Study in Sri Lanka

Higher Education Structure in Sri Lanka

Study In Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is home to 18 Public Universities, with each major city having at least one primary Institute of Higher Education. In all, almost 100,000 students are enrolled in various Universities, Institutes, and Vocational Training Schools in Sri Lanka, which is a significant proportion of the country.

Sri Lanka is an island country located just South of India. With a population of more than 20 million people, its largest city is Colombo,  which also serves as its Executive capital. Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is home to the legislature. Sri Lanka has a primarily agricultural economy, with tourism playing a marked role, especially for visitors from India and Southeast Asia. It is a member of the United Nations and SAARC. Even though it is classed as a developing country, Sri Lanka has a very high literacy level, showing that education is a priority for the nation.

The Perks of Studying in Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka is ranked in the top 50% of countries on several important indices for students and residents. Some highlights include:

  • The country is ranked #58 in the world in the WiseVoter “Best Countries for Education” report in 2023.
  • The country is ranked #90 in the world in the “Safest Countries in the World” ranking by WiseVoter in 2023.
  • The country is ranked #97 in the world by GDP per capita (PPP) in 2023.
  • The country is ranked #99 in the world according to the World Bank’s Ease of Doing Business report in 2019.

Higher Education Framework in Sri Lanka

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 Programs

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.

Diploma Programs

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 Programs

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 Programs

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.

Doctoral Programs

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.

Popular Disciplines Available in Sri Lanka

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 SystemsBusiness AdministrationMedicine with Surgery
Biosystems TechnologyAgriculturePhysiotherapy
Instrumentation and AutomationNursingLaw
Human ResourcesMechanical EngineeringCommunication Technology
Civil EngineeringSpecial EducationElectrical Engineering

Popular Cities with Most number of Universities in Sri Lanka

Here are some popular cities that have the most universities in Sri Lanka.

The name of the city No. of Universities 
Colombo2
Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte1
Moratuwa2
Kandy1
Jaffna1

Average Monthly Expenses in Sri Lanka for International Students

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.

Students Visa Requirements

Here is the list of documents students need to have to apply for a student visa in Sri Lanka.

Applicants for a long term Student Visa must complete the steps listed below, and submit the following documents:

  • Letter of Admission from a University based in Sri Lanka.
  • Approval document from the Department of Immigration in Colombo. The University must apply to the Department on behalf of the student; this functions as an entry visa (precursor to a Residence Permit).
  • Filled student visa application form.
  • Two passport size photographs of the applicant.
  • Police statement showing a clear criminal record.
  • Bank statement showing access to sufficient funds to live in the country throughout the duration of the degree.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Students who wish to apply for a Sri Lankan long term permit must apply for a Residence Visa, Type 1. The fee associated with this application is 200 USD, with local variations due to fluctuations in the dollar exchange rate.

The passport size photographs submitted with the Sri Lankan student visa application must have dimensions 35 mm (width) by 45 mm (height). They must show the face of the applicant clearly, and the background color must be white or light gray. No other persons or objects should be present in the photograph.

Sri Lankan student visa applications may be rejected for a wide variety of reasons, including incomplete details, missing documents, or unclear travel details. If the reason given for rejection is minor, the candidate should submit a new application after paying the registration fee again. If the reason is not related to the application details, the student should contact his/her University for further instructions.

International students in Sri Lanka are allowed to work part time to support their studies. However, the maximum number of hours are mandated by each University separately, and students should check their HEI’s rules. During semester breaks, students can join full time internships.

The University of Colombo is the highest ranked University in Sri Lanka, falling just outside the top 1,000 in the world in the QS 2024 ranking list. Other highly ranked Sri Lankan HEIs include the University of Peradeniya and the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka.

The University of Colombo has the highest ranked Medicine Department in Sri Lanka. The tuition fee per year for this program is 12,500 USD (for international students). Therefore, it is significantly lower than in most Universities in India, and is a strong option for candidates looking to study abroad in Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka has a relatively low cost of higher education, which is lower than in most South Asian countries, and much lower than in other Asian countries. Therefore, international students who are able to gain admission to the best HEIs in the country (e.g. the University of Colombo) will experience a good return on their investment.

Following the domestic unrest and financial crisis in Sri Lanka in 2021 and 2022, it has become a less attractive destination for international students. However, tourists and foreigners can move around and study safely, and the situation is largely back to normal. Therefore, Sri Lanka is safe for international students.

After the recent financial crisis, the economy of Sri Lanka is still recovering. Therefore, the job market in the country is not as strong as it was. However, the highly ranked HEIs (e.g. the University of Colombo) still has strong placement statistics, and its degrees are recognized in other countries across the world.