Academic results
For a bachelor's, your HSC, Diploma or Madrasa result after 12 years of schooling. For a master's, your bachelor's degree and CGPA, and sometimes how many years it took.
2027 intakes · 12 countries compared
To study abroad from Bangladesh you need three things: the right academic results, proof of English and a complete set of documents. A bachelor's needs 12 years of schooling, and the universities Sunrise works with usually look for an HSC GPA of 3.50–4.00. A master's needs a recognised bachelor's, often with a CGPA of 2.75–3.00, and most ask for IELTS 5.5–6.5 or another accepted test.
Written and reviewed by Anisuzzaman Kiron, Founder & CEO · Updated
| Bachelor's | 12 years of schooling (HSC, Diploma or Madrasa); many ask for HSC GPA 3.50–4.00 |
|---|---|
| Master's | A recognised bachelor's; many ask for CGPA 2.75–3.00 out of 4.00 |
| English | IELTS 5.5–6.5 at most universities; TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo at many |
| Without IELTS | MOI letter for many master's; Duolingo or TOEFL elsewhere |
| Study gap | Often up to 5 years after a bachelor's (10 for Italy) |
| Core documents | Passport, SSC and HSC, transcripts, SOP, CV; LOR for master's |
| Extra tests | CEnT-S, TOLC or SAT (Italy), CSCA (China), SAT or TR-YÖS (Türkiye public) |
From university pages and Sunrise's 2027–28 counselling guidance, as cited on each country page · Last verified
The basics
Every university sets its own entry rules, but they check the same three things: your academic results, your English and your documents. The benchmarks on this page come from university pages and from Sunrise's counselling guidance for the universities we work with; each programme's own page has the final word.
For a bachelor's, your HSC, Diploma or Madrasa result after 12 years of schooling. For a master's, your bachelor's degree and CGPA, and sometimes how many years it took.
IELTS is the most widely accepted. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and the Duolingo English Test work at many universities, and some accept a Medium of Instruction (MOI) letter for a master's.
Passport, certificates and transcripts, a statement of purpose and a CV; for a master's, usually a recommendation letter. Some countries add a test or a credential check.
Admission and visa are separate. A university can waive IELTS and still leave you short for the visa: Italy's student visa from Dhaka asks for IELTS 6.0 even when a university accepts an MOI letter. Check both on the country page, and see our student visa guide for the visa side.
Sources: the university and official sources on each country page, and Sunrise's 2027–28 counselling guidance. Last verified 11 Nov 2026.
Compare countries
By situation: with IELTS 5.5, look at Hungary, Malta, Greece, Türkiye, Malaysia or China; with an MOI letter instead of IELTS for a master's, Hungary, Malta, Greece and Türkiye; with a 3-year bachelor's, check the USA and Canada rows first, because some universities there need a 4-year degree.
Showing 12 countries
| Country | Bachelor's (after HSC) | Master's (after a bachelor's) | English | Extra tests or checks |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Italy | HSC GPA 4.00 out of 5.00 (Sunrise advises) | CGPA 3.00 out of 4.00 (Sunrise advises) | IELTS 6.0; the Dhaka visa needs IELTS even if a university accepts MOI | CEnT-S, TOLC or SAT for some programmes; CIMEA statement or Declaration of Value |
| Finland | HSC GPA 3.50 (Sunrise advises) | Related bachelor's, CGPA 2.75 (Sunrise advises) | Usually IELTS 6.0, PTE 55, TOEFL iBT 60 | Entrance exam or SAT for many bachelor's; 2 years' work for a UAS master's |
| Hungary | HSC GPA 4.00 (Sunrise advises) | CGPA 3.00 (Sunrise advises) | IELTS 5.5 (6.0 at Miskolc); MOI or IELTS 5.5 for a master's | Entrance exam (Debrecen) or online interview (Budapest Metropolitan) |
| Malta | HSC GPA 4.00 (Sunrise advises) | CGPA 3.00 (Sunrise advises) | IELTS 5.5; MOI for a master's | None listed |
| Norway | HSC plus 1 year of university (Agder) | HSC plus 4 years of university (180 ECTS), C average or better (Agder) | Bachelor's IELTS 5.0 or TOEFL iBT 60 (Agder); master's IELTS 6.0–6.5, TOEFL iBT 80–85, PTE 62 | No test exemption for Bangladeshi English-medium degrees at Agder and UiT |
| Greece | HSC GPA 3.50 (Sunrise advises) | CGPA 2.75 (Sunrise advises) | IELTS 5.5; MOI or IELTS 5.5 for a master's | None listed |
| Türkiye | HSC GPA 4.00 (Sunrise advises) | CGPA 3.00 (Sunrise advises) | IELTS 5.5; MOI for a master's | SAT or TR-YÖS at public universities (Ankara: SAT 1100 with 650 in Math) |
