Category: London

American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) has reached a significant milestone by earning a place in the Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2025. This achievement marks a step forward from its previous designation as a “reporter” university and highlights AIUB’s growing academic stature and institutional excellence.

In the 2025 rankings, 5 Bangladeshi private universities have been recognized. AIUB is proud to be among the four private universities representing Bangladesh on this prestigious list.

The Asia University Rankings assess institutions based on key performance indicators, including teaching, research, citations, international outlook and industry income. AIUB’s inclusion demonstrates its progress in academic quality, research contributions and global engagement.

This recognition underscores AIUB’s unwavering commitment to excellence in higher education, innovation, internationalization and strategic development. It also affirms the university’s continuous focus on quality assurance and alignment with global academic standards.

The Times Higher Education (THE) Asia University Rankings 2025 have been released, highlighting the top-performing institutions across the continent. Among Bangladeshi private universities, five institutions have earned notable positions in the rankings based on key performance indicators such as teaching quality, research environment, research impact, industry collaboration and international outlook.

Here are the Top 5 Private Universities in Bangladesh According to THE Asia Rankings 2025:

1. Daffodil International University (DIU)
   • Ranked in the 301–350 band in Asia
   • Best-ranked private university in Bangladesh in 2025
2. North South University (NSU)
   • Placed in the 351–400 range
   • Continues to maintain strong academic and research performance
3. Brac University
   • Although ranked higher in 2024, it still holds a position among the top 5 in 2025
   • Known for its global partnerships and research initiatives
4. American International University – Bangladesh (AIUB)
   • Retains a spot in the top 5 list
   • Noted for academic excellence and student support services
5. Dhaka International University (DIU)
   • Also featured in the top 5
   • Recognized for steady academic growth and industry engagement

Bangladesh’s Position in the Asia University Rankings 2025

While no Bangladeshi university secured a spot in the top 300 in Asia, the inclusion of these five private institutions in the 2025 rankings is a significant achievement. The performance of these universities reflects the rising quality of higher education in Bangladesh’s private sector.

Ranking Criteria

The Times Higher Education Asia Rankings evaluate universities based on the following five key areas:

• Teaching (learning environment)
• Research (volume, income, and reputation)
• Citations (research influence)
• Industry Income (knowledge transfer)
• International Outlook (staff, students, and research)

For the full list and detailed methodology, visit Times Higher Education’s official website.

North South University (NSU) has retained its position for the third consecutive year in the Asia University Rankings 2025 published by Times Higher Education (THE). This year, the university has been ranked in the 351-400 band, which is considered a significant achievement in the country’s private higher education sector.

A total of 853 universities from 35 regions of Asia have been ranked in this 13th edition of the ranking, where NSU has managed to retain its previous position, despite the fact that several institutions from Bangladesh are listed.

NSU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Abdul Hannan Chowdhury expressed gratitude to the support of the Ministry of Education and the University Grants Commission (UGC) for this success. He said, “Despite national and international changes, we have remained steadfast in improving the quality of research and education. This achievement is a significant step forward for NSU.”

He added, “We are not only focused on strengthening our existing strengths but also exploring new possibilities and avenues for development.”

Since its inception, NSU has been working to ensure the holistic development of students by providing world-class education and encouraging creativity, innovation, leadership, and teamwork.

This position of the university is considered an important recognition not only in the domestic context but also in the international higher education arena. Academicians and analysts say that the recognition is a positive indication of the qualitative progress of the higher education sector in Bangladesh.

Three faculty members from Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) have secured an international research grant exceeding USD 36,780 (over BDT 44 lakh) under the Resilience and Adaptation Mainstreaming Program (RAMP) by SOAS University of London, UK. This interdisciplinary project investigates the role of digital technologies in enhancing climate adaptation for vulnerable communities in Bangladesh.

Titled “Leveraging ‘Climate Technologies’ for Transformative Adaptive Capacity of Vulnerable Communities in Bangladesh,” the project is led by Dr. Md. Khaled Saifullah, Assistant Professor and Head of the Department of Economics. The research team also includes Dr. Md. Taslim Uddin, Assistant Professor in the Department of Finance, and Md. Ekhtekharul Islam, Lecturer in the Department of Environmental Science and Management.

