According to the Constitution of South and Southeast Asian University Network, Chittagong Independent University has been accepted as the member of South and Southeast Asian University Network.

Introduction

Chittagong Independent University (CIU) is one of two private universities established by the Education, Science, Technology and Cultural Development Trust (ESTCDT), a philanthropic trust founded in 1992 with the vision of providing world-class higher education in Bangladesh.

The Trust first established Independent University, Bangladesh (IUB) in Dhaka in 1992 and CIU began its journey in 1999 as the Chittagong Campus of IUB. Following the enactment of the Private University Act 2010 by the Government of Bangladesh, the Chattogram campus was granted independent university status on February 6, 2013, and officially became Chittagong Independent University (CIU). Since then, CIU guided by the founding vision of ESTCDT has established itself as a leading center of higher education in Chattogram, the port city and commercial hub of the country where academic excellence, innovation, and global engagement are at the heart of its mission.

CIU has four schools: the CIU Business School (CIUBS), the School of Science & Engineering (SSE), the School of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences (SLASS), and the School of Law (SoL). Together, these schools offer a diverse portfolio of undergraduate and graduate programs designed to prepare students for leadership in business, technology, English studies, and the legal profession.

The CIU Business School offers the Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) with majors in Accounting, Finance, Management, Marketing, Human Resource Management, Management Information Systems (MIS), International Business, and Supply Chain Management. At the graduate level, the school offers the Master of Business Administration (MBA) with concentrations in Finance, Marketing, Banking, and Human Resource Management.

The School of Science & Engineering offers undergraduate programs in Computer Science & Engineering (CSE), Electrical & Electronic Engineering (EEE).

The School of Liberal Arts & Social Sciences offers undergraduate programs in English along with graduate programs leading to the Master of Arts (MA) in English Literature and the Master of Arts (MA) in Applied Linguistics and English Language Teaching (ELT).

The School of Law offers the Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and the Master of Laws (LLM), including a specialized LLM in Human Rights.

A defining characteristic of CIU is its flexible credit system, inherited from its parent institution, IUB. This internationally compatible academic framework promotes interdisciplinary learning, academic flexibility, and seamless credit transfer, making it easier for students to pursue higher education abroad. Over the years, CIU graduates have successfully continued their studies and established professional careers in organizations around the world, reflecting the global relevance and quality of education at CIU.

Our faculty members, many holding degrees from renowned universities at home and abroad, are active researchers who publish in national and international journals and regularly participate in academic conferences. Our campus offers air-conditioned, multimedia-equipped classrooms, modern laboratories, a well-stocked library, and a Wi-Fi-enabled environment designed to meet the expectations of 21st-century learners. CIU also has dedicated institutes/centers supporting its academic mission, including the Institute of Governance, Development and International Studies (IGDIS), the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL),  English Language Centre (ELC), Institute of Information Technology and Industrial Research (IITIR), CIU Case Writing Center, Mental Health and Well-being Center, and, most recently, the Confucius Institute Chinese Language Teaching Site at CIU, launched in early 2026.

CIU is committed to fostering a culture of academic excellence, continuous improvement, and inclusion. This commitment is reflected in the work of the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), which oversees the continuous enhancement of teaching, learning, and curriculum of the university while the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Policy promotes an academic environment where all members of the university community have equitable opportunities to participate, contribute, and thrive.

Guided by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education), Goal 5 (Gender Equality), Goal 10 (Reduced Inequalities), and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions), CIU is dedicated to building a diverse, equitable, and inclusive community where students, faculty, and staff are valued, respected, and empowered to reach their full potential.

The university maintains a zero-tolerance policy toward discrimination and harassment and actively fosters a safe, respectful, and welcoming environment for all.

Beyond the classroom, CIU's academic environment is complemented by a vibrant campus life, with numerous student clubs organizing co-curricular activities throughout the year, alongside a dedicated Office of Career Guidance, Placement, and Alumni Relations that supports students' transition into the workforce or further study abroad. Women comprise a significant portion of the student population, reflecting the university's commitment to broadening access to higher education and fostering an inclusive learning environment. Our alumni network today spans public and private sector organizations across Bangladesh and abroad, a testament to the international relevance of CIU education.

Internationalization is central to CIU's institutional strategy. We maintain collaborative relationships with a range of overseas institutions and organizations, including Yunnan University, China; the Asia Center at Seoul National University, South Korea; Rennes School of Business, France; University of Georgia, USA; Kathmandu School of Law, Nepal; the Indian Institute of Management Ranchi, India; and The Case Centre, UK, located at Cranfield University UK alongside partnerships with USAID's Feed the Future Bangladesh program and the UN Global Compact Network Bangladesh, among many others. Over the past year, our delegations have exchanged visits with institutions in China and South Korea, participated in the Chinese Bridge Program, and signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Yunnan University. These engagements reflect a clear institutional priority providing our students and faculty with meaningful international exposure through student and faculty exchanges, joint research, faculty mobility, dual-degree pathways, collaborative academic programs, and international conferences. We view every new relationship not as a symbolic agreement but as a dynamic, long-term partnership built on tangible academic collaboration and mutual benefit.

Situated in Chattogram, Bangladesh's key port city and a rapidly growing regional economic hub, CIU offers international partners a distinctive gateway to South and Southeast Asia. Located on the Bay of Bengal with direct access to major international shipping routes, Chattogram serves as Bangladesh's maritime gateway and a strategic link to the Indo-Pacific region. This geographic advantage opens exceptional opportunities for collaborative research and academic engagement in trade, logistics, maritime studies, supply chain management, the blue economy, sustainable development, and regional economic integration. At the same time, our student body offers a strong pool of talented, English-medium-educated students eager to engage in international learning, cross-cultural exchange, and global research initiatives.