K M Enayet Hossain
13 November, 2021

7.2 min read

Guide

Apply to study in the UK from Sri Lanka

Learn about UK University admission process, document requirements, tuition fees, living costs, student visa application process etc. to plan and prepare from Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka is a member country of UK Transnational Education and many UK universities have their campuses in Sri Lanka. For this reason, Sri Lankan students are already familiar with UK higher education and they prefer to study in the UK when considering studying overseas.

Currently, Sri Lankan students’ first choice of overseas higher studies is studying in the UK. Total Student Care (TSC) values this passion of Sri Lankan international students and providing UK university admission and visa application services to Sri Lankan students exclusively.

Take less than 2 minutes for submitting your initial admission application to start your study UK journey from Sri Lanka.

Study in the UK – Key Information

Academic level
Level 3 to Level 8

Qualification type
Foundation, Undergraduate, Postgraduate & Doctorate

Study mode
Full-time, part-time or on-line

Duration
0.5 year to 4 years*

Intakes
Throughout the year*

Scholarship
Yes*

Study UK – submit admission inquiry

* indicates required
  1. Offering 15,000+ courses at 100+ study locations
  2. Availing almost any subject and year-round intakes
  3. Helping students from any country, on-line and off-line
  4. Providing end-to-end services, almost 24/7
  5. Maintaining 99% visa success rate
  6. Equipping 14+ years accumulative admission experience

Cost of Studying in the UK for Sri Lankan Students

The cost breakdowns below are average figures of expenses that a typical Sri Lankan student will spend on commonly studied subjects at commonly chosen universities in the UK while living a UK life like other international students. However, these costs may vary for certain courses at top universities.

For living and maintenance costs, students are in control and can choose to spend more or less as per their financial ability or necessity. This is a general guideline for Sri Lankan students to prepare for their budget to study in the UK.

Tuition Fee

Course Level Average Cost (GBP) Average Cost (LKR)
Foundation courses (Full fees) 10000 to 15000 2711020 to 4066520
Undergraduate courses (per year) 11000 to 15000 2982120 to 4066520
Postgraduate courses (Full fees) 11000 to 16000 2982120 to 4337620
Doctorate courses (per year) 14000 to 16000 3795420 to 4337620

Most of the universities offer some scholarship ranging from GBP 500 to GBP 5000 which will reduce tuition fee cost.

Living cost and Maintenance costs per month

Details Average Cost (GBP) Average Cost (LKR)
Accommodation 400 to 500 108441 to 135551
Utility bills 30 to 40 8133 to 10844
Travel 100 to 150 27110 to 40665
Food 140 to 180 37954 to 48798
Mobile phone 10 to 30 2711 to 8133
Entertainment 40 to 100 10844 to 27110
Other casual irregular costs 20 to 50 5422 to 13555

Students get 30% discount on travel card and different types of discount on shopping.

Visa application and IHS (International Health Surcharge) fee

Details Cost (GBP) Cost (LKR)
Student visa application (One-off) 348 94343
IHS (per year) 470 127418

Visa application and IHS (International Health Surcharge) fee may change per year by Home Office. Please check visa application fees calculator & IHS fees calculator to find out how much you will have to pay for your application. 

For up-to-date currency rate, please check oanda.com.

Earnings from working in the UK on student visa

Sri Lankan students will have the right to work while continuing their studies in the UK i.e. 10 hours per week if they are studying foundation course, 20 hours per week studying a bachelor, masters or PhD course. Students will be able to work full time per week during holiday period in between your course.

Student earning in the UK per month

Details Average earning from student job (GBP) Average earning student job (LKR)
Part-time work 460 to 800 124707 to 216881
Full-time work 1600 to 2000 433762 to 542203

Popular subjects Sri Lankan Students choose to study in the UK

The most popular subjects Sri Lankan students choose to study at UK universities include:

  • Accounting and Finance
  • ACCA
  • MBA
  • Law
  • Criminology
  • Business Studies
  • Education
  • TESOL
  • Marketing
  • Human Resource Management
  • Architecture
  • Dentistry
  • Medicine
  • International Management
  • Public Health
  • Agriculture
  • Veterinary Science
  • Quantity Surveying
  • Arts
  • Computer Science
  • Information Technology
  • Data Science
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Cyber Security
  • Digital Marketing
  • Computer Networking
  • Web Engineering
  • Tourism Hospitality Management
  • Economics

Documents required for admission application

In general, initially students are required to provide the following documents for university admission applications:

  • All final official academic certificates and transcripts
  • Two academic reference letters on official leattehead
  • Up-to-date CV
  • Passport
  • English Language proficiency certificate i.e. IELTS
  • Personal statement of purpose
  • Research proposal (for MPhil, PhD course)
  • Portfolio of works (for art/design/architecture/film etc. course)
  • ACCA registration confirmation for ACCA course
  • Past visa refusal documents (if applicable)
  • Past UK visa copies and documents (if applicable)

Universities may ask for further documents and information. Certain type of courses may require additional documents. All documents must be in English.

Why choose to study in the UK from Sri Lanka?

In Sri Lanka, students do not have enough seats at available universities to accommodate admission eligible and willing students – in the UK, every Sri Lankan students can have a seat if they academically qualify.

By studying in the UK Sri Lankan students will be benefitted from many distinctive accomplishments, the major benefits they will get:

  • flagship UK degrees taught by world-class teachers in international environment

  • comparatively lower tuition fees and living costs than other top higher education countries
  • part time and full time work opportunities while studying on student visa
  • rights to bring dependents to UK if studying a postgraduate course
  • 2/3 years post study work visa under the ‘Graduate Scheme’ to work full time to get returns of money invested alongside practical work experience
  • Value adding ‘Soft’ and other ‘Transferrable’ skills to enrich personal and professional profile
  • access to world class health service and resources under the UK National Health Service (NHS)
  • campus environment that are free from political bias, racial and other discriminations, social violence and crime
  • uninterrupted study free from strikes and closures that are frequent in Sri Lanka to complete studies in time and go for the next opportunity
  •  
  • right to extend student visa from inside the UK or switch to skilled visa leading to settlement Immigration Route
  • international exposures, make global connections and experience top level life experience
  • high quality student life in top Western country environment in multicultural setting
  • taste of Sri Lanka in the UK as they will get Sri Lankan food, tradition, culture and community across the UK

Awards and Accolades received

Best Independent Global Education Agency, SME News Greater London Enterprise Awards 2020.
Highest performing agent 2014 – BPP University, UK
 
 
 
 
 

Take the first step to your study in the UK journey

Find a course 

Choose the right course that meets your academic and career goals for the financial budget you have.


Read more..

Find a University

Research and choose the right university and campus location for the course you have decided to study.

Read more..

Find how to apply

Learn what documents and information you will require to make a successful application for your admission.

Read more..

Contact us

Contact our professional team for further details and support for admission and student visa application.

Read more..

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)s

Will I need IELTS or other approved English Test for UK University admission?

Sri Lankan students who studied a UK or other major English speaking country degree from Sri Lanka may not need IELTS or other approved English Test certificate for UK University admission. Other students will need to sit one of the UKVI approved English test. However, some universities may accept Sri Lankan degrees to exempt English requirements if the medium of instructions for the degrees were English. Additionally, some universities may offer internal English Test designed by them.

Why universities may reject place of offer?

Universities may reject you to offer you place for the following reasons:

- Not meeting the academic entry requirements i.e. lower qualification or lower grades

- Not meeting the English proficiency for entry requirements

- Submission of false, forged or plagiarised documents i.e. Personal Statement/Research Proposal etc.

- Failure to disclose past visa refusal for the UK and other countries

- Falling in the academic credibility interview i.e. failure to prove genuine intention to study or credibility as genuine student

- Application submitted too late and the acceptance deadline is gone

What are the reasons for UK Student Visa Refusals?

There are many reasons for visa refusals but here are a few of the common reasons –

- Failure to submit correct and/or required documents with the visa application

- Submission of false documents or information on the application

- Non-disclosure of past visa refusals for UK and other countries

- Not being able to give appropriate information about course, university, study target, future career plan in the visa interview

How much fund I need to maintain to apply for student visa in the UK?

If you are coming to study at a University campus inside London for course of 9 months or more duration, you need to have £12006 + any outstanding tuition fees for the 1st year of your course.

If you are coming to study at a University campus outside London for course of 9 months or more duration, you need to have £9207 + any outstanding tuition fees for the 1st year of your course.

If you pay a deposit for student accommodation to the university, then up to £1334 can be offset from the living costs required funds if the campus is inside London or up to £1023 can be offset from the living costs required funds if the campus is outside London.

Any dependent who will apply for entry clearance visa with you will require maintaining £7605 per dependent for University campus inside London for course of 9 months or more duration or £6120 per month for University campus outside London for course of 9 months or more duration.

All funds must be maintained for at least 28 consecutive days at a UKVI approved bank.

 

Need more information?

If you are not sure about your admission needs and want to consult us before making your decision, get in touch with our student counsellors –

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