New degree courses at state universities for students with foreign qualifications
View(s):Priority will be given for children of diplomats and students from SAARC countries
From health tourism to yoga and indigenous medicine to Artificial Intelligence, a number of new undergraduate degree courses have been introduced for students with foreign qualifications planning to study in local universities.
Sixteen new courses have been introduced by the University Grants Commission (UGC). Among the four year degrees offered in state universities are indigenous pharmaceutical technology, biomedical technology, yoga and parapsychology, social studies in indigenous knowledge, health tourism and hospitality management, urban bio resources, aquatic bio resources, indigenous medicinal resources and occupational therapy.
Other new courses include optometry, occupational therapy, artificial intelligence, applied chemistry, electronic and computer science, health information and communication technology, accounting information systems, Information Technology (arts).
Majority of the new undergraduate degree courses this year are from the Gampaha Wickramarachchi University of Indigenous Medicine and will be conducted in English medium.
Undergraduate degree in Artificial Intelligence is a new degree programme introduced by the University of Moratuwa and degree in urban bio-resources is offered by the University of Sri Jayawardanepura.
Apart from the above new courses, students with foreign qualifications have a number
of courses offered to follow in medical, dental, paramedical, engineering, management, technology, law and arts faculties in universities.
“The number of places reserved for this category of students is very limited and at present it is up to 0.5 per cent of the total number of places available in each course of study,” a UGC official said.
Priority will be given to children of Lankan diplomatic personnel who are/have been stationed in other countries, children of foreign diplomatic personnel working in Sri Lanka and applicants from SAARC countries. All selected candidates will be admitted on fee levying basis. Closing date for applications for the academic year 2020/2021 will be on September 24.
All prospective foreign students are informed that the Government will not convert tourist visas to student visas.
“Therefore, no person who wishes to gain admission to a university should enter the country on a tourist visa and they should make arrangements to obtain visas in advance,” the UGC official said.
The student handbook and application can be downloaded from the UGC’s website.
(NF)