Sri Lanka has one of the strongest education systems in South Asia, with a literacy rate consistently above 92% and a growing range of local universities. The Ministry of Higher Education actively secures international scholarship programmes for Sri Lankan students to study in Australia, the UK, the USA, Canada, India, Germany, Japan, South Korea, and beyond — at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. For families in the diaspora, this section also covers options for children returning to study in Sri Lanka.
Local Higher Education
- 15 national universities under the University Grants Commission (UGC), including the University of Colombo, University of Peradeniya (Kandy), University of Jaffna (North), and Eastern University (East Coast)
- Growing private university sector: NSBM Green University, SLIIT, and IIT Sri Lanka
- Vocational training through TVET: approximately 105,865 secondary vocational students enrolled in 2024
- Joint PhD programme between UGC Sri Lanka and RMIT University (Australia)
- Returning diaspora students should contact the UGC directly regarding credit transfer and recognition of overseas qualifications
Scholarships for Sri Lankans Studying Abroad
- Australian Government Awards: Over AUD 200 million allocated annually; covers tuition, living costs, and Overseas Student Health Cover (OSHC)
- Indian ICCR Scholarships: Undergraduate, postgraduate, and PhD across science, technology, and arts — 2026/27 intake open
- UK Commonwealth Scholarships and merit awards from UK universities
- Germany DAAD Scholarships: Master’s and PhD programmes at German universities
- National University of Singapore (NUS) Doctoral Scholarships: 2025/26 cycle open
- University of Manchester Global Futures Scholarships: up to £30,000 for South Asian students
- Pakistan HEC Allama Iqbal Scholarship Scheme: fully and partially funded options
For diaspora communities in Oceania, Russia, and CIS countries: Check with your local Sri Lankan High Commission or Embassy for bilateral scholarship agreements that may not be widely advertised.
Key Resources & Links
- 🔗 Ministry of Higher Education, Sri Lanka
- 🔗 Ministry of Higher Education — Overseas Scholarships
- 🔗 University Grants Commission (UGC) Sri Lanka
- 🔗 IDP Sri Lanka — International Scholarships Guide 2025–2026 (third-party education consultancy; verify independently)
- 🔗 DAAD Sri Lanka — German Scholarship Programmes
- 🔗 University of Peradeniya — International Relations Office
