The Institute admits to the M.Phil. & Ph.D. degree programs on a competitive basis. A student is selected for admission on the basis of past academic records and performance in the admission test, both written and oral. The IBS prefers students who are specially interested in research or who are already in the teaching profession, so that after finishing their degree programs successfully, they can continue to serve their respective institutions effectively.
The admission begins in early January with invitation of applications and the tests are held in April/May every year.

Requirements for Admission in M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs

M.Phil

1. A candidate must have passed at least in the second division in both S.S.C. and H.S.C. Examinations.
2. He must have scored at least 45% points in the Bachelor's (Hons. or Pass) and/or Master's Part I Examinations, and at least 50% points in Master's Final Examination.
3. Under special considerations, any one of the above two conditions can be relaxed if the candidate has at least five years' experience in any research organization with at least five published articles in recognized journals. But such cases may be considered only for the M.Phil. program and is never transferable to the Ph.D. program.
4. Candidates having 50% marks in M.B.B.S., M. Agriculture and B.S.C. Engineering Exams are eligible for admission in M.Phil. program.
5. Each candidate shall have to sit for a written test and appear before a viva-voce board.

Ph.D.

1. (a) A candidate seeking admission in the Ph.D. program must have second division in both S.S.C and H.S.C examinations with at least 50% points, a first class either in Bachelor's (Hons.) or in Master's Examination, and at least a second class with 50% points in the other. Or (b) he/she must have an M.Phil./equivalent degree.
2. Under special considerations, conditions stated in 1(a) and 1(b) may be relaxed in case of teachers in Universities/Degree Colleges, researchers working at research organizations and candidates holding scholarships from Government/Semi Government/Autonomous institutions if they have five years' research experience with two publications and at least 50% points in the Master's examination.
3. Each candidates shall have to sit for a written test and appear before a viva-voce board.

Degree Requirements

In view of the objectives set in IBS Statute, the following compulsory and optional courses are designed for study in M.Phil. and Ph.D. programs of the Institute. Apart from the compulsory subjects, each fellow requires to choose three courses from the optional list.

The course work program at the IBS was thoroughly reformulated in 1994 marking room for wider -ranging course options. These changes are expected to lead to a curricular expansion and recruitment of new experts in different fields as instructors and fellows.

Core Courses (compulsory)

• History of Bangladesh: An Outline ( 50 points)
• Language Development Skill - Bengali and English (50 points)
• Life and Society of Bangladesh (100 points including Bangladesh Economy, Bangladesh Society and Culture, Bangladesh Geography and Bangladesh Politics, each having 25 points).
• Research Methodology (100 points including quantitative and qualitative aspects).

Optional Courses (any three, each having 50 points)

• Advanced Management
• Anthropology
• Archaeology
• Architecture in Bangladesh
• Arts of Bangladesh
• Bangla Language and Literature
• Bangladesh Economy
• Bangladesh Politics
• Comparative Literature
• Computer in Social Science
• Contemporary Trends in World Polity
• Cost and Management Accounting
• Cultural and Intellectual History
• Demography
• Development Administration
• Development Economics
• Economic History
• Environmental Issues
• Finance & Banking
• Folklore
• Geography of Bangladesh
• Historiography
• International Relations
• Law
• Linguistics & Communications
• Marking management
• Modern Bengal
• Musical Tradition of Bangladesh
• Personnel Management
• Philosophical Tradition of Bangladesh
• Political Thought, Organization & Development
• Psychology
• Public Administration
• Social Accounting
• Social Work/Welfare
• Social & Political History of Bengal (pre-modern)
• Sociology of Bangladesh
• Statistics

In view of the Fellows' need, a few more courses may be introduced to supplement the above list of optional courses.

The Value of total course work is                                            :     450 points
Attendance, participation in  seminars and oral comprehensives    :     50 points
Grand Total    :   500 points

Minimum average pass score is 50% or 250 points in total. Pass score for each individual course is 40% or 20 points (40 points in cases of Research Methodology, and Life and Society of Bangladesh). The range of letter grades is as follows:

Grades will be determined by the teachers who are responsible for administration of the courses. In addition, at least 75% attendance is required in the classes. In short, the degree requirements include the following:

1. Obtaining minimum average 'C' grade in all courses, that is 250 point in aggregate.
2. Passing of the comprehensive examination at the end of one years' course work.
3. Presentation of research proposal in a seminar within 3 months (for M.Phil.) and 6 months (for Ph.D.) of the comprehensive examination.
4. Submission of a thesis within the stipulated time: Minimum 2 years to maximum 5 years for M.Phil. degree and minimum 3 to maximum 6 years for Ph.D. degree programs. The thesis must show high attainment and originality and it must represent a definite contribution to existing stock of knowledge.
5. Passing the final examination that consists of an oral defence of the theses of a candidate.

Different Fees for M.Phil. degree Candidate

Different Fees for Ph.D. degree Candidate

Guide

At the time of admission, a candidate is required to indicate the topic of his research along with the name of a prospective superior from among the teaching stall of IBS/Rajshahi University. However, if his supervisor and IBS authority are satisfied with his work, an M.Phil. candidate may, under certain conditions. be transferred to the Ph.D. program.

The Academic Year

The academic year of IBS starts on July I and ends on June 30 each year. The IBS follows office holidays in line with Rajshahi University.

Methods of Instruction

The lecture method of teaching which is followed in the Institute is aided by student participation, case presentation, group discussions. class-room seminars and practical research work. Students are required to prepare various assignments. Arrangement are also made to hold lecture and seminars by prominent scholars from home and abroad.

Fellowship

The Institute offers a good number of fellowships for full-time study at the Institute. The award of fellowship is effective from the time of admission. Initially an M.Phil. Fellow receives Tk. 1500.00 per month tenable for 2 years and a Ph.D. Fellow tk. 2000.00 per month for 3 years. This may be a period of 6 months only the recommendation of the supervisor. The awardee of a fellowship must sign a bond.

Research Grants

Some research grants are offered to Research Fellow who need financial support for conducting field survey to collect information and for literature survey and research, in Bangladesh and/or, if necessary, in neighboring countries. Fellow receiving stipend from the UGC (University Grand Commision), the University, or some other agency may also be admitted in the Institute to carry out approved research projects.

Residence for Fellows

Two separate four-storied buildings with single/double accommodation as well as few family quarters are located within the Institute complex. Apartments for visiting scholars, accommodation for women researcher are available, too. Both the M.Phil. and Ph.D. Research Fellows are required to maintain residence in Rajshahi, preferably at the IBS campus, at least for the first year of the program.