Students can only apply for university if they have achieved the GCE Advance Level, and although state universities exist, places are very limited. Vocational or technical college places and apprenticeships tend to only be available for students who have achieved the GCE O-Level.
There are 16 national universities in Sri Lanka, which students can attend if they pass the very difficult entrance exam.
In Sri Lanka, higher education students can either attend courses at a university known as a National College Of Education (NCOE), or complete a two year long programme of vocational training which is provided by a technical college. This option is open to all students who have a GCE O Level.
At university, a student can obtain a Bachelor’s degree in 3 or 4 years, depending on the subject, as courses such as Medicine or Architecture can last 6 years. Students have to study for two more years to achieve a Master’s degree, and for a Doctorate, and extra 3 to 5 years on top of that.
In order to enrol in Sri Lankan universities, foreigners have to complete a document, which asks for information regarding past studies, parents’ occupations, and most importantly proof of the level in English (e.g. TOEFL). It also asks for proof of stay in Sri Lanka, and documentation to prove the ability to pay the costs.
The academic year lasts from January to December, and is divided into 3 parts, or two semesters. Students attend at least 190 school days per calendar year.
In order to enroll in higher education, students have to achieve a passing grade in the GCE Advance Level Examination, and also have a sufficient grade in the National College Entrance Examination. This is a legal and formal entrance exam for all universities and higher education institutions. You may be charged enrolment fees to take the exam.
Foreign students have to pay to attend a Sri Lankan university. There is a set price for each subject, and the number of years that the student is willing to study. Sri Lankan students may be able to get scholarships to go study abroad (such as the European Erasmus program, or a scholarship to study in the UK). Scholarships are also available to study within Sri Lanka, but to be eligible, Sri Lankan nationality has to be proven.