North South University

What North South University does

North South University (NSU), founded in 1992 as the first private university in Bangladesh, is a nonprofit higher-education institution governed by the NSU Trust and a Board of Trustees chaired by Mr. Aziz Al Kaiser. The university operates from a 1.2 million sq ft permanent campus in Bashundhara, Dhaka, designed to serve at least 22,000 students across four schools: School of Business & Economics (SBE), School of Engineering & Physical Sciences (SEPS), School of Humanities & Social Sciences (SHSS), and School of Health & Life Sciences (SHLS). NSU offers undergraduate and graduate programs including BBA, MBA/EMBA, and discipline-specific degrees, and has secured accreditations from ACBSP (2015, first in Bangladesh), CABS (UK, 2020, first in Bangladesh), and BAETE (engineering, under Washington Accord). The university maintains an International Advisory Board including Nobel Laureate Dr. Richard J. Roberts.

NSU's revenue model is tuition-driven (subscription/recurring), supplemented by ancillary campus services. Tuition and fees are published on the admissions website, with full and half-tuition waivers extended to at least 5% of students and teaching assistantships covering most tuition for eligible graduate students. The institution supports its academic delivery through Canvas LMS, Google Classroom, an RDS portal system providing Student/Faculty/Employee/Parent interfaces, online degree verification, online admission, and an online job portal. NSU distributes education primarily through on-campus instruction at the Bashundhara campus with an additional self-serve digital layer for admissions and student services.

Customer segments include domestic Bangladeshi students (primary), international students recruited from 14+ countries, and inbound exchange students from partner universities including Brown, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Penn State, Smith College, Mt. Holyoke, Windsor, and York University. Dual-degree collaborations with University of Adelaide (MDS/MPP) and University of Wisconsin Milwaukee (MSc Economics/MA Economics) provide globally co-credentialed pathways. Research is institutionalized through dedicated centers including NSU Genome Research Institute (NGRI, partnered with UC Berkeley on NIH-funded heat stress/aging studies), NSU Global Health Institute (NGHI), South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG), and several others. The university is ranked #1 Private University in QS Asia University Rankings for six consecutive years (2020-2025) and jointly #1 in THE World University Rankings for 2023-2025.

Name

North South University

Legal name

North South University

Website

https://northsouth.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

North South University is Bangladesh's first private university (founded 1992), offering undergraduate and graduate programs across four schools to ~22,000 students on its Dhaka campus, with international exchange programs and dual-degree partnerships with leading global universities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education

NAICS

Colleges, Universities, and Professional Schools (6113)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Comprehensive Doctoral Research Universities (Multi-Disciplinary) (EDAHABAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Business & Management Research Universities (EDAHABAE), Social Sciences & Public Policy Research Universities (EDAHABAD)

Keywords

• Higher education services
• Undergraduate degree programs
• Graduate business programs
• Engineering education programs
• Private university education

Headquarters

HQ city

Dhaka

HQ country

Bangladesh

HQ region

Asia

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Tuition and Academic Fees: Revenue generated from undergraduate and graduate tuition fees, admission fees, and other academic charges. The university publishes tuition and fees on their website and offers financial aid including full and half-tuition waivers to at least 5% of students.
2. Campus Facilities and Services: Revenue from various campus services including recreational facilities, cafeteria services, and other student amenities

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

North South University is Bangladesh's first private university, delivering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across four academic schools (Business & Economics, Engineering & Physical Sciences, Humanities & Social Sciences, Health & Life Sciences), supported by ACBSP-accredited business programs and BAETE-accredited engineering programs. The university also operates dedicated research institutes (NGRI for genomic research, NGHI for global health), research centers, specialized language and policy institutes, academic journals, and student services including a Career & Placement Center and a startup incubation program (NSU Startups Next). Revenue is generated primarily through recurring tuition and academic fees, with financial aid and tuition waivers supporting at least 5% of the student body.

Product overview

North South University (NSU) operates as Bangladesh's first private university, organized as a multi-school academic institution offering undergraduate and graduate degree programs across four schools: School of Business & Economics (SBE), School of Engineering & Physical Sciences (SEPS), School of Humanities & Social Sciences (SHSS), and School of Health & Life Sciences (SHLS). The university provides research institutes (NGRI, NGHI), research centers (CPS, CDR, SBC, NSU CBR, SIPG), language institutes (Confucius Institute, Institute of Modern Languages), academic journals (NSBR, Panini), and technology platforms including Canvas LMS and RDS portals. SBE is ACBSP-accredited and offers BBA, MBA/EMBA programs; SEPS programs are BAETE-accredited. The university supports student entrepreneurship through NSU Startups Next and provides career services via the Career & Placement Center.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• NSU Genome Research Institute (NGRI): Research institute focused on genomic research and discoveries
• NSU Global Health Institute (NGHI)
• Career & Placement Center (CPC)
• South Asian Institute of Policy and Governance (SIPG)
• NSU Center for Business Research (NSU CBR)
• Confucius Institute
• Center for Peace Studies (CPS)
• NSU Startups Next (NSUSN)
• NSU Social Business Center (SBC)
• Center for Climate Change and Disaster Resilience (CDR)

Products and services

• School of Business & Economics (SBE) NSU's ACBSP-accredited business school offering BBA, MBA, and EMBA programs with majors in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Management, Marketing, and International Business. Comprises over 130 full-time faculty members across five departments and is a CABS member.
• School of Engineering & Physical Sciences (SEPS) Engineering school offering BAETE-accredited programs in Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering, and Mathematics & Physics. Engineering programs hold Washington Accord signatory status through BAETE accreditation.
• School of Humanities & Social Sciences (SHSS) School offering undergraduate and graduate programs in English & Modern Languages, Political Science & Sociology, Law, History & Philosophy, and Media, Communication, and Journalism.
• School of Health & Life Sciences (SHLS) School offering programs in Biochemistry & Microbiology, Environmental Science & Management, Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Public Health. Backed by 8 pharmacy labs and 9 life sciences labs on the Bashundhara campus.
• BBA Program Bachelor of Business Administration program with majors in Accounting, Finance, Economics, Management, Marketing, and International Business. Offered by the ACBSP-accredited School of Business & Economics.
• MBA & EMBA Programs Flexible, career-oriented graduate business degree programs (Master of Business Administration and Executive MBA) offered by the School of Business & Economics.
• NSU Genome Research Institute (NGRI) Research institute conducting genomic research, including NIH-funded collaborative studies with UC Berkeley on heat stress and aging, contributions to a breakthrough cholera genetics study published in Nature Communications, and antimicrobial research.
• NSU Global Health Institute (NGHI) Research institute dedicated to global health research and innovation, led by Dr. Mohammad Delwer Hossain Hawlader (Ph.D., University of Tsukuba, Japan).
• Career & Placement Center (CPC) Center providing career guidance, placement services, and industry connections for NSU students, supporting graduate employability.
• NSU Startups Next (NSUSN) Program supporting student entrepreneurship and startup ventures, led by Director Samuel Mursalin (M.Sc., Johns Hopkins University).

