TL;DR. Postgraduate meaning: study that you do after finishing a first degree, from postgraduate diplomas and taught master's degrees such as the MBA and MSc to research degrees such as the MPhil and the PhD. In Sri Lanka these sit at the upper levels of the national qualifications framework, and each program sets its own entry rule.
If you have just finished a degree, or you are working and thinking about the next step, the word postgraduate can cover very different programs. This guide explains what it means, the main types, how the levels work and what real programs on Uplift ask for.
What does postgraduate mean in Sri Lanka?
A postgraduate student has already completed a first degree or an equivalent qualification and is studying at a more advanced level. In the Sri Lanka Qualifications Framework (SLQF), published by the University Grants Commission (UGC), the framework has twelve levels, and the postgraduate qualifications sit at the upper levels. The MPhil is at Level 11 and the PhD at Level 12.
Postgraduate study is the next step after undergraduate study. If you are not sure about the first stage, our explainer on the undergraduate meaning in Sri Lanka shows where it begins.
What are the types of postgraduate study?
Postgraduate diplomas and certificates
These are shorter programs, usually taught. For example, the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting and Finance at Achievers International Campus is listed as a 6-month OTHM Level 7 diploma regulated by Ofqual in England, set at master's degree level on the UK framework. Its entry rule asks for any bachelor's degree, or at least 5 years of work experience with 2 years in management, plus a C pass in O/L English.
Taught master's degrees
These include the MBA and the MSc. The MBA in Management Strategy at KIU University is listed as a 2-year postgraduate program at SLQF Level 10 and recognised by the UGC. The MSc Cyber Security at UCL is listed as a 12-month full-time program awarded by the University of Lancashire, UK, and delivered at UCL Sri Lanka. Our guides on the MBA and the MSc explain each title.
Research degrees
The MPhil and the PhD are built around a supervised thesis rather than taught modules. Read the MPhil meaning guide for the details, including the MPhil in Nursing at KIU University.
What do postgraduate programs ask for?
Entry depends on the program, so read each course page. Examples from Uplift:
The KIU MBA in Management Strategy lists several routes, including a bachelor's degree in a business related field recognised by the UGC or the Ministry of Higher Education, a qualification at SLQF Level 6 or above, or a bachelor's degree in any subject with two years of relevant experience.
The UCL MSc Cyber Security lists a bachelor's degree with at least a second class lower division, a professional qualification equivalent to a UK degree, or relevant work experience that shows aptitude for master's level study.
The Achievers diploma accepts a degree or work experience, as shown above.
Fees and intakes differ too. The UCL course page lists tuition of LKR 325,000 in total, and several other pages list no fee, so ask the institute for the current figure and the next intake before you commit.
