Foreign Students Admission

The university system in Sri Lanka operates within the framework laid down in the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 as amended. The selection of students for admission to undergraduate courses in the universities is a task assigned to the University Grants Commission (UGC) under the said Act. The UGC carries out this task in consultation with the Universities /Campuses /Institutes.

The UGC selects students for admission to undergraduate courses in the following Higher Educational
Institutions [sixteen (16) National Universities, two (2) Campuses and four (04) Institutes] which
have been set up under the Universities Act;

      • University of Colombo
      • University of Peradeniya
      • University of Sri Jayewardenepura
      • University of Kelaniya
      • University of Moratuwa
      • University of Jaffna
      • University of Ruhuna
      • Eastern University, Sri Lanka
      • South Eastern University of Sri Lanka
      • Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
      • Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka
      • Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
      • Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
      • University of the Visual & Performing Arts
      • The Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine, Sri Lanka
      • University of Vavuniya, Sri Lanka
      • Sripalee Campus, University of Colombo
      • Trincomalee Campus, Eastern University, Sri Lanka
      • Institute of Indigenous Medicine, University of Colombo
      • University of Colombo School of Computing
      • Swami Vipulananda Institute of Aesthetic Studies, Eastern University, Sri Lanka
      • Ramanathan Academy of Fine Arts, University of Jaffna

Minimum Requirements for Admission of Students with Foreign Qualifications

Candidates with results at a foreign examination held outside Sri Lanka, deemed equivalent
to G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination of Sri Lanka are eligible to apply for admission to
Universities in Sri Lanka.

Important:
The candidates with the results at a foreign examination held outside Sri Lanka, deemed equivalent to G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination of Sri Lanka are eligible
to apply for the courses of study in Medicine and Dental Surgery. The criteria defined by the UGC Standing Committee of Medicine and Dental Sciences and Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) will be considered for this purpose.

  1. Applicants are advised to attach to their applications the original letter obtained from the Examinations Board concerned, to prove that their educational qualifications are equivalent to the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination of Sri Lanka or their educational qualifications are considered for admission to a university in their own country to follow an undergraduate course of study leading to a Bachelor’s Degree.

    Note:
    The candidate’s relevant foreign qualification should be approved by the University
    Grants Commission as deemed equivalent to the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination of Sri Lanka.

  2. Applicants should ensure that all required passes are obtained in one and the same sitting under one recognized Board of Examinations subject to the rules set out by the Education Authority of the country concerned.
  3. Applicants should attach to their applications the certified copies of the educational certificate and the statement of results of their qualifying examination. (The copy of the educational certificate and the statement of results should be certified by the relevant Examinations Board which conducted the examination concerned ; For Example, if a candidate has Pearson Edexcel International Advanced Level qualification, then the copies of certificate and statement of result should be certified by the Pearson but not by the other institutions such as school and embassy).
  4. The eligible candidates for admission under this special provision are;
    a) Candidates with Foreign passports
    b) Candidates with Sri Lankan passports
    In order to become eligible;

    a) Sri Lankan candidates should have studied abroad for a period of not less than three academic years immediately prior to sitting the qualifying examination. (N.B.: Applicants must provide the following documents and Refer Section 10.2 for more information)

    i) Certified copies of the candidate’s Passports (with Visa) covering the period studied abroad
    ii) Documentary evidence issued by a relevant authority of the foreign country confirming the candidate’s resided/ residing period there.
    iii) Originals of the Foreign & Sri Lankan (if any) School Leaving Certificates of the candidate
    iv) Certified copy of the candidate’s birth certificate

    b) Father/Mother/Guardian (only if parents expired) of the Sri Lankan candidates should also have worked in the same country in which the candidate has studied, during his/her period studied abroad. (N.B.: Applicants must provide the following documents and Refer Section 10.2 for more information)

    i) Originals of the Service Certificate/s of the Father/Mother/Guardian
    ii) Documentary evidence issued by a relevant authority of the foreign country confirming the parents’/ guardian’s resided / residing period there.
    iii) Certified copies of parents’/guardians’ Passports (with Visa) covering the period worked abroad
    iv) Documentary evidences to prove that the Guardian has been legally appointed

    c) Children of Sri Lankan diplomatic personnel attached to Sri Lankan diplomatic missions abroad or on foreign assignments sponsored by the Government of Sri Lanka, should have studied abroad at least for a period of three academic years in the six year period immediately prior to sitting the qualifying examination, along with their parents who are Sri Lankan diplomats.

    Sri Lankan diplomatic personnel are referred to as the Sri Lankan Foreign Service officers, officers from certain other Services and Ministries/ Agencies such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism, Ministry of Defence, Department of Commerce, Ministry of Public Administration, Department of Labour and the Sri Lankan Bureau of Foreign Employment who have been appointed to serve in Sri Lankan Missions abroad for limited periods, the officers from other Services and Ministries/ Departments attached to Missions abroad whose overseas assignments are not routine and serve only limited periods abroad, the appointments to Missions abroad made on the approval of the Cabinet of Ministers as approved by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism.
    Note : However, the children of Sri Lankan diplomatic personnel who have satisfied the requirements for admission at a foreign examination equivalent to G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination of Sri Lanka held locally too will be considered, if;

    a. They have sat the said examination locally within a period of one (01) year from the date of their return to Sri Lanka after completion of a continuous period of not less than two (02) academic years of studies abroad immediately prior to sitting the qualifying examination. provided that;

    b. Their parents have returned to Sri Lanka on completion of the assignment having served at least for a period of three (03) years or have been recalled by the Government of Sri Lanka due to the exigencies of service having served at least for a period of two (02) years immediately prior to their child sitting the said examination locally. (N.B:Applicants must provide documentary proof.)