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% job placement rate for Department of Economics graduates
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Confucius InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership with Chinese government to promote Chinese language and culture education on campus. Located in North Academic Building alongside Schools of Business and Social Sciences.
• UC BerkeleycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNSU Genome Research Institute (NGRI) partnered with UC Berkeley on NIH-funded study of heat stress and aging. Collaborative research initiative advancing genomic research capabilities.
• University of Adelaide (Australia)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDual degree collaboration: MDS (Master in Development Studies) at NSU & MPP (Master of Public Policy) at University of Adelaide. Students can earn degrees from both institutions.
• University of Wisconsin, MilwaukeemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerDegree collaboration: MSc in Economics at NSU & MA in Economics at University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Enables students to pursue dual degrees in economics.
• Brown UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy Abroad and Group Exchange program partner. Students from Brown University attend summer semester at NSU and transfer credits back to their parent institution.
• University of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy Abroad and Group Exchange program partner. Original curriculum model for undergraduate programs was based on UIUC curricula. Students attend exchange programs.
• Penn State UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy Abroad and Group Exchange program partner. Students attend summer semester at NSU and transfer credits.
• Smith CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy Abroad and Group Exchange program partner. Students attend summer semester at NSU.
• Mt. Holyoke CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy Abroad and Group Exchange program partner. Students attend summer semester at NSU.
• Windsor UniversityminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy Abroad and Group Exchange program partner. Students attend summer semester at NSU.
• York University (Canada)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudy Abroad and Group Exchange program partner. Students attend summer semester at NSU and transfer credits. Several NSU Economics graduates pursue higher degrees at York with scholarships.
• CFA InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCFA University Affiliation Program Partner. The Finance Major curriculum covers at least 70% of CFA Program Candidate Body of Knowledge, preparing students for CFA examinations. Department offers CFA Student Scholarships.
• American Marketing Association (AMA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent papers accepted for presentation at AMA Winter Academic Conference. Partnership enables NSU students to present research at international academic conferences.
• Institute of Marketing Science (ISMS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStudent papers accepted for presentation at 46th ISMS Marketing Science Conference 2024. Enables student research presentation at international venue.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• BRAC University: Leading private university in Bangladesh, also Dhaka-based, with a similarly broad multi-disciplinary portfolio, NGO-linked governance, and strong international orientation. Directly comparable in mission, target student segment, and competitive set.
• Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB): Major Dhaka-based private university with US-style curriculum, English-medium instruction, and strong business and engineering programs. Competes head-to-head with NSU for the same top-tier Bangladeshi high-school graduates and international students.
• University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh (ULAB): Dhaka-based private university emphasizing liberal arts, media, and social sciences with English-medium instruction. Competes with NSU's SHSS for humanities-oriented students and for international exchange partnerships.
• Daffodil International University: Large, fast-growing Dhaka private university with strong emphasis on IT, engineering, and business, and a sizable online/distance learning operation. A direct competitor for STEM-oriented students and a notable disruptor in tuition pricing.
• East West University: Established Dhaka private university with multi-school structure (Business, Engineering, Sciences, Liberal Arts). Comparable scale and academic positioning, and a frequent co-competitor in THE and QS domestic rankings.
• American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB): One of the oldest private universities in Bangladesh with an American-style model and broad undergraduate/graduate offerings in Business, Engineering, and Science. Competes directly with NSU in the same Dhaka market for tuition-paying students.
• IBA, University of Dhaka (Institute of Business Administration): Top-ranked business school in Bangladesh operating under the public University of Dhaka but with semi-autonomous, tuition-based programs. Directly comparable to NSU's SBE for MBA, BBA, and executive education students and for employer brand.

Regional players

• Aga Khan University: Privately chartered, multi-country research university with a strong health-sciences and graduate studies focus across Pakistan, East Africa, and the UK. Comparable in mission (private, internationally accredited, research-active) and a benchmark for NSU's aspirations in health sciences and research.
• Islamic University of Technology (IUT): Dhaka-based, OIC-member international university offering engineering and technical programs to students from across the Islamic world. Comparable in international student mix, engineering accreditations, and Dhaka footprint, though with a different sponsorship model.

Broad incumbents

• University of Dhaka: Bangladesh's flagship public research university and the historic incumbent against which all private universities are benchmarked. Not a direct commercial competitor (subsidized public fees), but competes for the same top students and faculty.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/nsu_bd
• Facebookfacebook.com/21634592842
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/alumni-association-of-north-sout

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles11 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about North South University