Chittagong University (CU) has introduced major changes to its undergraduate admission process for the 2025–26 academic year, abolishing the long-standing “heir quota” reserved for the children of the university’s teachers, officers, and employees. At the same time, the minimum GPA requirement for application in all units has been lowered.
The decision was confirmed on Tuesday (November 11) by Professor Dr. Mohammad Saiful Islam, Registrar of Chittagong University. It follows a resolution adopted at the second meeting of the Admission Test Committee held on Sunday in the vice-chancellor’s conference room.
“The students had long been demanding the abolition of the heir quota,” the registrar said. “In response to their demand, the committee decided to remove the quota entirely.”
The meeting also finalized the admission test schedule. According to the revised plan, the tests will begin on January 2 with the “A” unit, followed by the “D” unit on January 3, the “C” unit on January 9, and the “B” unit on January 10. Among the sub-units, the “D1” unit test will be held on January 5, “B1” on January 7, and “B2” on January 8.
Online applications for the admission tests will open on December 1 and close on December 15. The minimum GPA requirement for this year’s admission process has been reduced by 0.25 points compared to last year. Applicants to the Science Faculty’s “A” unit must have a combined GPA of 7.75 in SSC and HSC (including the fourth subject), with at least 4.00 in SSC and 3.25 in HSC.
For the Arts and Humanities Faculty’s “B” unit, students from the humanities stream require a minimum GPA of 7.00, while those from the science and business streams need 7.50. The Business Administration Faculty’s “C” unit requires a GPA of 7.50, and the combined “D” unit requires a minimum GPA of 7.00 across all disciplines.
University authorities explained that this year’s HSC results were comparatively weaker, prompting a relaxation of the GPA requirement to allow more students to apply. However, SSC-level criteria remain unchanged. Additionally, departments that previously had over 100 seats will now be limited to a maximum of 100.
While the heir quota has been abolished, nine other quotas will remain in place, including those for freedom fighters’ children, foreign students, ethnic minorities, underprivileged groups, Bengali students from the Chittagong Hill Tracts, students with physical disabilities, BKSP athletes, professional athletes, and Dalit students.
Last July, students held demonstrations demanding the abolition of the heir quota. In response, the university had reduced the number of quotas by two-thirds for the 2024–25 academic year. This year, the administration has taken the final step by removing the quota entirely.
