Campus Programs

• Economics

• Psychology

• Tourism and Hospitality Management

• Nutrition and Food Science

• Computer Science

• English

• Bangla

On-Campus Admission Timeline (2025-26)

• Application Start: June 26, 2025

• Application End: August 31, 2025

• Admission Test Date: September 5, 2025 (Friday), 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

• Total Marks: 200

The on-campus admission test is more competitive than the affiliated college admission, with fewer seats and a more detailed examination.

On-Campus Eligibility

• HSC passed in 2023 or 2024

• SSC passed in 2021 or 2022

• GPA includes the fourth subject

• Subject-specific minimum GPA requirements apply

NU Results: How to Check

NU publishes results for all its programs through its central results portal. Because NU conducts examinations for millions of students, results are published in phases — by year, by program, and by examination session.

Results Portal

The official NU results portal is:

• results.nu.ac.bd — Results archive for all programs

• result.nu.ac.bd — Latest published results

How to Check Your NU Result

1. Go to results.nu.ac.bd

1. Select your program (Honours, Degree, Masters, Professional)

1. Select your year (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, or Consolidated)

1. Select your examination year

1. Enter your registration number

1. Enter the captcha code

1. Click Submit to view your result

Types of NU Results

#### Honours Results

Published for each year (1st through 4th) and as a consolidated result after all four years are complete. The honours 4th year result is typically the most anticipated, as it determines the final CGPA and class.

#### Degree Pass Results

Published for each year (1st through 3rd) and as a consolidated result.

#### Masters Results

Published for Masters Preliminary and Masters Final separately.

#### Professional Results

Published for MBA, LLB, B.Ed, and other professional programs.

#### Revaluation Results

Students who apply for answer sheet re-evaluation can check their updated results through the revaluation section of the results portal.

NU publishes results in batches. If your result is not available yet, check back after a few days. The results page lists the most recently published results with dates.

NU Admission Result

After the honours admission test, NU publishes the admission result on its admission website. Students can check their merit position and allocated college by logging into the admission portal with their application ID and password.

The admission result typically includes:

• Merit position (rank)

• Allocated college name

• Allocated subject

• Instructions for completing admission

Students selected in the merit list must complete admission at their allocated college within the specified deadline. Failure to do so results in losing the seat.

Important Dates to Track for NU Students

NU publishes notices almost daily on its official website. Students should regularly check nu.ac.bd for updates. Key dates to watch:

Admission-Related Dates

• Honours 1st Year Admission Circular: Typically published in October-November

• On-Campus Admission Circular: Typically published in June-July

• Masters Admission Circular: Published after honours results are out

• MPhil/PhD Admission: Circular typically published in August-September

Result-Related Dates

• Honours exam results: Published 3-4 months after exams end

• Degree pass results: Published 2-3 months after exams

• Masters results: Published 3-4 months after exams

• Admission test results: Published 1-2 weeks after the test

NU does not always announce result publication dates in advance. The best approach is to check the results portal and official notice board regularly.

NU Affiliated Colleges

One of NU's most distinctive features is its massive network of affiliated colleges. These include:

• Government Colleges: Approximately 280+ government colleges across Bangladesh

• Private Colleges: Over 1,700+ private colleges offering NU programs

• Honours Colleges: Colleges approved to offer 4-year honours programs

• Degree Colleges: Colleges offering 3-year pass programs

• Masters Colleges: Selected colleges approved to offer masters programs

Students choose their college during the admission application based on location, available subjects, college reputation, and seat availability. The college you attend determines where you take classes and sit for exams, but your degree is awarded by National University regardless of which affiliated college you attend.

How to Choose the Right NU Affiliated College

1. Location and Accessibility

Choose a college that is reasonably close to your home. Long commutes reduce study time and increase costs. If no good college is nearby, consider colleges with hostel facilities.

2. Subject Availability

Not all colleges offer all subjects. Check the NU college list to see which subjects are available at each college before listing your preferences.

3. College Reputation and Results

Some affiliated colleges consistently produce better results than others. Research previous years' pass rates and top scorers from each college.

4. Faculty Quality

Look for colleges with experienced and qualified teachers. The quality of teaching varies significantly between colleges.

