All Levels
Partial tuition waiver
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
Nugegoda (Gangodawila), Sri Lanka
"Sri Lanka's largest university by student population"
At a Glance
Accept Rate
5%
Avg Salary/Yr
N/A
Ranking
#1401 (QS)
PSW VISA
No post-study work visa
About University of Sri Jayewardenepura
The University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ) is a public university located in Gangodawila, Nugegoda, close to Sri Lanka's administrative capital, Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte. Its roots go back to 1873 and the historic Vidyodaya Pirivena, a centre of traditional learning that later became Vidyodaya University in 1958 — the first university founded in independent Ceylon. Renamed the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in 1978, it is today the country's largest university by student population and one of its most respected institutions of higher learning. USJ has eleven faculties covering humanities and social sciences, applied sciences, management studies and commerce, medical and dental sciences, engineering, technology, computing, allied health sciences and more, serving over 16,000 undergraduates and 3,500 postgraduate students. Most degree programmes are taught in English. The university places strong emphasis on research and innovation, with more than 20 research centres and over 15 patents, and has signed over 60 agreements with international universities and 60 with industry partners to offer students exchange programmes and internships. Ranked in the 1401+ band of the QS World University Rankings 2027 and 343rd in the QS Asia University Rankings, USJ continues to focus on producing ethical, skilled graduates who contribute to Sri Lanka's development.
Rankings & Recognition
#1401
Accreditations & Memberships
University Grants Commission (UGC) Sri Lanka
Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU)
60+ MoUs with international universities
#343 QS Asia University Rankings
QS 2026 Performance Breakdown
Score out of 100 across each QS evaluation pillar, with University of Sri Jayewardenepura's global standing for that metric.
Academic Reputation
8/100#8/100#701
Employer Reputation
12.2/100#12.2/100#701
Faculty / Student
5.7/100#5.7/100#801
Citations / Faculty
7/100#7/100#801
Intl. Students
1.3/100#1.3/100#801
Intl. Student Diversity
5.7/100#5.7/100#801
Intl. Research Network
27.8/100#27.8/100#801
Employment Outcomes
22.8/100#22.8/100#674
Sustainability
27.4/100#27.4/100#801
#
Key Facts
16,000+ UG, 3,500+ PG
Total Students
494
Faculty
11
Student–Faculty
10%
Acceptance Rate
100
Clubs
90%
Retention (Yr1)
85%
Graduation Rate
20+
Research Centres
15+
Patents
Popular Programs
BSc in Applied Sciences
BSc in Management (Special)
BA in Social Sciences
MBBS
BSc in Engineering
MBA
Management Studies & Commerce
BDS (Faculty of Dental Sciences)
Application Details
Application Fee
$100
Avg. TAT
2–4 weeks
Next Intake
Once a year
Intake Seasons
Year-round
Programs Offered
8
Avg. Scholarship
$5,000
Annual Living Cost
Varies
Standardized Test Requirements
| Test | Minimum Score |
|---|---|
|
IELTS Academic
|
6.5 |
|
TOEFL iBT
|
79 |
|
PTE Academic
|
Not listed |
|
Duolingo
|
Not listed |
Study Abroad & Visa Details
Visa Approval Rate
N/A
I-20 Processing
Student visa in advance
Post-Study Work
No PSW visa in Sri Lanka
Green Card Pathway
N/A
Financials
Application Fee
$100
Avg Scholarship
N/A
Career Outcomes
$50K
Median Salary
Where Graduates Land
John Keells Holdings PLC
Brandix Apparel Limited
Commercial Bank of Ceylon PLC
Dialog Axiata PLC
MAS Holdings
Sampath Bank PLC
Unilever Sri Lanka
Hayleys PLC
Virtusa
WSO2
Faculty & Alumni
Faculty with PhD — 70%
Faculty Industry Exp. — 30%
Alumni in Fortune 500 — 1
Alumni in Leadership — 20
Alumni Startups —
—
Notable Alumni
Mahinda Rajapaksa (Former President of Sri Lanka)
Ranil Wickremesinghe (Current President of Sri Lanka)
Sarath Fonseka (Field Marshal, Former Army Commander)
Nimal Siripala de Silva (Cabinet Minister)
Prof. Sampath Amaratunge (Former Vice-Chancellor, Chairman UGC)
Dr. P.B. Jayasundera (Former Secretary to the Treasury)
Dr. Indrajit Coomaraswamy (Former Governor of the Central Bank)
Prof. H.D. Karunaratne (Vice-Chancellor, University of Colombo)
Campus & Location
Faculty of Engineering CampusRathmalana, Western Province, Sri LankaFaculty of Technology CampusPitipana, Western Province, Sri LankaMain Campus, GangodawilaGangodawila, Western Province, Sri Lanka
CLIMATE
Tropical monsoon climate, hot and humid year-round
AVG. COMMUTE TO DOWNTOWN
45 minutes
Campus Details
Gangodawila
Nugegoda
Near
Sri Jayewardenepura Kotte (capital)
11
faculties
Est.
1873
Campus Forecast
Hot humid all year
Monsoon rains
Tropical climate
Student Life & Housing
Housing
University hostels (limited)
Private boarding
Dining
University canteens
Sri Lankan & Indian food
Veg options
Health & Wellness
University Medical Centre
Student counselling
Activities & Clubs
Student exchange programmes
Internships (60+ industry MoUs)
Student societies
Diversity & Demographics
Intl Students
19,500+
Year-1 Retention
90%
On-time Graduation
85%
Faculties
11
Cost Deep-Dive
Application Fee
USD 2,000
Avg Scholarship
USD 5,000
Scholarships Available
4
Intakes & Deadlines
Deadlines vary by program. Connect with our team for the latest intake calendar.
Scholarships at University of Sri Jayewardenepura
1 scholarship available
These are general eligibility guidelines. Always confirm exact requirements with the university's admissions office or your Sukhada counsellor.
Academic Requirements
Undergraduate
12th grade · 60%+ aggregate
Postgraduate
Bachelor's · 55%+ / 2.5 GPA
Acceptance Rate
5%
English Proficiency
IELTS Academic
TOEFL iBT
PTE Academic
Not listedDuolingo
Not listedRequired Documents
Academic transcripts
Birth certificate
National Identity Card (NIC) or Passport
G.C.E. A/L results sheet
Photographs
Curriculum Vitae (for postgraduate)
Application Process
1
Shortlist programs
Pick 3–5 programs aligned with your goals.
2
Prepare documents
Transcripts, SOP, LORs, test scores.
3
Submit application
Apply via GCQ360 with mentor support.
4
Receive offer
Conditional or unconditional letter.
5
Visa & travel
Pre-departure briefings and visa filing.
Campus & Location
Faculty of Engineering CampusRathmalana, Western Province, Sri LankaFaculty of Technology CampusPitipana, Western Province, Sri LankaMain Campus, GangodawilaGangodawila, Western Province, Sri Lanka
CLIMATE
Tropical monsoon climate, hot and humid year-round
AVG. COMMUTE TO DOWNTOWN
45 minutes
Undergraduate
4
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
📍 Sri Lanka, Gangodawila
Undergraduate
BSc in Applied Sciences
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
📍 Sri Lanka, Gangodawila
Undergraduate
BSc in Management (Special)
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
📍 Sri Lanka, Gangodawila
Undergraduate
BA in Social Sciences
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
📍 Sri Lanka, Gangodawila
Undergraduate
BSc in Engineering
Postgraduate
4
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
📍 Sri Lanka, Gangodawila
Postgraduate
MSc in Environmental Science
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
📍 Sri Lanka, Gangodawila
Postgraduate
MA in Linguistics
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
📍 Sri Lanka, Gangodawila
Postgraduate
MBA
University of Sri Jayewardenepura
📍 Sri Lanka, Gangodawila
Postgraduate
PhD in various disciplines
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