Govt offers foreign university scholarships for A/L high achievers: How to apply

The Ministry of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education has called for applications from high-performing students of the 2025 G.C.E. Advanced Level examination for a government-funded foreign scholarship programme.

The initiative, launched under the Government’s policy framework “A Thriving Nation – A Beautiful Life”, aims to enable outstanding students to pursue Bachelor’s degrees at internationally ranked universities abroad.

According to the Ministry, approximately 25 to 50 students will be selected for the 2026/2027 academic year, with plans to award a total of 200 scholarships over a five-year period from 2025 to 2029.

Students from all academic streams are eligible to apply, while priority will be given to those selecting globally emerging fields or disciplines not currently offered in Sri Lankan state universities.

Applicants are required to select a university ranked within the top 500 in global rankings, including QS World University Rankings, Times Higher Education Rankings, or Shanghai Rankings.

Applications must be submitted online through the Ministry’s portal before 11 May 2026. Candidates will be shortlisted based on academic merit and called for structured interviews.

The scholarship package will cover tuition fees, monthly living allowance, health insurance, and return airfare for up to four years. Additional benefits such as visa costs, settlement allowance, and English proficiency test fees may also be provided.

The Ministry noted that the annual value of the scholarship package could reach up to Rs. 20 million per student, depending on academic merit and field of study.

Selected candidates will be required to return to Sri Lanka upon completion of their studies and contribute to national development.

Source: (Newswire)