5. Facilities

Consider library, laboratory, computer, and sports facilities. These matter for a complete educational experience, especially for science subjects.

6. Cost

Government colleges have lower fees than private colleges. Calculate tuition, admission, and other fees before deciding.

NU vs Other Public Universities: Key Differences

NU degrees are fully recognised by UGC and are accepted for government jobs, higher education, and international equivalency. However, some employers may prefer graduates from residential public universities for certain competitive positions.

Tips for NU Students

1. Stay Updated with Notices

NU publishes important notices on its website almost daily. Check nu.ac.bd regularly for admission, exam, result, and registration notices. Missing a deadline can cost you a full academic year.

2. Keep Your Registration Number Safe

Your NU registration number is your identity throughout your academic career. You need it for exams, results, and all official correspondence. Save it in multiple places.

3. Understand the Syllabus

NU publishes detailed syllabi for each program and year on its website. Download the syllabus at the beginning of each year and plan your study accordingly.

4. Prepare for Exams Early

NU exams are based on the published syllabus. Start preparing at least 3 months before exams. Focus on previous years' question patterns and important topics.

5. Check Results Promptly

When results are published, check them immediately. If there is an error or you need re-evaluation, the application window is usually short (7-15 days).

6. Save All Documents

Keep original and attested copies of your admission form, admit card, registration card, mark sheets, and provisional certificates. You will need these for job applications and higher studies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is National University a recognised university?

Yes, National University is a public university established by an Act of Parliament and recognised by the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh. NU degrees are accepted for all government and private jobs, BCS examinations, and higher education both in Bangladesh and abroad.

How many colleges are affiliated with National University?

Over 2,000 government and private colleges are affiliated with National University, spread across all 64 districts of Bangladesh. This is the largest college network in the country.

Can I study at NU without going to Gazipur?

Yes. The vast majority of NU students study at affiliated colleges in their own district and never need to visit the Gazipur campus. Only on-campus honours program students study at Gazipur.

When is the next NU honours admission?

The 2025-26 admission application window closed on December 31, 2025. The next cycle (2026-27) is expected to open in October-November 2026 after HSC results are published. Check nu.ac.bd for the official circular.

How do I check my NU result?

Visit results.nu.ac.bd, select your program and year, enter your registration number and captcha, and submit. You can also check college-wise results through the same portal.

What is the minimum GPA for NU honours admission?

For Humanities and Business Studies: GPA 2.00 in each of SSC and HSC, with a combined GPA of 4.50. For Science: GPA 2.25 in SSC, GPA 2.00 in HSC, combined GPA of 4.75. The fourth subject is included in the calculation.

Does NU have an admission test?

Yes. The NU honours admission test is an MCQ-based exam with 100 questions to be answered in 1 hour. The test is stream-specific (Science, Humanities, or Business Studies) and typically has negative marking.

What is the difference between NU honours and NU on-campus?

NU honours programs are offered at over 2,000 affiliated colleges nationwide, with a broad admission process. NU on-campus programs are offered only at the Gazipur headquarters, have fewer seats, a separate admission test, and a more competitive selection process.

Can I do a masters at NU after completing honours elsewhere?

Yes. Students who complete a 4-year honours degree from any recognised university can apply for NU masters programs at affiliated colleges, subject to eligibility requirements.

How long does it take for NU results to be published?

NU results are typically published 3-4 months after the examination ends. The exact timing depends on the program, year, and volume of answer scripts to be evaluated. NU does not always announce result dates in advance.

Key Contacts and Official Links

• NU Official Website: nu.ac.bd

• NU Admission Portal: app1.nu.ac.bd

• NU Results Portal: results.nu.ac.bd

• NU Latest Results: result.nu.ac.bd

• NU College Portal: collegeportal.nu.ac.bd

• Address: Board Bazar, Gazipur 1704, Bangladesh

• Phone: +8809666330100

This guide is based on information available as of October 2026. Admission dates, eligibility criteria, exam patterns, and result schedules can change. Always verify the latest circular, notice, or result on the official National University website at nu.ac.bd before making any decisions. For related admission guides, visit our admission circular page and blog.