TL;DR. NIBM, the National Institute of Business Management, runs courses from short certificates to foundation programmes, higher national diplomas, Coventry University degrees and master's programmes. Most degrees are built as stages, so you can join at the level your results allow and move up one step at a time.
Many students start their search for a course with NIBM, and its course list is long. This guide sorts it by level, shows the fees listed on Uplift for named programs, and explains how the staged degree route works so you can compare it with other options.
What courses does NIBM offer?
The National Institute of Business Management (NIBM) was established in 1968 and incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1976. It describes itself as a University Grants Commission (UGC) recognised degree-awarding institute, with schools covering business, computing, engineering, language, design and humanities.
The programmes listed on Uplift fall into these levels:
Certificates and short courses, for example in English, data analytics and human resource management.
Foundation programmes that prepare O/L and A/L students for a degree.
Advanced diplomas and higher national diplomas (HNDs) in business, computing, engineering and design.
Bachelor's degrees, many awarded by Coventry University, plus programmes with Limkokwing University, the University of Essex, Griffith University and Queensland University of Technology.
Master's programmes, such as an MBA in Global Business and an MSc in Data Science awarded by Coventry University.
NIBM teaches from Colombo campuses at Wijerama Mawatha and Rajagiriya, with regional campuses in Kandy, Kurunegala, Galle and Matara. Not every programme runs at every campus.
The programs in the cards below are listed by Uplift partner institutes. They are similar options at the same level and in the same study area, shown so you can compare.
How does the NIBM degree route work?
Many NIBM degrees are built as a ladder. The BSc (Hons) in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence is a good example. Its entry section lists three stages:
Year one: a Diploma in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, open to students with three passes at the A/L in any stream, or after a degree foundation course.
Year two: a Higher National Diploma in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence, after the diploma.
Year three: the BSc (Hons), offered in partnership with Coventry University, after the HND.
Because each stage is a qualification on its own, a student can stop with a diploma or an HND and still hold an award. Students with an equivalent diploma from another recognised institute may also be able to join at a later stage.
The BA (Hons) in Management and Leadership, awarded by Coventry University, works the same way. Students with three simple passes at the A/L can enter the first year, and students with O/L results can start with a foundation course in business management.
What are NIBM course fees?
Uplift lists a tuition fee for many NIBM programmes. These are the figures on the course pages today:
Foundation Programme for Bachelor's Degree: LKR 400,000 total tuition, one year full-time.
Higher National Diploma in Business Management (Full Time): LKR 400,000 total tuition, one year.
Higher National Diploma in Software Engineering (Full Time): LKR 350,000 total tuition, one year.
BA (Hons) in Management and Leadership: LKR 1,600,000 total tuition, three years full-time.
BSc (Hons) in Computer Science with Artificial Intelligence: LKR 1,800,000 total tuition, three years part-time.
MBA in Global Business: LKR 1,000,000 total tuition, two years, hybrid, awarded by Coventry University.
Fees differ by programme and campus, and some NIBM pages list no fee. Confirm the current figure with NIBM before you pay.