The study examines how digital platforms—such as social media, crowdsourcing, and financial technologies—can bolster climate resilience. Key areas of focus include mobile financial services, digital cash management, microfinance, crop insurance, e-banking, and peer-to-peer sharing. By analyzing the effectiveness of these technologies, the research seeks to address critical knowledge gaps and strengthen adaptive capacity in climate-vulnerable regions of the developing world.

Hosted at the Department of Economics within the School of Business and Entrepreneurship, the research will benefit from the expertise of Dr. Md. Mizan R. Khan, Technical Lead of the Least Developed Countries Universities Consortium on Climate Change (LUCCC), who serves as a co-investigator. This initiative follows a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between IUB and SOAS University of London in January 2025, facilitating collaborative efforts in climate resilience research.

This grant underscores IUB’s commitment to advancing climate change adaptation through academic research and technological innovation.

British Council has partnered with Brac University to establish a new off-site English Language Centre at their Merul Badda campus. Partnership signed by Stephen Forbes country director of Bangladesh, and Dave Dowland registrar at Brac University marks a significant milestone in expanding access to high-quality English language education for adult learners across Dhaka.

New center will offer the British Council’s internationally renowned English courses and IELTS Preparation Courses, designed to meet the needs of adult learners seeking to enhance their language skills for academic, professional or personal purposes. Classes at the Learning Center are scheduled to begin in April 2025 and registrations are open.

British Council supports peace and prosperity by building connections, understanding and trust between people in the UK and countries worldwide. British Council English Language Centre at Brac University’s Merul Badda campus is expected to become a key destination for adult learners seeking internationally recognized certification and English language proficiency. With top-tier instructors and comprehensive lessons, the center will provide an optimal environment for students to achieve their goals.

Join Bright Admission Coaching today for additional IELTS practice.

Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings by Subject 2025 was announced on January 22, 2025. 15 Bangladeshi universities have been ranked across the 11 subject categories this year.

Highlights from the World University Rankings by Subject 2025:

North South University (NSU) ranked amongst the top 600 universities in the world in business and economics and social sciences and ranked amongst the top 500 universities in the world in medical and health.

Daffodil International University (DIU) ranked amongst the top 400 universities in the world in Medical and Health and ranked amongst the top 500 universities in the world in Social Sciences.

Brac University (BU) ranked amongst the top 600 universities in the world in medical and health.

Subject-wise local and global rankings of Bangladeshi private universities according to the 2025 THE World University Rankings by Subject.

Arts and Humanities

No Bangladeshi university was ranked in this subject.

Business and Economics

North South University (NSU): 1st in Bangladesh; 501-600 bracket globally.

Computer Science

Daffodil International University (DIU) and North South University (NSU): Joint 2nd in Bangladesh; 601-800 bracket globally.

American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB) and Brac University (BU): Joint 3rd in Bangladesh; 801-1000 bracket globally.

Engineering

DIU and NSU: Joint 1st in Bangladesh; 601-800 bracket globally.

AIUB and BU: Joint 2nd in Bangladesh; 801-1000 bracket globally.

Law

No Bangladeshi university was ranked in this subject.

Medical and Health

DIU: 1st in Bangladesh; 301-400 bracket globally.

NSU: 2nd in Bangladesh; 401-500 bracket globally.

BU: 3rd in Bangladesh; 501-600 bracket globally.

Physical Sciences

BU: Joint 3rd in Bangladesh; 1001+ bracket globally.

Psychology

No Bangladeshi university was ranked in this subject.

Social Sciences

DIU: 1st in Bangladesh; 401-500 bracket globally.

NSU: 2nd in Bangladesh; 501-600 bracket globally.

BU: Joint 3rd in Bangladesh; 601-800 bracket globally.

North South University’s Pharmaceutical Sciences Department held a seminar on “Innovations in Drug Discovery: From Cancer to Infectious Diseases” on 5 December 2024. Dr. Khondoker Miraz Rahman, a professor at King’s College London’s School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences and Antimicrobial Research Theme lead at the Institute of Pharmaceutical Science, was the keynote speaker. He is the director of the Doctoral Training Program in the Industrial Case Training Program and has supervised over 35 international PhD students.

Dr. Miraz highlighted the need for innovative approaches in dealing with cancerous and infectious diseases, emphasized the importance of developing drugs that are not toxic for the body and do not interfere with cardiac health, and debunked myths about efflux pumps in antimicrobial drug formulation. Professor Dr. Mohammad Hossain Shahriar, chairman of NSU’s Pharmaceutical Department, also highlighted the importance of bridging the gap between academia and industry.