Studying abroad? The student file guide
Paying tuition and living costs overseas goes through a student file. Here are the steps, documents and banks.
Step by step
- Pick a bank and AD branchStudent files are opened only at authorised dealer (AD) branches. All remittances for a course should go through the same AD branch.
- Open an accountOpen a savings or current account with the bank in the student’s or guardian’s name.
- Submit documentsAdmission letter, cost estimate (tuition and living), passport, national ID, academic certificates and proof of the source of funds. Country rules add items, such as the I-20 for the USA.
- Open the fileThe bank opens the file and charges a fee. Some banks require yearly renewal, and a dormant account cannot send funds.
- Remit and keep recordsSend to the university or your own foreign account. Keep the SWIFT advice, bank receipt and the university’s acknowledgement.
Typical document checklist
- Admission or offer letter
- Tuition and living-cost estimate (university invoice)
- Passport and national ID
- Academic certificates and transcripts
- Guardian’s ID and income / source-of-funds papers
- Country-specific papers (for example I-20, CAS)
- Scholarship letter and accommodation proof, if applicable
Rules worth knowing
- All remittances over a course of study should be made from one AD branch; study at school level needs prior Bangladesh Bank approval. (Bangladesh Commerce Bank page)
- Standard Chartered states that one student file can be held at a time, it must be renewed every year, and funds go only to the institution or the student’s own account abroad. (Standard Chartered)
- Fees differ by bank. For example, Bangladesh Commerce Bank’s page lists Tk 4,000 on opening and Tk 3,000 per renewal (or as per its schedule of charges). Check the current figure with your bank.
- For the current rules, see the Bangladesh Bank Foreign Exchange Policy Department circular. (30 September 2026)
Banks that offer student files
These banks appear in our sources. Fees and documents differ, so compare before you choose.
| Bank | Source |
|---|---|
| Sonali Bank PLCসোনালী ব্যাংক পিএলসি | — |
| BRAC Bank PLCব্র্যাক ব্যাংক পিএলসি | — |
| Bangladesh Commerce Bank PLCবাংলাদেশ কমার্স ব্যাংক পিএলসি | Bank page |
| Bank Asia PLCব্যাংক এশিয়া পিএলসি | — |
| Dutch-Bangla Bank PLCডাচ্-বাংলা ব্যাংক পিএলসি | — |
| Eastern Bank PLCইস্টার্ন ব্যাংক পিএলসি | — |
| IFIC Bank PLCআইএফআইসি ব্যাংক পিএলসি | — |
| Mutual Trust Bank PLCমিউচুয়াল ট্রাস্ট ব্যাংক পিএলসি | — |
| Prime Bank PLCপ্রাইম ব্যাংক পিএলসি | — |
| Pubali Bank PLCপূবালী ব্যাংক পিএলসি | — |
| The City Bank PLCদ্য সিটি ব্যাংক পিএলসি | — |
| The Premier Bank PLCদ্য প্রিমিয়ার ব্যাংক পিএলসি | — |
| HSBC Bangladeshদ্য হংকং অ্যান্ড সাংহাই ব্যাংকিং কর্পোরেশন লিমিটেড (এইচএসবিসি) | — |
| Standard Chartered Bankস্ট্যান্ডার্ড চার্টার্ড ব্যাংক | Bank page |
Questions students ask
What is a student file?
A special file opened at a bank so tuition and living costs can be sent abroad legally. The bank remits the money on your behalf.
Do I need a bank account first?
Usually yes. The student or a guardian normally needs an active account with the bank. Fees and documents differ by bank.
Is a student file the same as a student loan?
No. A loan arranges the funding; a student file lets authorised remittances go out. Many students need both.
Can students going abroad get a credit card?
Standard Chartered states on its page that, under current Bangladesh Bank rules, credit cards cannot be issued to non-residents or students going abroad. Confirm with your bank.
Where can the money be sent?
Typically only to the institution (tuition and fees) and, for living costs, to the student’s own account abroad.