How Do Diaspora Students Enroll at the University of Jaffna? – A Complete Guide

26 Adi 2026 Many children of our Tamil relatives living in diaspora countries have a great dream of pursuing higher education in Jaffna, their motherland. The University of Jaffna is not just a university; it is our identity, the root of our culture. Each year, the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka (UGC) allocates 4.5% of places for students with foreign educational qualifications. Through this, diaspora students can gain admission to the University of Jaffna more easily. 1. Who can apply? – Eligibility (a) Academic qualifications: • You must have passed an examination conducted outside Sri Lanka that is considered equivalent to Sri Lanka’s G.C.E. Advanced Level. • Examples: A-Levels (London, Cambridge, Edexcel), International Baccalaureate (IB), Germany’s Abitur, France’s Baccalauréat, etc. _ You must have passes in at least three subjects. (b) Other requirements: _ You must be a holder of a Sri Lankan passport or a foreign passport. • You must not already be registered as an internal student at a state university in Sri Lanka. • If you are the child of Sri Lankan diaspora parents, the child must have studied there during the period the parents were employed abroad. (c) Language qualification: • If your education was not in English, you must attach proof of English language proficiency. • TOEFL – 79 points or IELTS – 6.5 or PTE – 51–60 points. 2. How to apply – Step by step This application is not sent directly to the University of Jaffna. It must be sent to the University Grants Commission (UGC). Step 1: Obtain the application form _ On the website www.ugc.ac.lk, under the section “Admission of Students with Foreign Qualifications,” the form and handbook are available. Step 2: Application fee _ USD 100 must be sent in the name of the University Grants Commission as a Bank Draft or by telegraphic transfer. Step 3: Fill in the form • Enter your full name in English in capital letters exactly as in the passport. • Do not leave any section blank. Where not applicable, write N/A. Step 4: Send by post _ Attach the completed application and all documents together and send to the following address: Deputy Secretary / University Admissions, University Grants Commission, No.20, Ward Place, Colombo 07, Sri Lanka. Step 5: Send by email (very important) _ A copy of the same application sent by post must also be emailed as a PDF to foreignadmissions@ugc.ac.lk. If you fail to do this, the application will be delayed. Deadline for the 2024/2025 academic year: • Date of calling applications: 11 Avani 2025 • Closing date: 01 Purattasi 2025 3. Documents to be attached Diaspora Sri Lankan students must обязательно attach the following documents: 1. Copies of the student’s passport (including visa pages for the period of study abroad) 2. Proof of residence abroad (issued by an authorized officer of that country’s government) 3. School leaving certificates (both abroad and Sri Lanka) 4. Parent’s service certificate for employment abroad 5. Copies of parents’ passports (including visa pages) 6. Bank balance confirmation – an original letter in English confirming that sufficient funds are available in the father’s/mother’s/guardian’s bank account 7. Advanced Level certificate and results – a certified copy confirmed by the relevant examination board 4. Selecting the University of Jaffna When selecting courses in the application, you must use the Uni-Code method. Example: For courses such as Medicine, Engineering, Law, Arts, Management, etc., you should enter the Uni-Code for the University of Jaffna as the first preference. The order of preferences cannot be changed later. 5. What to do after selection? UGC will select you and recommend you to the University of Jaffna. After that, the university will contact you. After that, the registration forms must be sent to the following address: Assistant Registrar, Admissions Branch, University of Jaffna, Ramanathan Road, Thirunelvely, Jaffna. Contact: UGC Foreign Admissions – Tel: +94-11-2695301 / Email: foreignadmissions@ugc.ac.lk