Chevening Scholarship
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Masters
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Return economy flights
Deadline: November 7
🇱🇰
Asia
Scholarships for Sri Lankan Students
31 scholarships open to Sri Lankan students · 29 fully funded · Top destinations: United Kingdom, Australia, Germany
Sri Lankan students have access to a wide range of international scholarship opportunities. From fully funded government scholarships to prestigious university awards, there are 31 programs currently available — helping Sri Lankan students pursue their academic goals without financial barriers.
31
Total Scholarships
29
Fully Funded
8
Destination Countries
3
Degree Levels
All Scholarships for Sri Lankan Students
Fulbright Foreign Student Program
🇺🇸 United States
Masters
- Full tuition and fees
- Monthly living stipend
- Round-trip airfare
Deadline: Varies by country (February–October)
DAAD Scholarship
🇩🇪 Germany
Masters
- Monthly stipend (€934 for master's, €1,300 for PhD)
- Health insurance subsidy
- Travel allowance
Deadline: October 15 (varies by programme)
Erasmus Mundus Joint Masters
🇳🇱 Netherlands
Masters
- Participation costs including tuition
- Monthly living allowance (€1,400/month)
- Travel and installation costs
Deadline: January–March (varies by programme)
MEXT Scholarship (Monbukagakusho)
🇯🇵 Japan
Undergraduate Masters PhD
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly allowance (¥117,000–¥148,000)
- Round-trip airfare
Deadline: April (Embassy route varies by country)
Chinese Government Scholarship (CSC)
🇨🇳 China
Undergraduate Masters PhD
- Full tuition waiver
- Free on-campus accommodation
- Monthly living allowance (CNY 2,500–3,500)
Deadline: January–April (varies by university)
Türkiye Scholarships (Türkiye Bursları)
🇹🇷 Turkey
Undergraduate Masters PhD
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly stipend (₺3,500–₺7,000 depending on level)
- Free accommodation
Deadline: January 10 – February 20
Australia Awards Scholarships
🇦🇺 Australia
Masters
- Full tuition fees
- Return air travel
- Establishment allowance
Deadline: April 30 (varies by country)
Stipendium Hungaricum
🇭🇺 Hungary
Undergraduate Masters PhD
- Tuition-free education
- Monthly stipend (HUF 43,700–140,000)
- Free accommodation or dormitory contribution
Deadline: January 15
KOICA Scholarship Program
🇰🇷 South Korea
Masters
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Round-trip airfare
Deadline: March–April
Commonwealth Scholarship
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Masters
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly living stipend
- Return economy airfare
Deadline: December (varies by nominating body)
Gates Cambridge Scholarship
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
PhD
- Full cost of tuition
- Maintenance allowance (£20,000–£22,000/year)
- Return economy airfare
Deadline: October 12 (US) / December 3 (international)
Rhodes Scholarship
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Masters
- Full university and college fees
- Personal stipend (£19,092/year)
- Return economy airfare
Deadline: Varies by country (June–October)
Korean Government Scholarship Program (KGSP)
🇰🇷 South Korea
Undergraduate Masters PhD
- Full tuition
- Monthly allowance (₩1,000,000)
- Round-trip airfare
Deadline: February–March (Embassy track), March–May (University track)
Holland Scholarship
🇳🇱 Netherlands
Undergraduate
- €5,000 one-time grant (first year)
Deadline: February 1 (most universities)
Swiss Government Excellence Scholarships
🇨🇭 Switzerland
PhD
- Monthly allowance (CHF 1,920)
- Tuition fee exemption
- Health insurance
Deadline: November (varies by country)
OFID Scholarship Award
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Masters
- Full tuition fees
- Monthly living allowance
- Cost of study materials
Deadline: May 1
Denys Holland Scholarship
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Undergraduate
- £9,000 per year for up to 3 years
- Can be combined with other UCL funding
Deadline: March (annual)
Fully Funded
Masters
- Full tuition
- Monthly living allowance
- Round-trip airfare
Deadline: April (varies by university)
Clarendon Scholarship
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
Masters
- Full tuition fees
- Generous living grant
Deadline: January (application to Oxford)
Schwarzman Scholars
🇨🇳 China
Masters
- Full tuition
- Room and board
- Round-trip travel
Deadline: September 15 (early) / November (standard)
Italian Government Scholarships
🇮🇹 Italy
Masters
- Monthly grant (€900)
- Tuition fee waiver at public universities
- Health insurance
Deadline: June (annual call)
Eiffel Excellence Scholarship Programme
🇫🇷 France
Masters
- Monthly allowance (€1,181 for master's)
- Return travel costs
- Health insurance
Deadline: January 9 (French institutions nominate candidates)
Fully Funded
PhD
- Full tuition fee offset
- Annual stipend (AUD 32,192 in 2024)
- Relocation allowance
Deadline: Varies by university (typically August–October)
Vanier Canada Graduate Scholarships
🇨🇦 Canada
PhD
- CAD $50,000 per year for three years
Deadline: November 1 (annual)
Fully Funded
Undergraduate
- Full tuition for four years
- Books and incidental fees
- Full residence support
Deadline: November 7 (nomination by school)
Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Scholarship
🇩🇪 Germany
Masters
- Monthly stipend (€934 for master's)
- Study allowance (€300/month)
- Health insurance subsidy
Deadline: July 15 (for winter semester)
Émile Boutmy Scholarship
🇫🇷 France
Undergraduate
- Tuition waiver or significant reduction (up to €13,190/year)
- Some grants include living cost contribution (€5,000/year)
Deadline: Varies by intake (December–April)
Taiwan ICDF Scholarship
🇹🇼 Taiwan
Undergraduate Masters PhD
- Full tuition and credit fees
- Round-trip economy airfare
- Living allowance (NTD 12,000–15,000/month)
Deadline: March 15
Adelaide Scholarship International (ASI)
🇦🇺 Australia
PhD
- Full tuition fee waiver
- Annual living allowance (AUD 31,688)
- Overseas student health cover
Deadline: Rolling (check university deadlines)
Fully Funded
Masters
- Monthly stipend
- Health insurance
- Registration and tuition fee exemptions at public institutions
Deadline: September–October (annual call)
Top Destination Countries for Sri Lankan Students
These countries offer the most scholarship opportunities for Sri Lankan students. Click a destination to see specific scholarships and eligibility details.
Scholarships by Degree Level
Browse scholarships for Sri Lankan students organized by academic level.
Undergraduate
10
scholarships available
Masters
22
scholarships available
PhD
11
scholarships available
The Study-Abroad Context for Sri Lankan Students
Sri Lanka sends roughly 20,000 students abroad each year, with major flows to Australia, UK, USA, India, and Malaysia. The University Grants Commission (UGC) and Ministry of Higher Education coordinate domestic higher education; international scholarships are the dominant funding pathway for overseas postgraduate study. Strong English-medium instruction at top Sri Lankan universities supports international applications.
Common Challenges for Sri Lankan Applicants
These are the recurring practical issues Sri Lankan applicants face when applying for international scholarships. Knowing them early lets you plan the timeline correctly.
GCE and UGC documentation
Sri Lankan A-Level (GCE) and UGC credentials sometimes require additional explanation for foreign universities.
Financial documentation
Visa officers may request comprehensive sponsor and financial documentation given currency restrictions.
Test centre access
IELTS and GRE centres are concentrated in Colombo; book 6–10 weeks ahead.
Banking and currency
Foreign exchange limits can affect financial documentation; consult Central Bank guidelines for legitimate transfers.
Document Attestation and Authentication for Sri Lankan Applicants
Sri Lankan academic documents need attestation through the issuing university, then the UGC for tertiary credentials, then the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), and finally the destination-country embassy. Sri Lanka joined the Hague Apostille Convention in 2024 — apostille is now available through MOFA for participating destinations, significantly streamlining the previous multi-step process.
What Makes Sri Lankan Applications Strong
Strong Sri Lankan applications emphasise specific research interests (particularly in agriculture, marine biology, public health, and engineering), leadership experience, and clear return-and-impact plans. Chevening Sri Lanka, Commonwealth Scholarship, Fulbright Sri Lanka, Australia Awards, and ADB-Japan maintain strong Sri Lankan cohorts. STEM and development-related applicants are particularly well-supported.
Where Sri Lankan Students Typically Go
These are the most frequently chosen destinations for Sri Lankan scholarship applicants and the specific reasons each one attracts students from Sri Lanka.
Australia
Largest destination — strong post-study work options, Sri Lankan diaspora support
United Kingdom
Chevening Sri Lanka, Commonwealth Scholarship, historic educational ties
United States
Fulbright Sri Lanka, growing Sri Lankan-American community
India
Geographic proximity, bilateral agreements, ICCR scholarships
Japan
MEXT Scholarship, ADB-Japan, JICA — strong Japan-Sri Lanka partnership
FAQs: Scholarships for Sri Lankan Students
Popular study destinations for Sri Lankan students include the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Australia, and several other European and Asian countries. Each offers unique academic strengths, scholarship programs, and post-study work opportunities. Your ideal destination depends on your field of study, budget, and career goals.
TheScholarSphere currently lists 29 fully funded scholarship programs available to Sri Lankan students out of 31 total opportunities. Fully funded scholarships cover tuition, living costs, health insurance, and often include travel allowances.
Most English-taught programs in non-English-speaking countries and all programs in English-speaking countries require IELTS (typically 6.0–7.0) or TOEFL (80–100) scores. Some scholarships waive this requirement if you completed your previous degree in English. Always check individual program requirements.
Yes, virtually all international scholarships accept applications from students in their home country. In fact, many government scholarships (like Chevening, DAAD, and Türkiye Bursları) require applicants to be in their home country at the time of application. You can complete the entire application process from Sri Lanka.
Scholarships with "medium" or "low" competitiveness ratings tend to be more accessible. Government-to-government scholarships like Stipendium Hungaricum, Türkiye Bursları, and Chinese Government Scholarships (CSC) have relatively higher acceptance rates compared to highly competitive programs like Rhodes, Gates Cambridge, or Chevening.
Most scholarship deadlines for the 2026 academic year fall between October 2025 and March 2026. Start researching and preparing documents at least 12–18 months in advance. Some programs like Fulbright and Chevening have early deadlines, so planning ahead is essential.
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