Since its inception in 1921, the University of Dhaka has marked its presence in all the economic, intellectual and political fields of East Pakistan and later Bangladesh. The Department of Finance is one of the crown jewels of the esteemed centennial University. The Department of Finance was founded in 1974 under the Faculty of Business Studies (previously, Faculty of Commerce) under the chairmanship of Professor Dr. A.H.M. Habibur Rahman. The Department of Finance has maintained the semester system since the 1977-78 session. Initially, the Department offered two programs to its students namely the B.Com and M.com program. Afterwards, these programs were replaced with the BBA and MBA programs during the 1994-1995 session in a bid to reflect the latest educational requirements and knowledge trends. The department incorporates a collaborative learning approach across all classes, supplemented by case analysis, term papers, field visits, computer applications and guest lectures by renowned industry professionals of the country to give a comprehensive learning experience to the students.

Programs

Currently, the department offers BBA, MBA, MBA (Executive), MPF, and DBA Programs. M.Phil. and PhD aspirants can also enroll under the supervision of the esteemed professors of the department. The flagship undergraduate program is structured to ensure students develop not only the business skills necessary to operate in today’s dynamic business environment but also cultivate the financial knowledge and techniques that enable them to stand out as the premier finance graduates of the country. The M.B.A. program caters more towards developing sound technical know-how of research in finance and related fields among its students. The Department of Finance has introduced the MBA (Executive) Program to prepare skilled and qualified business executives for corporate and non-business houses in the country.  The department has also launched the Master of Professional Finance (MPF) as a direct response to the escalating demand for dedicated professionals in Finance, Investment, and Accountancy Profession. The purpose of launching the M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs by the Department of Finance, University of Dhaka, is to promote advanced academic research and contribute to the development of financial knowledge. These programs aim to equip scholars with specialized skills to conduct high-quality research, address complex financial issues, and contribute to policy-making and economic development. Additionally, they provide opportunities for aspiring academics and professionals to deepen their expertise in finance and related fields, fostering innovation and leadership in the financial sector.

Accomplishments

At present, the Department of Finance has 34 in-house faculty members and 7 more on deputation and study leave. Of the faculty members, 11 are PhD holders, 8 are pursuing PhD, 22 possess a foreign master’s degree, and 9 have professional degrees like CFA, CA, CMA, and ACCA. All of our faculty members are nationally and internationally trained and have innovative experience in academia and research. This is evident from the 200+ research papers published in ranked international and reputable national journals. The faculty members of the department are vastly experienced in conducting and attending research conferences, seminars, symposiums, and competitions, etc. 37 of our former faculty members are currently teaching in reputed foreign universities in the USA, UK, Canda, Australia, and Malaysia. and are conducting quality research.

The department has an international affiliation with the Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) Institute and the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA). Under its affiliation with the CFA Institute senior year students of the undergraduate program can apply for scholarships through the department. Similarly, students with Master of Professional Finance (MPF) degree enjoy waiver for up to 9 courses in the ACCA examination without needing to pay for these waived courses. At the same time, students with ACCA degrees can apply for waivers for a maximum of 7 courses in the department’s MPF program.

We strongly believe that a holistic collaboration between the Department of Finance and the industry has the potential to bring about significant positive outcomes for academia, the financial sector, the economy, and the nation at large. A strong linkage between academia and practitioners is the need of the hour considering the beckoning 4th Industrial Revolution, the ever-evolving financial ecosystem, and the challenges posed by rampant globalization.