Study in Sri Lanka

• Enter on the visa your nationality needs, then get a residence visa for education from the Department of Immigration and Emigration through your institution
• Under the 2025 guidelines you need a Ministry of Higher Education recommendation, security clearance, a police report and a health assessment
• Immigration must be satisfied that you can cover living costs and return travel; no fixed amount is published
• Student residence visas are issued for one year at a time and renewed for the length of the course

• GCE A levels or an equivalent for bachelor's, and a relevant bachelor's degree for master's
• English: IELTS, TOEFL or another test the university accepts, unless English is your first language or you studied in English
• State university places are very competitive; international students usually apply through a foreign-student quota
• Apply through the university's admission office, or directly to a private institute
• Official transcripts and certificates with certified translations, plus a police report and health assessment for the residence visa
• A passport valid for at least six months and proof that you can pay tuition, living costs and return travel

Colombo, the commercial capital, and nearby Moratuwa and Kotte host many institutions, with Peradeniya near Kandy the main hill-country campus. Living costs are low, buses and trains are cheap though crowded, and tuk-tuks and ride-hailing apps fill the gaps. The climate is hot and humid, with two monsoon seasons. The economy has stabilised since the 2022 crisis, but imported goods still cost more than before.