The University of Dhaka places strong institutional emphasis not only on admitting students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, but also on ensuring their successful retention and completion of academic programmes. In practice, student dropout due to poverty is very limited, reflecting the effectiveness of the university’s academic monitoring and financial support mechanisms.

Low Dropout Rates Through Active Monitoring

Across faculties and departments, academic staff actively monitor students’ academic progress and well-being. Departments maintain close contact with students, particularly those identified as financially vulnerable, and take early action when risks related to attendance, academic performance, or financial stress are observed. This faculty-level engagement plays a crucial role in preventing poverty-induced dropout and supporting continuous enrolment.

Rapid Financial Intervention to Ensure Continuity

The university has an established practice of responding swiftly when students face financial barriers that could interrupt their studies. If a student is unable to pay semester fees, examination fees, or related academic costs due to financial hardship, the matter is addressed promptly through administrative and departmental coordination. This approach ensures that no student is prevented from sitting examinations or progressing academically solely due to economic constraints.

Supportive Environment for Degree Completion

Combined with the financial assistance mechanisms including stipends, scholarships, subsidized accommodation and food, and part-time employment opportunities—these monitoring and intervention practices create a supportive environment in which students from the bottom income quintile are able to complete their degrees successfully. The university’s focus is on retention, continuity, and completion, rather than short-term access alone.

Outcome

As a result of these integrated academic and financial support systems, the University of Dhaka demonstrates strong performance in ensuring student success among economically disadvantaged groups. The low incidence of poverty-related dropout and the consistent progression of financially vulnerable students toward graduation illustrate the university’s effective contribution, particularly in enabling students from the bottom 20% of household income distribution to complete higher education.