Financing your medical studies in Bangladesh.

For the discussion of this blog I will be specifically writing about those Pakistani students who are admitted under the SAARC Quota in MBBS or BDS Course in Bangladesh Medical Colleges on Self Finance basis announced by the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination, Islamabad, Government of Pakistan annually.

Lets start

Expenses in Pakistan:

1. Draft during initial admission process: 6,244 PKR *
2. Visa fees: 735 PKR 
3. Flight cost (one way from karachi to dhaka): 40,410 PKR*
4. Total = 47,389 PKR 

*Go this link for more details:
http://mbbsinbdforpakstudents.blogspot.com/2016/10/how-to-apply-for-bangladeshi-government.html

**As mentioned by www.piac.com.pk on October 9th, 2016 without any discount.

You can avail 10 %  students discount from PIA. To know more open following link:

http://mbbsinbdforpakstudents.blogspot.com/2016/10/pakistan-international-airlines-student.html

Expenses In Bangladesh 

1. Admission fees: 14,944 PKR  - One time only
2. Hostel + Tution fees: 1,054 PKR  - have to pay biannually
3. Cost of books: 10,000 to 15,000 PKR ***
4. Cards for internal assessment: 250 PKR 
5. BMDC students registration: 267 PKR
6. Students ID Card: 200 PKR

***It varies alot and depends on the books you buy like Is it a reference or guide book? or Is it original or copy? etc same book can have so much price variation depending on its quality.

Above mentioned expense have to pay at the start of session in designated medical college. Apart from the above mentioned fees college will charge you nothing.

Note:
To study Human Anatomy you may need to buy Human skeleton (Bones) which costs around: 36000 PKR to 43000 PKR that can be shared between 3 people or more as needed. Not an absolute essential  but worth mentioning. I did not buy just borrowed from friends and studied. At the end of your first professional exam you can sell that to juniors.

Living expenses:

Food from the mess: 6000 PKR / Month
Laundry in the hostel: 1000 PKR/ Month
Broadband connection (3Mbps): 1700 PKR / Month - can be shared between roommates

My monthly expense is 13,000 to 16,000 PKR. Can spend less if you control your budget.

You being a foreigner will be provided a complimentary stay at affiliated hostel in foreigners block
Each room is usually shared by three students, you will be provided with a chair, table bed, cupboard. Electrical stuff like fan, tube light etc you will have to buy on your own. You can also buy your own furniture if you want to but that will incur separate cost that you will bear.

Bring at least 100,000 PKR if you are bringing in cash. It is better to bring equivalent USD as it is easy to exchange.

You can exchange your USD to BDT at the Dhaka airport.




How to get your money in Bangladesh?


International Visa Debit Card:

Best thing is to open a bank account in your name in any Pakistani bank and bring international debit card (Visa / Master) with you to Bangladesh. Here you can withdraw money at any Visa ATM using that same card but it will charge you around 7.4% of a transaction. I think this is the best option one can opt for.

How can a student open Bank account in Pakistani bank? Open following link:
Coming soon, Under construction


Money Transfer Services:

You can also collect money from international services like gram money or western union, but the process is bit lengthy as compared to ATM withdrawal. It charges 8% commission.


These are the receipts for admission, tution and hostel fees for curious minds: