The University Grants Commission (UGC) of Bangladesh has issued a warning against admissions to three fake foreign university branch campuses in Bangladesh.

The universities are America World University, USA; Trinity University, USA; and the Spiritual Institute of New York, said a press release received today (16 October).

The UGC said that no such university has been approved by the government or the commission.

Recently, Bangladesh Commerce Bank Limited applied to the commission to verify the credentials of two students from America World University, USA, and Trinity University, USA. During the verification, the UGC came to know about the activities of the fake foreign university branch campuses.

It is worth mentioning that according to the list of universities proposed by the commission and sent by the ministry, no project proposal was received in the name of the said universities.

Various media outlets are reporting on the operation of branch campuses, tutorial centres, and study centres of foreign universities without approval in the country, it said.

Most of these branch campuses, tutorial centres, and study centres are unauthorised, the release said, adding that these institutions are awarding various degrees including Bachelor, Master’s, MPH, MBA, MPhil, and PhD, which is completely illegal under the law.

Students are obtaining certificates from these unauthorised and illegal universities in exchange for money. Many students are being cheated by these scams.

The UGC has recently written to the Home Ministry, the Education Ministry, and the Anti‑Corruption Commission to take effective action against these universities.