| USA | GPA 3.00 at Arizona State, with 4 years of maths and 3 of lab science | 3–5-year bachelor's accepted at Texas Tech; Arizona State needs extra study after a 3-year degree | Most ask IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 100–120; Arizona State IELTS 6.0, TOEFL 61 or Duolingo 95 | SAT not required at Arizona State; GRE set by each programme |
| Canada | 12 years of schooling; grades and subjects set by each university | 4-year bachelor's, or a bachelor's plus a master's (Toronto) | IELTS 6.5 or Duolingo 120 at Toronto, Alberta, Calgary, UVic and Winnipeg | Provincial attestation letter (PAL) for a bachelor's |
| Malaysia | At least 75% (first division) in HSC at Universiti Malaysia Sabah; foundation or diploma otherwise | Related bachelor's; grade set by each programme | IELTS 5.0 (UTP) to 6.0 (Nottingham); UTP also takes an English-medium letter | None listed; EMGS also accepts MUET and Cambridge tests |
| China | Average of 75 out of 100 (Harbin Engineering); usually under 25 | Bachelor's, 70% or B average (Jiangsu); usually under 35 | IELTS 5.5–6.5 for a bachelor's; IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 80 for a master's; HSK 4 for Chinese-taught | CSCA test for most bachelor's; study plan for some |
| Cyprus | HSC certificate and marksheet | A recognised bachelor's with transcripts | CEFR B2: IELTS 6.5, TOEFL iBT 79 or PTE 66 (EUC); EUC placement test without a certificate | None listed |
Each country name opens its hub, where the requirements section links every university and official source. "Sunrise advises" marks counselling guidance for the universities we work with, not a national rule. Figures last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
Academic results
For a bachelor's, most universities in this guide accept 12 years of schooling, so HSC, Diploma and Madrasa students can apply. The usual benchmark is an HSC GPA of 3.50–4.00 out of 5.00. For a master's, it is a CGPA of 2.75–3.00 out of 4.00, and the length of your degree can matter.
GPA 3.50–4.00
Sunrise advises GPA 4.00 for Italy, Hungary, Malta and Türkiye and 3.50 for Finland and Greece. Universiti Malaysia Sabah asks for 75% (first division); with lower results, Malaysia offers a foundation or diploma first.
CGPA 2.75–3.00
Sunrise advises CGPA 3.00 for Italy, Hungary, Malta and Türkiye and 2.75 for Finland and Greece. Jiangsu University in China asks for 70% or a B average.
3 or 4 years?
The University of Toronto asks for a 4-year bachelor's or a bachelor's plus a master's. Arizona State accepts a 3-year degree only with extra study; Texas Tech accepts 3–5-year Bangladeshi degrees.
Norway is different. At the University of Agder, a bachelor's needs HSC plus one year of university, and a master's needs HSC plus four years of university (180 ECTS). See the Norway page before you plan.
Sources: the requirements sections of the Italy, Finland, Hungary, Malta, Greece, Türkiye, Malaysia, China, Canada, USA and Norway pages, with their university sources. Last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
Documents
The admission file is almost the same everywhere. A few countries add a credential check, and the visa stage adds money and police documents later.
Sources: the requirements sections of the Italy, Canada, China, Finland, Norway and Cyprus pages, with their official sources. Last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
English tests
IELTS is accepted in all 12 countries in this guide, so it is the safest choice if you are unsure where you will apply. TOEFL iBT, PTE Academic and the Duolingo English Test are accepted at many universities, and an MOI letter can replace a test for many master's programmes. Always check the exact score for your programme.
| Test | Scores seen on our country pages | Where it is accepted (examples) |
|---|---|---|
| IELTS (Academic) | 5.0 (UTP, Malaysia) to 7.0 (Harvard and Stanford) | Every country in this guide |
| TOEFL iBT | 40 (UTP, Malaysia) to 85 (Norway) | Finland, Norway, USA, Malaysia, China, Cyprus |
| PTE Academic | 55 (Finland) to 66 (EUC, Cyprus) | Finland, Norway, Cyprus; EMGS in Malaysia lists it |
| Duolingo English Test | 90 (Zhejiang Gongshang) to 120 (Toronto, Alberta, Calgary, UVic, Winnipeg) | USA, Canada, China |
| MOI letter | No score: your degree was taught in English | Master's in Hungary, Malta, Greece and Türkiye; UTP in Malaysia; not enough for Italy's visa |
| MUET and Cambridge tests | Set by each university | Malaysia (EMGS list) |
No IELTS yet? Our study abroad without IELTS guide lists the universities and countries that accept MOI letters, Duolingo or their own tests. Sunrise does not sell test preparation, so this comparison is neutral.
