Deakin Pathway Program in Sri Lanka: Business Year One at AIBS

TL;DR The Deakin Pathway Program (Business) at the Asian Institute of Business and Science, known as AIBS, lets you complete the first year of a business degree in Sri Lanka and then move into the second year of a Deakin University bachelor's degree in Business, Commerce or Business Analytics. Entry is open after O/Ls or A/Ls, and AIBS states that it provides IELTS and PTE coaching. The English score that counts is the one Deakin sets.

If you want a business degree that finishes at an Australian university, the cost and risk sit mostly in how the years are split. A pathway program fixes that split in advance. This guide explains what AIBS teaches in the Sri Lankan year, what you need to enter, and what to confirm with Deakin before you commit.

Apply now for the Deakin Pathway Program (Business)

How the pathway works

The program runs on a one year plus two year plan. You complete the first year at the AIBS campus in Sri Lanka as a full-time student. If you meet the requirements, you then transfer into the second year of a Deakin University bachelor's degree. Years two and three are completed at Deakin in Australia, and the degree is awarded by Deakin University.

Because the final degree comes from Deakin, the detailed module information for the later years, the fees and the graduation rules belong to Deakin. AIBS delivers the first year only.

Business programs at AIBS

What you study in the Sri Lankan year

The first year covers a set of business foundations, split across two semesters. The modules named on the program page are:

Semester one: Business and the Business Environment, Human Resource Management, Accounting Principles and Operations Management.
Semester two: Marketing Process and Planning, Leadership and Management, Managing a Successful Business Project and Business Data and Numerical Skills.

These modules are meant to prepare you for second year study at Deakin in business, commerce or business analytics. The program page lists careers such as business analyst, financial analyst, HR manager, management consultant and data analyst for graduates of the full degree.

Support during the year in Sri Lanka

The program page says AIBS provides academic and career guidance during the program and that students study in a modern campus environment with current technology and resources. It also describes the Sri Lankan year as a way to begin the degree at lower tuition than a full degree overseas, with direct entry into the second year at Deakin for students who meet the requirements.

Treat those statements as the institute's description, and ask for the details that matter to you: how often you meet an academic adviser, what the career guidance involves, and what the entry requirement for the second year at Deakin is in terms of grades.

Entry requirements

The program page lists an academic requirement and an English requirement.

With O/Ls: six passes including English and Mathematics.
With A/Ls: any stream, with three passes or an equivalent qualification.
With a foundation qualification: a pass in the NCC International Foundation Diploma, the Australian Foundation Year or an equivalent qualification.

For English, IELTS or PTE is required for Deakin entry. AIBS states that it provides coaching to help you prepare, but the score you need is set by Deakin, not by AIBS. The exact minimum score is not published on the Uplift record, so ask AIBS or Deakin for the current figure.

Which degrees can you move into

The program page names three destinations at Deakin: a bachelor's degree in Business, a bachelor's degree in Commerce, and a bachelor's degree in Business Analytics. Your choice affects which Year 1 modules matter most, so decide early and ask AIBS to confirm in writing that your chosen degree accepts the Sri Lankan year.

Cost and intakes

Uplift does not currently list a tuition fee or a fixed intake date for this program. The program page mentions a September intake, but dates change each year, so confirm the next intake and the application deadline directly on the course page before you plan around any date.

When you compare costs, count both parts of the degree. The Sri Lankan year is priced by AIBS. The two years in Australia are priced by Deakin, and living costs in Australia are in addition to tuition. The program page describes the Sri Lankan year as a lower-cost way to begin, but you should ask for a full cost estimate across all three years.

What to confirm before you apply

Which Deakin degree am I aiming for, and what result do I need in the AIBS year to be accepted into it?
What is the exact IELTS or PTE score Deakin requires for my degree?
What does Deakin require for the student visa and for study in Australia? Those conditions are set by Deakin and the Australian authorities, so check them with Deakin directly.
Will AIBS give me the cost of the Sri Lankan year and a payment schedule in writing?
What happens if I do not meet the transfer requirements? Ask what other AIBS or Sri Lankan options would remain open to you.

Is it the right fit?

A pathway like this suits a student who already has a clear picture of the degree they want to finish and is comfortable planning the second part of the degree outside Sri Lanka. If you prefer to complete your whole business degree locally, you can browse local business degrees, diplomas and foundation programs on Uplift.

Business foundations and diplomas on Uplift

Diploma

Asian Institute of Business & Science

BTEC HND in Marketing

View

Diploma

Nawaloka College of Higher Studies

Diploma of Business (UniLink)

View

Foundation

Colombo International Campus

Foundation Diploma in Business

View

For more background, read our guides to AIBS courses, business management degrees in Sri Lanka and foundation programmes after O/Ls.

PS. Open the Deakin Pathway Program (Business) page at AIBS to check the latest entry details and begin your application.

References

Deakin Pathway Program (Business), Asian Institute of Business and Science, as listed on Uplift. https://aibs.edu.lk/deakin-pathway-program-business/