With this year’s SSC results scheduled to be published at 2pm on 10 July, the admission season for class XI will officially kick off. While most colleges across the country will follow the government’s lottery-based admission process, four top institutions in Dhaka—Notre Dame College, Holy Cross College, St Joseph Higher Secondary School, and St Gregory’s High School and College—will enroll students through competitive written exams.

Here’s a breakdown of each institution’s admission criteria based on last year’s (2024–25) process:

Notre Dame College, Dhaka

 Location: Motijheel, Dhaka
 Seats (2024–25):

• Science (Bangla): 1,810
• Science (English): 310
• Humanities: 410
• Business Studies: 760

Eligibility criteria:

• Science: GPA 5.00 with Higher Math (both Bangla and English versions)
• Humanities: GPA 3.00
• Business Studies: GPA 4.00
• Bangla medium SSC students cannot apply for English version and O-level students are not accepted.
• For group change:
  • Science to Business: GPA 4.50
  • Science/Business to Humanities: GPA 3.50

Written Exam Subjects:

The admission test will be held based on the SSC 2025 syllabus. Applicants shifting from the Science group to Humanities or Business Studies will have to sit for the Science group’s question paper, while those switching from Business Studies to Humanities must take the Business Studies group’s question paper.

• Science: Bangla, English, Higher Math, Physics, Chemistry, Biology
• Humanities: Bangla, English, ICT, General Knowledge
• Business Studies: Bangla, English, Accounting, ICT, General Knowledge

Note:

1. Final admission will be based on a merit list prepared using the applicant’s SSC GPA and written admission test results.
2. If a student becomes eligible after a change in GPA through result re-evaluation, they must contact the college office in person within two days of the re-evaluation result being published.
3. Students from ethnic minority groups, religious minorities, students with disabilities, and those from remote missionary-run schools will be considered under special provisions.

🔗 More info: www.ndc.edu.bd

Holy Cross College, Dhaka

Location: Tejgaon, Dhaka
Seats (2024–25):

• Science: 780
• Business Studies: 270
• Humanities: 260

Eligibility criteria:

• Science: GPA 5.00 with Higher Math and Biology
• Humanities: GPA 3.00–5.00
• Business Studies: GPA 4.00–5.00
• Group change allowed from Science/Business to Humanities with GPA equal to or above 4.00; Science to Business with GPA equal to or above 4.25.

Written Exam Subjects (SSC 2024 syllabus):

• Science: Bangla, English, Physics, Chemistry, Higher Math, Biology.
• Humanities: Bangla, English, General Math, Geography, Civics, Economics, History, General knowledge.
• Business Studies: Bangla, English, General Math, Accounting, Finance and Banking, Business Entrepreneurship, General knowledge.

Note:

1. Married students are not eligible.
2. Mobile phone use is strictly prohibited.

🔗 More info: www.hcc.edu.bd

St Joseph Higher Secondary School

 Location: Mohammadpur, Dhaka
 Seats (2024–25):

• Science (Bangla): 420
• Science (English): 90
• Business Studies: 90
• Humanities: 70

Eligibility criteria:

• Science: GPA 5.00 with Higher Math & Biology
• Business Studies (Bangla): GPA equal to or above 3.75
• Humanities (Bangla): GPA equal to or above 3.25
• For group change:
  • Science to Business (Bangla): GPA equal to or above 4.00
  • Science to Humanities (English): GPA equal to or above 4.00
  • Business to Humanities (Bangla): GPA equal to or above 3.75

Written exam subjects (SSC 2024 syllabus):

• Science: Bangla, English, Physics, Chemistry, Math, Biology
• Business Studies: Bangla, English, Math, Accounting, Business Entrepreneurship, Finance and Banking
• Humanities: Bangla, English, Math, General Science, ICT, General knowledge (Geogeraphy, History and Civilisation, Economics and Civics)

🔗 More info: www.sjs.edu.bd

St Gregory’s High School & College

 Location: Lakshmibazar, Dhaka
 Seats (2024–25):

• Science: 300
• Humanities: 80
• Business Studies: 80

Eligibility criteria:

• Science (Bangla): GPA equal to or above 4.78
• Business Studies (Bangla): GPA equal to or above 3.50
• Humanities (Bangla): GPA equal to or above 2.30
• For group change:
  • Science to Business: GPA equal to or above 4.00
  • Science to Humanities: GPA equal to or above 3.00
  • Business to Humanities: GPA equal to or above 3.00

Written exam subjects (SSC 2024 syllabus):

• Science: Bangla, English, ICT, Physics, Chemistry, Higher Math, Biology
• Humanities: Bangla, English, ICT, General Science, General knowledge
• Business Studies: Bangla, English, ICT, Accounting, Finance and Banking, Business Entrepreneurship

🔗 More info: www.sghscdhaka.edu.bd