Test owners: IELTS · ETS (TOEFL) · Pearson (PTE) · Duolingo English Test. Scores from the requirements sections of each country page and their university sources. Last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
Study gap
For a master's, the universities Sunrise works with in Hungary, Malta, Greece and Türkiye accept a gap of up to 5 years, and Italy up to 10. For a bachelor's the window is shorter: usually an HSC from the last 4–7 years. Explain any gap honestly, with proof of what you did.
| Country | Bachelor's | Master's |
|---|---|---|
| Italy | HSC passed 2023–2026 | Up to 10 years |
| Hungary | HSC passed 2021–2026 | Up to 5 years |
| Türkiye | HSC passed 2021–2026 | Up to 5 years |
| Malta | HSC passed 2020–2025 | Up to 5 years |
| Greece | HSC passed 2020–2026 | Up to 5 years |
| USA | Set by each university | Set by each programme |
| Canada | Set by each university | Set by each programme |
A gap is not a dead end. Ritu won a Hungary student visa after a four-year gap, with a clear explanation and documents for the years in between.
Gap windows are Sunrise's counselling guidance for the universities we work with in 2027–28, shown on each country page; other universities may differ. Last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
Age and other rules
Of the 12 countries in this guide, China is the one where universities set typical age limits: usually under 25 for a bachelor's and under 35 for a master's. A few countries add their own checks, listed below.
| Country | Rule | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| China | Age | Usually under 25 for a bachelor's (under 30 at Hohai and Zhejiang Sci-Tech) and under 35 for a master's |
| China | Language of teaching | HSK 4 for Chinese-taught programmes |
| Finland | Work experience | Two years after your bachelor's for a master's at a university of applied sciences |
| Norway | Entry qualification | HSC alone may not be enough; Agder asks for HSC plus university study |
| Canada | Provincial attestation letter | Needed for a bachelor's; Quebec uses the CAQ instead |
| Italy | Credential check | CIMEA statement or Declaration of Value |
| Türkiye | Admission exam | SAT or TR-YÖS at public universities |
From the requirements sections of each country page and their university sources. Last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
If you fall short
Most gaps have a route around them. Choose the country and level that match your results, then strengthen the weak point before you apply.
Look at countries with a GPA 3.50 or CGPA 2.75 benchmark, such as Finland and Greece, or start with a foundation or diploma in Malaysia.
Use an MOI letter for a master's in Hungary, Malta, Greece or Türkiye, or take Duolingo where it is accepted. Check the visa rule too.
Choose a country whose window fits your gap, and document what you did: jobs, training or family reasons.
Not sure where you stand? A Sunrise counsellor checks your results against each country in a free face-to-face consultation in Banani or Sylhet. Compare costs in our cost guide and funding in our scholarships guide.
Based on the requirements on each country page. Last verified 9–11 Nov 2026.
FAQ
Ask a counsellor directly if your question is not here.
WhatsApp 01611878274Academic results (12 years of schooling for a bachelor's, a recognised bachelor's for a master's), proof of English such as IELTS 5.5–6.5, and documents including your passport, certificates, transcripts, SOP and CV.
Many universities Sunrise works with ask for HSC GPA 4.00 out of 5.00 (Italy, Hungary, Malta, Türkiye) or 3.50 (Finland, Greece). Universiti Malaysia Sabah asks for 75% (first division).
Usually 3.00 out of 4.00 for Italy, Hungary, Malta and Türkiye, and 2.75 for Finland and Greece, as Sunrise advises. Jiangsu University in China asks for 70% or a B average.
Usually 5.5–6.5. IELTS 5.5 works in Hungary, Malta, Greece, Türkiye and at some Chinese and Malaysian universities; Italy asks for 6.0; most US universities and several Canadian ones ask for 6.5.
Yes, for many master's programmes: Hungary, Malta, Greece and Türkiye accept an MOI letter at the universities Sunrise works with. Duolingo is accepted in the USA, Canada and China. Italy's visa still asks for IELTS.
It depends on the university. Texas Tech accepts 3–5-year Bangladeshi degrees; Arizona State needs extra study after a 3-year degree; the University of Toronto asks for a 4-year bachelor's or a bachelor's plus a master's.
For a master's, up to 5 years in Hungary, Malta, Greece and Türkiye and up to 10 in Italy, as Sunrise advises. For a bachelor's, usually an HSC from the last 4–7 years.
Of the 12 countries in this guide, China is the one with typical age limits: universities usually admit bachelor's students under 25 and master's students under 35. Elsewhere, your results, English and study gap matter more.
Yes. Universities in Italy, Finland, Hungary, Malta and Türkiye count Diploma and Madrasa as 12 years of schooling, at the universities Sunrise works with.
Only in some countries: CEnT-S, TOLC or SAT for some Italian programmes, entrance exams for many Finnish bachelor's, SAT or TR-YÖS at Turkish public universities and the CSCA test for most Chinese bachelor's.
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