The University of Dhaka adopts a holistic, student-centered approach to supporting students from low-income families, recognizing that academic success depends on addressing a wide range of social, financial, and personal challenges. Beyond tuition-related assistance, the university provides comprehensive non-academic support services to ensure that financially disadvantaged students are able to continue and complete their studies.
The university maintains an extensive subsidized welfare infrastructure for students from low-income backgrounds. Residential hall accommodation is provided at minimal cost, and hall dining facilities operate with regular subsidies to ensure access to affordable meals. In response to housing-related challenges faced by first-year students, particularly those arriving from rural areas, a monthly allowance of BDT 5,000 was introduced in 2024, helping students meet immediate living and accommodation expenses.
To reduce transportation costs, the University of Dhaka operates free or low-cost bus services for students, enabling safe and affordable daily commuting and reducing financial pressure on students from economically vulnerable households.
Recognizing the link between poverty, stress, and academic performance, the University of Dhaka provides structured counselling and mental health support services. The Student Guidance and Counselling Office offers regular professional counselling to students. In addition, each academic department designates a faculty member responsible for student counselling, mentoring, and psychosocial support. This decentralized model ensures early identification of distress and timely intervention at the departmental level.
For students facing legal or disciplinary challenges that may disrupt their studies, the Office of the Proctor provides necessary legal guidance and institutional support. This service ensures that students from low-income backgrounds are not disproportionately affected by legal or administrative difficulties and are able to continue their academic journey with appropriate protection and support.
Healthcare costs can be a significant barrier for low-income students. The University of Dhaka addresses this through its Medical Centre, where students receive completely free medical services, including consultations and essential medicines. This comprehensive healthcare provision reduces financial risk, supports student well-being, and prevents health-related interruptions to academic progress.
The university operates a multi-layered support mechanism to respond to emergency situations related to food insecurity, accommodation, or inability to pay academic fees. At the residential level, hall provosts and house tutors provide immediate support. At the academic level, department chairs and faculty members intervene as needed. In more complex cases, faculty deans, the Registrar’s Office, and the Director of Accounts coordinate to ensure timely resolution. This integrated institutional response ensures continuity of studies even during acute financial hardship.
Through coordinated provision of food, housing, transportation, healthcare, counselling, legal assistance, and emergency administrative support, the University of Dhaka effectively removes non-academic barriers faced by students from low-income families. These measures play a critical role in enabling student retention, well-being, and degree completion, demonstrating the university’s strong contribution to address multidimensional poverty within the higher education context.
© 2026 University of Dhaka. All Rights Reserved.
