Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College 2026: Seats and Profile
Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College (ShSMC) started classes on 6 May 2006 as the 14th government medical college of Bangladesh. Its hospital, opened in 1963 as Ayub Central Hospital, sits in a building designed by the architect Louis I. Kahn in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka. The college is affiliated with the University of Dhaka.
Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College is one of the youngest Dhaka colleges, but it has quickly become one of the most sought after. Students choose it for its location in the capital’s hospital zone, a modern hospital with a strong record in national rankings, and the chance to study in Dhaka without the crowding of the oldest colleges.
From Hospital to Medical College
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1963 | Ayub Central Hospital opens in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar for outpatient services |
| 1972 | Renamed Shaheed Suhrawardy Hospital after Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy |
| 5 September 2005 | Government decides to turn the hospital into a medical college |
| 6 May 2006 | Classes begin with 100 students |
| June 2008 | Separate hostels for men and women open |
| 1 July 2009 | The college takes its present name |
| 2011 | BDS (dental) course starts |
What You Get at ShSMC
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, in the “zone of medical institutions” |
| Neighbours | National institutes for heart, eye, kidney, orthopaedics and mental health, and the Institute of Child Health |
| Teaching hospital | Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College Hospital, a tertiary hospital of more than 850 beds with about 35 departments |
| Affiliation | University of Dhaka |
| Recognition for the hospital | Best-hospital award from WHO and the health ministry (2016) and top score in a national public-hospital assessment |
| Seat change in 2025-26 | Reduced by 5 seats in the national reorganisation |
The neighbourhood is a real advantage: students can attend lectures, case presentations and conferences at the specialised national institutes a short walk away, which few colleges outside Dhaka can offer.
Government medical college seatsSee ShSMC's place in the seat tableHow Competitive Is It?
ShSMC is usually filled by candidates high on the national merit list, just after the oldest Dhaka colleges and the large divisional colleges. Its Dhaka location makes it a strong choice for students whose families live in the capital, and many top scorers rank it above colleges outside Dhaka.
| If you… | Then… |
|---|---|
| Want to study in Dhaka but may miss DMC and SSMC | Put ShSMC right after them |
| Value a modern hospital and specialised institutes nearby | ShSMC deserves a high place |
| Prefer a large, old campus | Consider MMC or CMC above it |
Campus Life
The campus is compact and the hostels are newer than those of the oldest colleges, though living space is still tight. Students run debating, photography and voluntary groups such as Sandhani for blood donation. Being in the middle of Dhaka means easy access to libraries, bookshops and postgraduate coaching — and also to the city’s traffic.
Strengths and Limitations
| Strengths | Limitations |
|---|---|
| Modern, well-rated hospital | Younger college with a smaller alumni base than DMC or SSMC |
| National specialised institutes next door | Small campus and crowded hostels |
| Central Dhaka location | City traffic and higher living costs |
The Louis Kahn Connection
Few medical colleges in the world have a hospital designed by a famous architect. The original Ayub Central Hospital building was part of Louis I. Kahn’s master plan for Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, the same plan that produced the National Parliament House. The brick-and-concrete style, long corridors and courtyards give the campus a character very different from the crowded old buildings of Old Dhaka. For students, it is a reminder that they study in one of the most important planned areas of the capital.
Study Tips for Future ShSMC Students
| Year | Focus |
|---|---|
| First year | Anatomy, physiology and biochemistry — build strong notes from day one |
| Second and third year | Pharmacology, pathology and microbiology, plus community medicine field work |
| Fourth and fifth year | Ward clinics in medicine, surgery, gynaecology and paediatrics |
| Internship | One year of rotations in the college hospital |
Admission
There is no separate test. Admission comes through the national MBBS and BDS test; your merit score and choice order decide your seat. If you would happily study at ShSMC, place it above colleges you would like less.
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Classes started on 6 May 2006, making it the 14th government medical college of Bangladesh. Its hospital dates back to 1963.
It is in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar, Dhaka, next to several national specialised institutes.
Shaheed Suhrawardy Medical College is affiliated with the University of Dhaka.
Yes. The college started a BDS course in 2011.