Higher education

How is Sri Lankan higher education organised? To which Dutch diplomas can you compare these Sri Lankan diplomas?

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Higher education in Sri Lanka

In Sri Lanka, higher education is not divided into and . Many Sri Lankan higher education institutions can offer both types of education. This means that for each diploma we have to determine whether it is HBO or WO. Below, we describe the diplomas we often see.

Admission to higher education

The minimum requirements to be admitted to higher education in Sri Lanka: a General Certificate of Education (Advanced Level) with at least an Ordinary Pass (S) for 3 subjects and a score of at least 30% for the Common General Test.

There are 2 types of admission procedures:

  • University Grants Commission (UGC) admission procedure; and
  • admission procedure from institutions that do not fall under the scope of the UGC.

UGC admission procedure

The UGC is in charge of admission to public institutions that are funded by the state. The UGC does not regulate admission to other public institutions, such as the SLIATE institutions, private institutions or the Open University of Sri Lanka.

The UGC selects prospective students based on their Z score. This score is a value between -3 and +3 that indicates how a pupil's results relate to the exam results of all pupils that year. On its website, the UGC annually publishes the required minimum Z score for the degree programmes at the universities. The selection procedure is a strict one. Institutions ultimately only admit a small percentage of the GCE A level pupils.

Admission procedure from institutions that do not fall under the scope of the UGC

Higher education institutions that do not fall under the scope of the UGC have their own admission procedure. Candidates choosing to be admitted via the UGC may no longer apply to an admission procedure at an institution that does not fall under the scope of the UGC.

General bachelor's degree

The general bachelor's degree is placed at level 5 in the Sri Lankan Qualifications Framework (SLQF).

  • : 3 years.
  • : minimum 90 credits.
  • Content: compulsory subjects and electives of a particular direction. For example, students choose science with electives in biology, chemistry and mathematics. They do not specialise in any of these subjects and they do not write a thesis.
  • Admission requirements: a GCE A/L in 3 subjects + General English + Common General Test and a good Z-score. In addition, programmes may have extra requirements, such as certain exam results.
  • Function of the degree: access to some master's programmes or work. Access to the MPhil programme is not possible.
  • Diploma: usually a Bachelor of Arts (General) or a Bachelor of Science (General). Please note: sometimes ‘General’ is not mentioned on the diploma and transcript. Then there are other things you need to check to determine the type of bachelor's degree. See Higher education documents.

We compare an general bachelor's degree (SLQF level 5) to 3 years of HBO or 1 year of WO. This depends on the content of the study programme.

Honours/special bachelor's degree

The honours/special bachelor's degree is placed at level 6 in the Sri Lankan Qualifications Framework (SLQF).

  • Duration:
  • Study load:
    • 30 credits (1-year programme); or
    • a minimum of 120 credits (4-year programme).
  • Content: students specialise in a particular direction (this is different from the general bachelor's degree, where students do not specialise). It usually involves specialisation in one of these directions:
    • arts (languages and arts);
    • business administration;
    • commerce (business economics);
    • science; or
    • technology.
      Students write a thesis or do a final project.
  • Admission requirements:
    • For the 1-year programme: a general bachelor's degree with at least 90 credits, of which at least 15 credits must be third-year subjects in a relevant field of study (SLQF level 5).
    • For the 4-year programme: a GCE A/L in 3 subjects + General English + Common General Test and a good Z-score. In addition, programmes may have additional requirements, such as certain subjects or study results.
  • Function of the diploma: access to master's programmes and work.
  • Diploma: an honours/special bachelor's degree, such as:
    • Bachelor of Arts (Honours);
    • Bachelor of Business Administration (Honours);
    • Bachelor of Education (Special);
    • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B);
    • Bachelor of Science (Honours).
      Please note: sometimes ‘Honours’ or 'Special' is not mentioned on the diploma and transcript. Then there are other things you need to check to determine the type of bachelor's degree. See Higher education documents.

We compare an honours/special bachelor's degree (SLQF level 6) to an HBO bachelor's degree or 2 years of WO. This depends on the content of the study programme.

Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)

When students complete a bachelor's programme in medicine, they get a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS). This bachelor's programme takes longer than other bachelor's programmes. The MBBS is placed at level 7 in the Sri Lankan Qualifications Framework (SLQF).