    d) Candidates with foreign passports must also provide the originals of their School Leaving Certificates

Documentary Evidences to be Submitted by the Candidate

a). Documents in proof of the 2.1 & 2.2 above.

b). Duly certified copy of the certificate of Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or Pearson Test of English (PTE), if a candidate studied in a language other than English.

c). Documentary evidences in proof of funds in relevant foreign currencies [Candidate must submit original letters issued by the banks stating the bank balances of the Father/ Mother/ Guardian in relevant foreign currencies (currency of the relevant country they have/are worked/working) as documentary evidences in proof of the availability of sufficient funds]. [Not relevant for children of Sri Lankan diplomats (Category a)].

d). Legally valid affidavit, if there is a difference in the names of the candidate mentioned in the educational certificate, statement of results, school leaving certificates, birth certificate, passport and any other submitting document.

 

Note : See the Check List given in Section 10.2 for a complete list of documents to be submitted along with the applications.

English Language Proficiency

English is the medium of instructions for most of the degree programmes as indicated in Annexure III. Accordingly, an applicant whose primary language is not English or whose previous education has been conducted in another language, must demonstrate a command of English sufficient to meet the demands of classroom instructions, written assignments and participation in tutorials and discussions.

Therefore, applicants whose primary language is not English or whose previous education has not been in English must provide evidence of proficiency in English i.e. achieve a minimum score of 79 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or achieve a minimum score of 6.5 on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) or a score between 51 and 60 on the Pearson Test of English (PTE).

Academic Year in Sri Lankan Universities

The universities in Sri Lanka follow the semester system and there are two semesters per year. The date of commencement of the first term/semester of a particular academic year may vary from one university to another or from one Faculty of a university to another.

Processing of Applications

Application forms are available on the UGC website or the Handbook published by the UGC. All the applications should be forwarded to Deputy Secretary/ University Admissions, University Grants Commission, No 20, Ward Place, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka, by courier. No applications will be entertained after the deadline. Importantly, a scanned copy of the application (in PDF format) including all its attachments should also be forwarded to foreignadmissions@ugc.ac.lk in parallel to sending the hardcopy of the application, on or before the closing date. Failure to send the scanned copy may cause delays in processing your application.

a) Children of Sri Lankan diplomats seeking admission to universities in Sri Lanka should forward their applications through the Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Employment & Tourism, Republic Building, Sir Baron Jayathilake Mawatha, Colombo 01, Sri Lanka.

 

b) All applications that satisfy the criteria for university admission in Sri Lanka under this provision either will be scrutinized by a Selection Committee appointed by the University Grants Commission (UGC) to make recommendations to the UGC with regard to the admission of the applicants or any other method as decided by the UGC to obtain recommendations from the respective universities/ faculties for the courses of study in the respective academic year. Then the UGC will communicate with the applicants regarding their final offer.

c) It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to ensure that his/her application is accompanied by all relevant supporting documents. All documents must be duly certified by the relevant
authorities.

d) Failure to submit the relevant documents and certificates along with the application may result in rejection of the application for university admission under this special provision.

Contact Details

Closing date for applications for the academic year 2024/2025 will be on 15th September 2025.

 

The contact details are given below for further inquiries.

Tele : +9411-2695301/02, +9411-2123415
Fax : +9411-2691678
E-mail : foreignadmissions@ugc.ac.lk
Website : www.ugc.ac.lk

Selection and Offering Of Places

1. The number of places reserved for this category of students are very limited and at present it is up to 0.5 % of the total number of places available in each course of study. Selections of candidates with foreign qualifications are based on the following order of priority;

a) Children of Sri Lankan diplomatic personnel who are / have been stationed in other
countries.

b) Children of foreign diplomatic personnel working in Sri Lanka.
c) Applicants from SAARC countries who seek admission.
d) Sri Lankan applicants not covered under (a) above.
e) Other foreign applicants not covered under (b) or (c) above.

All selected candidates will be admitted on fee levying basis except for the candidates selected
under Category (a) above.

2. Up to 4.5 % of the places over and above the proposed intake in each course of study will be allocated to students who satisfy the criteria for admission under this provision. All candidates under this category will be admitted on fee levying basis.

Selected candidates who wish to accept the offer should make arrangements to get themselves registered at the universities to which they will be assigned in consultation with the Registrar
of the relevant university.

All prospective foreign students should be noted that the Government of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka will not convert tourist visa to student visa. Therefore, no person who wishes to gain admission to a university should enter the country on tourist visa and they should make arrangements to obtain visas in advance.

Fees Details

The UGC charges a fee of US $ 100 for processing the applications. Therefore, every applicant should attach a copy of the payment receipt transferring an amount equivalent to US $ 100 to the University Grants Commission telegraphically (SWIFT), being the application processing fee.(Bank drafts are also accepted). When paying the application processing fee, please make sure to use the reference number given below.
 
 
Name of the Account : UNIVERSITY GRANTS COMMISSION
Name of the Bank : Bank of Ceylon
Branch : Torrington Branch
Account Number : 2323287
Swift code : BCEYLKLX
Reference No. : FADM2425
 
Registration Fee: USD 100.00
Annual Course Fee : USD 15,000.00
 
 

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