Sri Lanka is ranked in the top 50% of countries on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:
There are three main kinds of Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) in Sri Lanka:
1. Public Universities: There are 18 such HEIs in Sri Lanka. They are administered and funded by the University Grants Commission (UGC), which is an arm of the Sri Lankan Central Government. They are allowed to award all levels of academic recognition, from certificates to undergraduate degrees to doctoral diplomas. Most of their courses are taught in English.
2. Private HEIs: These are not funded by the Government of Sri Lanka; most have the status of Institutes, specializing in a particular field of study. Some of the most prominent Institutes are allowed to grant their own degrees, in a manner similar to a University - for example, the Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology.
3. Professional Training Institutes: They are not managed by the Ministry of Higher Education or the UGC of Sri Lanka; rather, they fall under the preview of the Ministry of Vocational and Technical Training. They offer certificates and diplomas in several important skills needed in the labor market, to both high school graduates and adults, through the continuing education scheme.
Certificate Courses in Sri Lankan Universities are of two types: there are short term (3-6 months) in-person programs, primarily meant for short term students and tourists. Certifications in Buddhism and the Sinhala / Tamil languages are examples of these. There are also technical certifications meant for advanced professionals to upgrade their skills part time or in the virtual mode - for example, the Certificate in Health Program Management by the University of Colombo.
All the Public Universities in Sri Lanka offer Diploma Programs, which last between 6 and 24 months, and are designed to impart various professional skills to students. For example, the University of Colombo awards Diplomas to both high school graduates and experienced professionals, in disciplines as diverse as Business English, Microfinance, Journalism, and the Sinhala Language.
Undergraduate Bachelor’s Degree Programs in Sri Lanka last either three years (Humanities and some Commerce Courses) or four years (most Engineering programs). The curriculum has recently been updated to keep the latest industry standards in mind, and each University is in charge of defining its own syllabus. At the end of the degree, students are expected to submit their progress in a Bachelor’s Degree Project or Dissertation.
Postgraduate Master's programs in Sri Lankan Universities normally take two years to complete, and involve extensive coursework and assignments. Courses are related to advanced specializations of the areas of work of each Department, and students are expected to complete a research project in the final semester of the course, where they work towards a Master's Dissertation. Graduates may choose to take up a job placement or continue with their PhD immediately after completing their Master's degree.
All Departments in Sri Lankan Universities offer at least one doctoral program. PhD students work on original research problems. After a year of coursework and training in analytical techniques, they start with research work under the guidance of a PhD Faculty Guide. After 3-4 years, when there is enough progress to publish the results, PhD students present their work during a thesis defense before a panel of external experts. The doctoral degree is awarded only after a successful thesis defense.
The country has various universities that offer approximately all the disciplines of study in Sri Lanka. Some of the popular disciplines available in Sri Lanka are-
Information Systems | Business Administration | Medicine with Surgery |
Biosystems Technology | Agriculture | Physiotherapy |
Instrumentation and Automation | Nursing | Law |
Human Resources | Mechanical Engineering | Communication Technology |
Civil Engineering | Special Education | Electrical Engineering |
Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Sri Lanka.
The name of the city | No. of Universities |
Colombo | 2 |
Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte | 1 |
Moratuwa | 2 |
Kandy | 1 |
Jaffna | 1 |
The tuition fee to study in Sri Lanka is far lower than that in other Asian countries. For example, the most expensive course (MBBS) in the highest ranked University of Colombo has annual tuition fees for international students of 12,500 USD per year, or 4 million Lankan Rupees. Most programs have lower tuition fees.
After the recent financial crisis in Sri Lanka, the cost of living standards have not yet completely stabilized. However, students should budget for rent, food, transportation, entertainment, personal items, and technical infrastructure.
Applicants for a long term Student Visa must complete the steps listed below, and submit the following documents: