Professor Dr. Sharif Nurul Ahkam

Graduate education, comprised of Graduate Diploma, Master and PhD study programs, is an important investment in one’s career development. This is more so in an increasingly globalized job market. In appreciation of this reality, North South University already offers 15 graduate study programs at master’s level (see the list below). These programs, taught by faculty members with PhD degree from reputed universities, offer excellent opportunities for fresh undergraduates as well as those who are in jobs already to further develop their potential as intellectual leaders for a wide range of career paths in business, industry, government, research institutions, universities, NGOs and international agencies.   In January 2015, NSU took another pioneering step by establishing an Office of Graduate Studies and Research (GSR). It is entrusted with the overall responsibility of enhancing quality of graduate education by promoting coordination among NSU’s graduate education programs and facilitating learning from each other’s experiences as well as from national and international experiences. Schools and departments are responsible for the design and delivery of graduate research programs and for the welfare of graduate students. The overarching goal of the Office of the Graduate Studies and Research is to contribute to NSU acquiring increased national and international recognition as a quality graduate degree-conferring institution. With this in view, the Office of GSR strives to:

• Promote and enhance the quality of graduate education and research
• Facilitate development of a coherent graduate education curricula  
• Maintain consistency among all graduate programs
• Support the schools and departments in accessing resources for enhancing graduate education quality
• Initiate research across schools that is consistent with NSU mission and vision
• Oversee, in coordination with the Registry, the processes of graduate admissions to degree completion
• Ensure, in cooperation with academic units, graduating competent and capable graduates.

For facilitating the work of the GSR Office, a Graduate Council, comprising of the Director of GSR (who is also the Chair of the Council), School Deans and Graduate Program Coordinators (GPCs), has been formed. The council serves as an advisory body of the GSR Office. NSU’s Treasurer and its Consultant for Educational Quality are also members of the council. The photograph shows the participants in the first ever meeting of the Graduate Council on 19 February 2015.  

The Vice Chancellor, Prof Atiqul Islam, is with the Director of Graduate Studies and Research, Prof ATM Nurul Amin (centre) and the Graduate Program Coordinators (right to left) - Dr. AQMA Rahman Bhuiyan, Dr. Md Akhter Hossain, Dr. Hafiz Abdur Rahman, Dr. SK Tawfique M. Haque, Dr. Mahbubur Rahman , Dr. GM Sayedur Rahman, Dr. Salma Begum, Dr. Muslima Zahan, Dr. Abu M Khan. Right- Dr. Mohammad Nazmul Islam, Dr. Biswas Karabi Farhana, Dr. Rezaul Bari, Dr. Sharif Uddin Ahmed, Dr. Chaman Ara Keya, and Graduate Studies Officer, Ms. Iffath Rumana.

Graduate Study ProgramsNSU’s graduate study programs offer higher education and research for enhancing professional and research capability required in specialized fields for increasingly globalized job market. Graduate students have access to NSU’s financial support system as well as opportunity to work for faculty research projects. Currently NSU offers the following graduate degree programs:

School of Business and Economics:   

• Master of Business Administration (MBA)
• Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA)
• MS in Economics

School of Engineering and Physical Sciences: 

• MS in Computer Science and  Engineering
• MS in Electronic and Telecommunication Engineering
• MS in Electrical and Electronic Engineering

School of Health and Life Sciences: 

• MS in Biotechnology
• MS in Environmental Science and Management
• MPharm in Pharmaceutical Technology and Biopharmaceutics
• MPharm in Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy
• Master of Public Health (MPH)
• Executive Master of Public Health (EMPH)  

School of Humanity and Social Sciences:

• MA in English
• Master in Public Policy and Governance (MPPG)

The credit requirement varies from 30 to 60, so does the research/thesis requirement depending on program’s professional or specialization requirement. The Office of GSR coordinates the graduate application and admission processes with the schools, departments, and graduate program coordinators (GPCs). The graduate application minimum requirements are:

• Four-year bachelor degree
• GPA 2.75 and above
• English proficiency   
• A brief statement of purpose with the application and
• Work experience, mandatory for EMBA and EMPH.

The screened applications are then called for an Admission Test. The final assessment is based on:

• Previous academic records
• Performance in the written test  (English and subject aptitude) and
• Viva voce.

Graduates with bachelor degree from universities in the country including those of NSU’s own and those from other countries enroll in these graduate study programs. NSU master degree serves the graduates well for professional jobs at home and abroad and for doing PhD in good universities in developed counties.The intake time is January, May and September. Applications are received throughout the year. Respective academic unit’s Graduate Program Coordinators or the GSR Office may be contacted for further information. (See below).


Graduate Program Coordinators  (GPCs) with their Respective Contact Details



Graduate Research The Office Graduate Study and Research also promotes graduate student research to foster and sustain an environment of academic excellence at NSU. The graduate student research is guided by a committee of three faculty members, of whom one serves as the research supervisor and Chair of the committee. The student chooses the supervisor according to required expertise to guide the research. The student then, in consultation with the supervisor, chooses two other faculty members for completing the committee. One of the three-member committee comes from a sister department or discipline.Faculty ResearchBy following the tradition and practice of global university system, NSU funds faculty participation and presentation of papers in international seminars and conferences and their publication in conference proceedings or submission to peer reviewed international journals. In recent years a big boost to funding of graduate education and research at NSU has occurred from initiatives of individual faculty members and departments that have led to research collaborations with national and internal organizations at home and abroad. Meanwhile, NSU has also launched its support for faculty research. The Office Graduate Study and Research supports faculty research to foster and sustain an environment of academic excellence at NSU. It promotes faculty initiatives of joint and collaborative research activities between the national and international organizations. The GSR Office is committed to accord recognition to faculty research efforts and outputs.Graduate SeminarGraduate seminar is a key building block for success in graduate education and research and the career thereafter.  Thus, GSR Office, in cooperation with the academic units, seeks to promote graduate seminars on a regular basis. The purpose of graduate seminars is to provide graduate students with exposure to the style of presentation and scholarly discussions centering different research issues including policy implications of research findings.   Graduate Tracer StudyThe GSR work would also involve conducting Tracer Study of NSU graduates with master degree to know about their academic and professional advancement since their graduation from NSU and to receive feedback as to how their respective curriculum has served them to pursue their career. The tracer study findings are important inputs for curriculum revision that are processed through NSU’s Academic Council.

Office of Graduate Studies and Research (GSR) Strategic Plan, 2015-2020