# Study in the UK from Sri Lanka — visa, costs, scholarships and timeline

> From Sri Lanka: secure a UK offer, then apply for a Student visa with a CAS, financial evidence and approved English.

Sri Lanka has a long tradition of sending students to UK universities, particularly for engineering, medicine and business. The route is: secure a university offer, receive a CAS, apply for the UK Student visa with financial evidence and an approved English qualification. Budget from around £30,000 a year for tuition plus living costs. Always confirm current visa rules on GOV.UK.

## Quick facts
- **Application routes:** UCAS (undergraduate) or direct (postgraduate)
- **Visa:** UK Student visa (Student Route)
- **Typical total cost:** ≈ £30,000+ / year (tuition + living)
- **Post-study:** Graduate Route (subject to eligibility)

## Key takeaways
- Sri Lanka has a strong tradition of UK study, particularly in STEM and business disciplines.
- The Student visa requires a CAS, financial evidence for the required period and approved English.
- Tuition plus living costs typically start from around £30,000 a year — higher in London.
- The Graduate Route allows eligible graduates to stay in the UK to work after their course.

## The route from Sri Lanka
From Sri Lanka you apply through UCAS for undergraduate study or directly to universities for most postgraduate courses. Once an offer is confirmed and conditions are met, your university issues a CAS. You complete the online Student visa application with your CAS reference, passport, financial evidence and an approved English-language qualification. IELTS Academic is the most widely recognised test, though several UK universities also accept OET, PTE Academic or their own pre-sessional English pathway. Study UK Now helps you choose the right English pathway and assembles a visa file that gives your application the best possible foundation.

## Costs, scholarships and timeline
Budget for tuition plus living costs from roughly £30,000 a year. Commonwealth Scholarships, Chevening, and university-specific awards are available to Sri Lankan students and are worth exploring early in the process. Applications for major scholarship schemes open many months before the academic year. Study UK Now plans your timeline from initial shortlisting through to your first week in the UK.

## Frequently asked questions
### How much bank balance is needed for a UK student visa from Sri Lanka?
You must show enough funds to cover your outstanding first-year tuition plus a set monthly living-cost allowance for a required number of months (higher for London). These funds must be held continuously for a minimum period before your application date. The exact figures are set by UKVI and may change — always verify the current amounts on GOV.UK before preparing your financial documents.

### Which English tests are accepted for a UK student visa from Sri Lanka?
UKVI maintains a list of Secure English Language Tests (SELTs) accepted for the Student visa; IELTS Academic (UKVI version) is the most widely used. Some universities also accept their own pre-sessional courses as an alternative. Always confirm which tests your chosen university accepts and check the current UKVI-approved list on GOV.UK.

## Sources
- [GOV.UK — Student visa](https://www.gov.uk/student-visa) — GOV.UK
- [GOV.UK — Graduate visa](https://www.gov.uk/graduate-visa) — GOV.UK

Canonical: https://studyuknow.com/countries/sri-lanka
Verified: 2026-05-20