Higher Education in Sri Lanka starts after the completion of Senior Secondary Education. It contents Universities, Affiliate Universities, specialized institutions, Technical colleges and affiliated technical units & private institutions. All constitute the Ministry of Higher education in Sri Lanka.
Depend on the qualification, which earned in the GCE Advance Level examination, they can apply for the University degree and / or other courses. University education in State Universities is also free but extremely limited. Admission to the university system is based on the highly competitive GCE Advanced Level examination. It is only around 16% of qualified students from GCE Advance level Examination. As a result, many students who are not granted admission are forced to find other means of higher education. Around 8% those qualified for higher education go abroad to pursue their studies in foreign universities.
Bachelor degree course in Sri Lanka, if general it would at least take 3 years. For special degree the duration is four years and Medical courses are of 5 years duration with an additional internship of 1 year. Duration for Master degree, generally two years.
Students who not qualify for State University education, then can get higher education qualification from semi Government institution (Open University, Technical collages etc) and / or constitutional Institutes (ICSL, AAT, SLIM etc). Also they can get qualification from foreign Universities & Institutions.
State Universities
- University of Colombo
- University of Peradeniya
- University of Sri Jayewardenepura
- University of Kelaniya
- University of Moratuwa
- University of Jaffna
- University of Ruhuna
- Open University, Sri Lanka
- Eastern University of Sri Lanka
- South Eastern University of Sri Lanka
- Rajarata University
- Sabaragamuwa University of Sri Lanka
- Wayamba University of Sri Lanka
- University of the Visual & Performing Arts
- Uva Wellassa Universi
- Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka
- Buddhasravaka Bhiksu University
- General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University
Semi Government Universities & Technical Collages
- Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology
- Sri Lanka Open University
- Institute of Technological Studies
- Institute of Surveying and Mapping
- Aquinas College of Higher Studies
- National Institute of Social Development
- National Institute of Business Management
Constitutional Institute
- ICA - Institute of Chartered Accountants of Sri Lanka
- IESL - Institute of Engineers, Sri Lanka
- SLIM - Sri Lanka Institute of Marketing
- Certified Management Accountants of Sri Lanka (CMA)
Private Universities
Foreign Universities & Institutes
- Goethe-Institute
- British council
- Chartered Institute of Management Accountants
- The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants
