Jahangirnagar University Higher Study Club today organised a day-long seminar to provide students with practical guidance on scholarships, admissions, research opportunities and applications for higher education abroad.

Jahangirnagar University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Mohammad Kamrul Ahsan inaugurated the seminar, titled “Higher Study 360°”, at the Zahir Raihan Auditorium on 25 July.

Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Administration) Professor Dr Nazrul Islam also attended the event, according to a press release.

The seminar brought together education experts, representatives of international education consultancy organisations and current and former university students who had secured fully funded scholarships abroad.

Students from different departments of Jahangirnagar University and several other higher education institutions across the country participated in the programme.

The event began with registration and a quiz competition, followed by a welcome address by Professor Mahdi Hasan.

Sessions covered the Commonwealth Scholarship, EducationUSA, Stipendium Hungaricum, the IDP IELTS Masterclass, university selection, the MEXT Scholarship, academic CV writing and the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship.

Assistant Professor Sabina Yasmin, a recipient of the President’s PhD Scholarship at Imperial College London and the Commonwealth PhD Scholarship at the University of Leeds, discussed the importance of research experience, clear academic goals and systematic preparation.

Akmal Masud, who received a fully funded master’s scholarship and research assistantship at Queen’s University in Canada, said careful planning, research experience and timely profile development had contributed to his success.

During the EducationUSA session, US Embassy in Dhaka Assistant Information Officer Dr Mara Byrd and Education Outreach Coordinator Muhammad Sohel Iqbal discussed application procedures, funding opportunities, university selection and preparation. They also stressed the importance of submitting accurate information.

Md Shahriar Islam, who secured a fully funded PhD opportunity at the University of Oregon after receiving the Stipendium Hungaricum Scholarship at the University of Debrecen, shared guidance on application strategies and profile development.

IDP Education Assistant Manager (Australia and New Zealand) Maria (Dalia) Floin discussed IELTS preparation, statement of purpose writing, scholarships and overseas admission procedures. She highlighted the importance of language proficiency and a strong statement of purpose.

Farhan Apon conducted a session on selecting suitable universities and writing effective emails to prospective supervisors. Md Mehedi Hasan, who secured a fully funded PhD position at Wesleyan University in the United States, also shared his experience of preparing for international research opportunities.

During the MEXT Scholarship session, SM Shahriar Ahmed discussed the Japanese Government scholarship application process and research opportunities. MEXT scholar Gazi Ishmam Hasan offered guidance on preparing a well-structured academic CV.

In the final session, Jahangirnagar University student Lamia Kabir shared her experience of securing admission to a joint master’s programme involving five European universities under the Erasmus Mundus Scholarship.

She emphasised the importance of developing a strong research profile and preparing a quality statement of purpose and effective recommendation letters.

The programme concluded with a prize-giving ceremony and certificate distribution.

Jahangirnagar University Higher Study Club President Abdus Safwan said the initiative sought to provide students with reliable information on international higher education, scholarships, research, admissions and visa procedures through a single platform.

He said the club aimed to bring together students, teachers, scholarship recipients, researchers and international education professionals to develop a comprehensive roadmap for pursuing higher education abroad.

The club plans to organise similar programmes regularly, he added.