Destination Guide
Study in the UK — Complete Guide 2026
UK Graduate Route visa, Chevening scholarships, and tuition costs for Sri Lankan students.
Why Sri Lanka
Why Choose Sri Lanka for Your Education?
Key reasons students from across South Asia choose Sri Lanka — and what to expect when you get there.
Free Public University System
Qualifying Sri Lankan students receive fully-funded public university education — zero tuition fees. The Advanced Level (A/L) exam determines admission to national universities through the UGC (University Grants Commission).
UCSC — South Asia's IT Gem
The University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) is consistently ranked as South Asia's best IT faculty. Graduates work at Dialog Axiata, WSO2, Calcey, and global tech firms in Singapore and Australia.
Affordable for International Students
Private universities charge LKR 200,000–600,000 per year (≈ USD $600–$1,800). English is the medium of instruction at most faculties. SAARC students benefit from bilateral scholarship agreements.
Diverse Academic Programmes
Sri Lanka offers degrees in medicine (Faculty of Medicine, UoC), engineering (University of Moratuwa — ranked #1 in Sri Lanka for engineering), law, business, and IT. International English-medium private universities are also growing.
Costs & Budget
Tuition & Living Costs in Sri Lanka
Approximate costs — always verify directly with institutions as fees change annually.
| Item | Estimated Cost |
|---|---|
| Public university (government-funded) | Free (A/L merit) |
| Private university (per year) | LKR 200k–600k |
| Hostel + meals (per month) | LKR 15,000–30,000 |
| Monthly living costs in Colombo | LKR 40,000–70,000 |
| International students (per year) | USD $1,000–3,000 |
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions from students planning to study in or from Sri Lanka.
Sri Lankan students who achieve qualifying Z-scores in the Advanced Level (A/L) national exam are offered free places at one of 15 national universities. The UGC allocates seats based on merit and regional quotas. Only ~20% of A/L qualified students gain public university places.
Yes. International students can enrol at private universities (SLIIT, NSBM, Esoft, etc.) for USD $1,000–3,000 per year. Some national universities accept international students under bilateral agreements. SAARC nationals benefit from reduced fees.
University of Colombo (UoC) is the oldest and most prestigious. University of Moratuwa is #1 for engineering and IT. UCSC (University of Colombo School of Computing) is Sri Lanka's top IT faculty. Sabaragamuwa and Peradeniya are respected for science and agriculture.
Australia and UK are the top destinations. Australia offers post-study work visas of 2–4 years. Chevening (UK), Australia Awards, and Commonwealth Scholarships have good award rates for Sri Lankan applicants. Japan (MEXT) and China (CSC) scholarships are also popular.