Pvt universities’success in fully-funded PhDs
City Desk :
Private universities of Bangladesh are making remarkable strides in securing fully-funded PhD opportunities for their students, effecting their growing commitment to advanced research and academic excellence.
This success brings the reputation of Bangladesh and also opens doors for talented Bangladeshi students to pursue innovative research without financial barriers.
Sabrina Islam, a B.Sc. graduate from the Department of Economics at Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB), has started her fully-funded PhD at the University of Manitoba, Canada, beginning August 19, 2025.
Her doctoral work aims to explore how trade policies, labor mobility, and how governance affects economic growth in the ASEAN region, with potential policy implications for inclusive development, says a press release.
Her academic path began with a bachelor’s degree at IUB, where her thesis analysed core macroeconomic indicators impacting Bangladesh’s development. She was supervised by Ms. Nabila Maruf, Senior Lecturer in the Department of Economics.
This bachelor thesis formed the foundation for her PhD, which focuses on trade, migration, and development in the ASEAN countries, with a comparative study of Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines.
After graduating in Fall 2023, Sabrina joined BRAC’s Learning and Leadership Development team where she observed the impact of grassroots initiatives on national development. Later, as a Business Analyst (Strategy) at the International Finance Corporation (IFC), she worked on projects involving private sector engagement and investment facilitation. These roles deepened her understanding of economic growth mechanisms and confirmed her interest in further specialisation.
“Initially I was planning to pursue a Master’s degree. So, I applied to several universities across Canada, the USA, and Sweden and received multiple full funding offers from top institutions. However the offer from the University of Manitoba for direct admission into their fully-funded PhD program was unexpected,” Sabrina said.
She also said, “I accepted the offer from Manitoba for several reasons. First, the research alignment was perfect for my interests. Second, the opportunity to transition straight into a PhD meant I could begin contributing to research at the highest academic level right away. Finally, the program’s funding and the supportive academic environment offered me both the resources and mentorship to grow as a researcher.”
Balancing full-time work with exam preparations, Sabrina faced challenges during the application process, including rigorous GRE and IELTS tests. She credits her family’s encouragement, especially her late father’s legacy, and the guidance she received from IUB faculty including Dr. Md. Khaled Saifullah, Head of the Department of Economics, and her thesis supervisor Ms. Nabila Maruf.
Sabrina said, “My time at IUB provided me with a strong research foundation and critical thinking skills that prepared me for this next step. This achievement is the result of perseverance, sacrifice, and faith in my goals. To current students, my advice would be to start early, seek mentorship, and stay consistent.”
Post-PhD, Sabrina plans to pursue an academic career and contribute to Bangladesh’s economic research landscape by returning to teach at her alma mater.