First-year admission tests at public universities for the 2026-27 academic session are expected to begin in February next year, with applications opening in January.
University Grants Commission (UGC) Chairman Professor Dr Mamun Ahmed announced the plan at a press briefing on Monday following a meeting with public university vice-chancellors at the UGC headquarters.
He said universities had agreed to coordinate their admission test schedules to avoid clashes and allow students to sit for tests at multiple institutions.
The decision comes as the number of students who passed this year's Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent examinations fell to slightly over 600,000, down from more than 700,000 last year.
Mamun said answer scripts were being re-evaluated and supplementary examinations arranged for students who failed to achieve their expected results. The government aims to publish the results of both by December 31.
Students who pass the re-evaluation or supplementary examinations will also be eligible for university admission tests, he added.
The UGC chairman said vice-chancellors had been asked to consider Ramadan when setting admission test dates. Universities that have already announced their schedules have also been urged to reconsider them to avoid clashes.
The meeting also discussed forming a central coordination committee comprising representatives from the UGC, the Ministry of Education and universities to oversee admission schedules throughout the year.
On admission test formats, Mamun said universities would retain the multiple-choice question (MCQ) system for the current academic session. However, they are considering introducing subject-based and analytical questions alongside MCQs from the next session to assess students' subject knowledge, analytical skills and problem-solving abilities.
Vice-chancellors were also asked to consider GPA requirements in determining admission test eligibility, taking into account this year's HSC results and available seats.
Mamun said universities had been urged to ensure that the delayed admission tests did not disrupt regular academic activities, adding that the UGC would provide necessary support.
Bangladesh currently has around 180 public and private universities. Public universities offer approximately 63,000 first-year seats, while institutions affiliated with the National University, Islamic Arabic University and other public universities have more than one million seats combined. Private universities offer more than 400,000 seats.
He stressed that the coordination initiative would respect university autonomy, with institutions retaining authority over their admission processes under their respective laws and regulations.