Private Universities and Degree courses in Sri Lanka
What Private degree to select?
A large number of private universities and institutions in Sri Lanka that offer foreign degrees or an equivalent qualification calls upon students and parents to be more concerned in their university programme selection. Furthermore there are many undergraduate equivalent courses available for students. What do you know about these universities? Are they actually the same institutes they claim to be or advertise?
National Universities
There is a well established National Universities in Sri Lanka, offering Bacheulars and Post-graduate (Masters, PhDs) degrees in Sri Lanka. However as the government is offering degrees as a free education you need good Z-scores to get into these degree programs.
Degrees recognized by UGC
Also there are Degrees offered by Private and Semi-government Institutes such as SLIIT, NIBM and NIFE Ocean University. Some of these degree programs are recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC). Follwoing are those degree programs recognized by UGC (Extracted from UGC web site on 7 June 2011)
| Degrees of Institutes Recognized under Section 25 A of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 | |||
| Degree | Date of Recognition | Institute | Private / State |
| Bachelors Degrees in Computer Science and in Computer Systems Design | 15.12.1988 | Institute of Technological Studies | Private Limited Liability Company Incorporated under Company Act |
| Bachelor of Science (Surveying Science) | 24.07.1990 | Institute of Surveying and Mapping | Established under Act No. 21 of 1969 |
| Bachelor of Science in Information Technology* | 17.10.2000 | Sri Lanka Institute of Information Technology (Guarantee) Limited. | Private, incorporated under Companies Act |
| Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology | 30.03.2004 | ||
| Postgraduate Diploma in Information Systems | |||
| Postgraduate Diploma in Information Management | |||
| M.Sc in Information Technology | |||
| M.Sc in Information Systems | |||
| M.Sc in Information Management | |||
| Postgraduate Diploma in Public management and Financial Management | 24.04.2003 | Sri Lanka Institute of Development Administration | Established under Act. No. 9 of 1982 |
| Master of Public Management | |||
| B.Sc in Fisheries and Marine Science(General And Special) | 16.12.2003 | National Institute of Fisheries and Nautical Engineering | Established under Act. No. 36 of 1999. |
| B.Sc in Marine Engineering(Special) | |||
| B.Sc in Boat Building and Naval Architecture(Special) | |||
| Bachelor of Social Works Degree | 01.06.2005 | National Institute of Social Development | National Institute of Social Development Act, No. 41 of 1992. |
| Master of Social Works Degree (MSW) | 07.07.2008 | ||
| Bachelor of Arts General Degree (BA) | 2005.10.10 | Aquinas College of Higher Studies | Aquinas College is registered with the Tertiary and vocational Education Commission of Sri lanka in 1954 |
| Bachelor of Arts Degree in Religious studies (BA in Religious Studies) | |||
| Bachelor of Information Technology Degree (BIT) | |||
| Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology and Counseling (BSc) | |||
| B.Sc. in Business Management (Areas of Specialization: Human Resource Management, Logistics, Project Management and Industrial Management) | 20.10.2009 | National Institute of Business Management | Established under National Institute of Business Management Act, No. 23 of 1976. |
| B.Sc. in Management Information Systems | |||
| Note: * Prior to this, this degree programme was recognized as Bachelor of Information Technology on 17th October 2000. | |||
Degrees offered by Foreign Universities
There are many foreign university degree qualifications including those from UK, Australia, Russia, India, US and many other countries are offered by different institutes in Sri Lanka. Or you can go abroad to do degree programs. According to UGC web site, it recognizes foreign Universities/ Higher Educational Institutes based on international acceptance. Universities/Higher Educational Institutes that are listed in the following International Publications which are authentic sources of information on Universities and Higher Educational Institutes in different countries, are recognized by UGC.
1. Commonwealth Universities Yearbook – (Published by Association of Commonwealth Universities)
2. International Handbook of Universities – (Published by International Association of Universities)
When selecting a Private degree look for following aspects:
There are many more private Degree programs and Degree awarding institutes in Sri Lanka. Rather than recommending any degree program, we advice you to look for following aseptics before selecting a degree program.
What is the ranking of the degree awarding university in its home country?
Refer globally recognized university rankings such as Times Higher Education-QS World University Ranking, US News and World Report’s World’s Best Universities.
What are the academic quality assurances?
All national and regional accredited universities are listed in the UNESCO handbook of universities. This is used as the guideline by all government higher education authorities including UGC (University Grants Commission) in Sri Lanka.
Who will teach you?
Make sure you select the right institution that has lecturers who are qualified to do the job.
What are the local campus facilities?
A good library and student resource centre with adequate reading and study material, computer labs with up-to-date hardware and software configurations and high-speed internet connections, fully equipped engineering and science labs, classroom with proper seating, space and basic facilities such as multimedia and internet are considered as the absolute minimum for any international university student.
Other Higher Education Options:
Local vs foreign education
Foreign Medical Degrees
Cost of University courses in Sri Lanka
National Institute of Business Management-NIBM
Sri Lanka School of Agriculture – Diplomas
External Degrees In Sri Lanka
Online-degrees AND Online courses in Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka Law College
Degree -John Kotelawala Defence University Academy
Open university of Sri Lanka
Courses you can do after Advanced Level
Two universities from Britain and Singapore will soon sign agreements with the Board of Investment (BOI) to set up colleges here, a top official said.
M.M.C. Ferdinando, acting Secretary of the new Ministry of Investment Promotion told the Business Times that the University of Lancashire in Britain and Raffles University College in Singapore will be soon entering into agreements with the Board of Investment (BOI) to establish two university colleges in Merigama and Negombo, respectively.
Minister of Investment Promotion Lakshman Yapa Abeywardena said that at least 12,000 students leave the country annually for foreign university education utilising over US$ 400 million in foreign exchange per year.
He revealed that the ministry is in the process of evaluating foreign university and education institute project proposals focusing attention on IT, commerce, accountancy, management, designing, mass communication and technology degree awarding institutions to empower local student to maximise their potential in their lives and careers.
They will be able to obtain a foreign degree without going overseas and paying a lesser amount, he added.
Meanwhile the JVP-led Inter University Student Federation has accused the government of instigating a secret plan to increase the number of students qualified in the commerce stream by preparing easy question papers in 2012 GCE Advanced Level examination with aim of forcing them to enter foreign universities.
[...] // ]]> Aquinas University College is situated in a parkland in Borella, provides a peaceful environment conducive to educational actives. It offers a wide range of full time and part time certificates, diploma and degree courses. In 2004 it was awarded the status of a Degree Awarding Institute by the University Grants Commission. [...]
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[...] by Kavidu Sri Lankan Institute of Information Technology (SLIIT) is a degree awarding institute recognized by University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka. It is a member of the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU). SLIIT offers [...]
Many private degrees are only IT or management. What about science. engineering, social sciences degrees.
You have not mentioned Informatics. It offers world standard IT education.
SLIIT is good, it even got world univesity ranking with webomatriec ranking system.
Great content. It’s got loads of information with links to futher reference. Thanks for sharing.