Why Sri Lanka is attractive for regional students

Sri Lanka combines English‑medium degrees, low tuition and living costs, and steady improvement in Engineering, IT, Business and Health Sciences. Leading universities include University of Colombo, University of Moratuwa, University of Peradeniya and private institutions like SLIIT and NSBM. Scholarships can make these already affordable options even more accessible for IGCSE, A Level and IB students.

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1. University of Moratuwa & Public University Scholarships

Most popular for:
Engineering, Architecture and Technology degrees at University of Moratuwa and other public institutions.

Coverage

• Public universities often provide:
  • Low or nominal tuition fees for local students.
  • Stipends or bursaries for students from lower‑income families.

Eligibility

• Strong performance in A Levels (local or Cambridge) or equivalent.
• High rank in the university admission system.
• For bursaries: documented financial need.

How to apply

• Apply through Sri Lanka’s centralised university admission system.
• Apply for financial assistance through the university welfare office after enrollment.

Duration

• Support is typically provided for one academic year at a time, renewable with good academic standing.

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2. Private University Scholarships (SLIIT, NSBM, etc.)

Most popular for:
IT, Engineering, Business and Management degrees at Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT), NSBM Green University and other private providers.

Coverage

• Merit scholarships often provide 25–100% tuition waivers for:
  • High A Level/IB achievers.
  • Top performers in university entrance assessments.

Eligibility

• Excellent high school results (A Levels / IB / equivalent).
• Meeting programme‑specific subject requirements.

How to apply

• Apply to the university for admission.
• Submit scholarship/waiver applications with transcripts and achievement certificates.

Odds & duration

• Good students have reasonable chances at partial awards.
• Scholarships are usually renewable annually with GPA requirements.

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3. External & Government Schemes

Sri Lankan students may also benefit from:

• Mahapola scholarships and other government bursaries.
• Industry‐linked awards for specific disciplines.

These usually offer modest stipends but are meaningful when combined with low tuition.

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What % of fees do Sri Lankan scholarships cover?

• Public universities already have very low tuition, so scholarships often focus on living stipends.
• Private universities may award 25–100% tuition waivers for top achievers, particularly in IT and Business.
• Combined with lower living costs, Sri Lanka can be one of the cheapest credible English‑medium options in the region.

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Eligibility, competition and timing

• Eligibility: good A Level/IB grades, especially in Maths and Sciences for STEM routes.
• Competition: high for limited public university places; somewhat easier at private universities if you have strong grades.
• Timing: central admissions and scholarship applications come in the final school year, so plan at least 12 months ahead.
• Duration: typically for 3–4 years, with yearly performance checks.

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Advice for IGCSE, A Level & IB families

• For Sri Lankan citizens, local routes can provide extremely low‑cost degrees with good recognition.
• For regional international students, Sri Lanka is interesting as a backup or value option, especially for IT, Engineering and Business.

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How Tutopiya can help

Tutopiya supports students pursuing Sri Lankan universities by:

• Strengthening Maths, Physics, Chemistry and Further Maths for competitive Engineering/IT programmes.
• Helping families compare Sri Lanka with other low‑cost options (Bangladesh, India, Malaysia, Vietnam).

If Sri Lanka is part of your plan, we can help you align subject choices and grades to keep this route open alongside other countries.