Studying in Sri Lanka

What a year costs

Tuition at state universities. Under the UGC scheme for 2025-26, foreign students pay a fixed annual course fee: USD 4,000 for management, USD 5,000 for law, USD 6,000 for physical science, biological science and technology, and USD 15,000 for medicine. There is a non-refundable USD 100 processing fee. Private institutions set their own fees.

Visa and money to show. The residence visa for students costs USD 200 a year (or part of a year). The University of Peradeniya also asks for encashment receipts worth USD 1,500 a year, showing you changed that much foreign currency into rupees, and a health protection plan bought on arrival.

Living costs. No official monthly student budget is published. University hostels, where offered, are the cheapest option; Colombo costs more than other university towns.

The residence visa for students

1. Get admitted. For state universities, apply to the UGC scheme by its closing date (17 August 2026 for 2025-26 entry). The UGC places you at a university. 2. Enter Sri Lanka on the entry visa your university's offer supports. A tourist visa does not let you start your studies. 3. Apply for the residence visa within 30 days of arrival at the Department of Immigration and Emigration, with your university's recommendation letter.

Peradeniya lists: the IM 35 residence visa form, a recommendation from the university, a certified colour copy of your passport page, two photos (35 x 45 mm), your letter of admission, the USD 1,500 encashment receipts, the health protection plan and the visa fee. Your passport must be valid for at least six months.

Working while you study

Not allowed. The Department of Immigration and Emigration says a residence visa holder must not engage in any activity other than the condition of the visa, which for students is study.

After you graduate

We found no post-study visa. The student residence visa ends with your course; working needs a separate residence visa for employment.

Language

Degrees for foreign students are mostly taught in English. Sinhala and Tamil are the national languages; some Sinhala or Tamil helps in daily life.

When to apply

The UGC foreign admission scheme opens once a year; the closing date for 2025-26 was 17 August 2026. Private institutions have their own intakes. Plan to arrive with time to file the residence visa inside 30 days.

What to watch out for

Do not start on a tourist visa. It does not allow study.

Keep your encashment receipts. You need them for the visa, and again at renewal.

Renew in time. The visa runs for a year at most; visit the immigration department at least two weeks before it expires.

Where these numbers come from

Rules change. Check the official source before you rely on any figure. No living-cost budget was published in a form we could verify.