  • Duration: 5 years.
  • Content: the programme usually consists of 3 phases:
    • Phase I Pre-Clinical consists of human body subjects and clinical practical education. Students conclude this phase with an examination: the First Examination for Medical Degrees.
    • Phase II Para-Clinical consists of clinical and paraclinical teaching. Students conclude this phase with the examination Second Examination for Medical Degrees Part I and Part II
    • Phase III Clinical consists of clinical teaching. At the end, students take an exam: the Final Examination for Medical Degrees.
  • Admission requirements: a GCE/AL with the subjects biology, physics and chemistry (or mathematics) + General English + Common General Test and a good Z-score. Students must also have certain marks in their exams.
  • Function of the degree: working as a doctor. Before being allowed to work, students have to complete a 1-year internship after completing the MBBS.
  • Diploma: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS).

We compare a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) to a WO bachelor's degree.

Master's degree by course work

The master's degree by course work is placed at level 6 or 9 in the Sri Lankan Qualifications Framework (SLQF). The SLQF level depends on the type of study programme (see below).

  • Duration: 1 year.
  • Study load: 30 credits.
  • Content: students take only subjects. Subjects can be profession-oriented or research-oriented. Students do not conduct academic research and they do not write a thesis.
  • Admission requirements:
    • For some programmes, a bachelor's degree (at least SLQF level 5) in any discipline is sufficient. These programmes are called ‘conversion programmes’ in Sri Lanka. Conversion programmes are for students who want to continue studying in a different field of study from their previous education (retraining).
    • Other programmes require a bachelor's degree (at least SLQF level 5) in a relevant field of study. These programmes are called ‘extension programmes’. Extension programmes are for students who want to specialise further into the field of study of their previous education.
  • Function of the diploma: work. Access to further education is also possible, but this differs per study programme. The reason: master's degrees by course work from conversion programmes are placed at a lower level in Sri Lanka (SLQF level 6) than master's degrees by course work from extension programmes (SLQF level 9).
  • Diploma: a master's degree by course work, such as:
    • Master of Arts;
    • Master of Business Administration;
    • Master of Engineering;
    • Master of Science.
      Please note: the terms 'by course work', 'conversion programme' and 'extension programme' are usually not mentioned on the diploma and transcript. In those cases, there are other things you need to check to determine the type of master's degree. See Higher education documents.

We compare a master's degree by course work from a conversion programme (SLQF level 6) to an HBO bachelor's degree or 2 years of WO. This depends on the content of the study programme.

For a master's degree by course work from an extension programme (SLQF level 9), please contact us for a credential evaluation.

Master’s degree by course work and a research component

The master's degree by course work and a research component is placed at level 10 in the Sri Lankan Qualifications Framework (SLQF).

  • Duration: 2 years.
  • Study load: 60 credits.
  • Content: profession-oriented or research-oriented subjects in the chosen field of study. Students spend a minimum of 15 credits on academic research (a research component).
  • Admission requirements: usually a bachelor's degree (at least SLQF level 5) in a relevant field of study.
  • Function of the degree: access to further education (MPhil/PhD) and work. Sometimes students must first obtain an MPhil before they are allowed to start a PhD programme.
  • Diploma: a master's degree by course work and a research component, such as:
    • Master of Arts;
    • Master of Business Administration;
    • Master of Engineering;
    • Master of Science.
      Note that the term ‘by course work and a research component’ is not mentioned on the diploma and transcript. There are other things you need to check to determine the type of master's degree. See Higher education documents.

We compare a master’s degree by course work and a research component (SLQF level 10) to a WO bachelor's degree or a 1-year HBO master's degree. This depends on the content of the study programme.

Master of Philosophy (MPhil)

The Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is placed at level 11 in the Sri Lankan Qualifications Framework (SLQF).

  • Duration: 2 years.
  • Content: students conduct research and write a thesis. Sometimes students also take subjects, for example to support their research. The subjects do not count towards the degree.
  • Admission requirements: an honours/special bachelor's degree (SLQF level 6) in a relevant field of study.
  • Function of the diploma: access to a PhD programme.
  • Diploma: Master of Philosophy.

We compare a Master of Philosophy to a 1-year WO master's degree.

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

The Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) is placed at level 12 in the Sri Lankan Qualifications Framework (SLQF).

  • Duration: 3 years.
  • Content: usually attending lectures, as well as writing and defending a doctoral dissertation.
  • Admission requirements: at least an honours/special bachelor's degree (SLQF level 6) while specific programme departments may also set specific requirements for the study results achieved.
  • Diploma: Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).