UK Degree Pathway in Sri Lanka at Nawaloka College

TL;DR: The UK Degree Pathway, also called the International Foundation Year, is an 8-month full-time pre-university program at Nawaloka College of Higher Studies (NCHS), run in collaboration with Study Group. You study in Colombo or Kandy, and on completion you are eligible to start Year 1 of an undergraduate degree at a Study Group partner university in the UK. Entry is based on your O/L or A/L results, plus a grade C in English.

Some students want a clear academic bridge between school and a UK-linked degree. This program is built as that bridge, and the first stage happens in Sri Lanka. Here is how it works, what it asks of you and what to confirm with NCHS before you apply.

Apply now or read on for the detail.

Foundation programs at Nawaloka College

How the pathway is structured

The program has two stages, and the record on Uplift states both.

Stage one is the International Foundation Year, delivered full-time on campus at NCHS Colombo and NCHS Kandy over 8 months.
Stage two is Year 1 of a chosen undergraduate degree at a Study Group partner university in the UK.

Only stage one is taught in Sri Lanka. The foundation year covers business and information technology, so you can test your interests before you pick a degree subject. Ask NCHS which degrees are open to your chosen subject mix, because entry to each partner university depends on the course.

What you study

The year builds the academic skills a UK university expects, along with some subject exposure.

Core units, first teaching period

Academic and Communication Skills A
General Maths
Innovation and Change
Information Technology

Second teaching period

Core units are Global Communication and Academic and Communication Skills B. Electives include Accounting, Marketing, Foundation Mathematics, Physics, Introduction to Health Science, and Product Development, Design and Technology.

The skills side matters as much as the subjects: communication, English for academic use, research and critical thinking, learner autonomy, leadership and teamwork.

Entry requirements

NCHS lists one academic route and one English requirement. For the academic route, you need either of these:

Sri Lankan GCE O/L: grade C in six subjects, including relevant subjects.
Sri Lankan GCE A/L: grade D in two subjects, including relevant subjects.

For English, you need an O/L grade C in English Language or in Appreciation of English Literary Texts. The record does not offer an IELTS or PTE alternative.

Two points are worth checking directly with NCHS. First, the A/L requirement says grade D, while the Sri Lankan A/L scale runs A, B, C and S, so ask the college exactly how this applies to your result. Second, the record does not say which subjects count as relevant, because that depends on the degree you want. If your results have not been released yet, NCHS asks you to contact the college. The guide on what to do while waiting for A/L results may help while you wait.

Partner universities

On completion you become eligible to transfer to a Study Group partner university. The record names these among them:

University of Aberdeen, Cardiff University, Durham University and University of Huddersfield.
Kingston University, Leeds Beckett University, Liverpool John Moores University and Royal Holloway.
University of Sheffield, University of Strathclyde, University of Surrey, University of Sussex and Teesside University.

Progression is not automatic for every course, so ask NCHS about the grade you need for each university and degree.

Scholarships, fees and intakes

Uplift does not list a fee for this program, so please contact NCHS for current fee details. NCHS states that students can receive scholarships of up to 70 percent for studies completed locally, and that merit awards of up to GBP 2,500 are available. Ask what each award requires and how it applies to the foundation year.

The intake dates held on Uplift have already passed, so check with NCHS for the next start date.

Is it the right fit?

This pathway suits students who already know they want a UK-linked degree and prefer a structured, supported first step at home before the transfer. It is not the best fit if you want to complete your whole degree in Sri Lanka. In that case, look at local degree and foundation options instead. The guide to foundation programmes in Sri Lanka after O/Ls compares them, and the overview of courses at Nawaloka College shows what else the college offers. The article on the USA degree transfer program at Nawaloka covers a different transfer route.

Read the full program page here: UK Degree Pathway at Nawaloka College.

Common questions

Where do I study?

The 8-month foundation year is delivered full-time on campus at NCHS Colombo and NCHS Kandy. The UK stage comes afterwards, at a partner university.

Can I choose my degree subject later?

Partly. The year covers business and information technology, with electives such as Accounting, Marketing, Physics and Health Science, so you can test your interests. Your final choice still has to match the entry rules of the partner university and degree you want.

What if my results are pending?

NCHS asks applicants with pending results to consult the college directly. Do not assume you are ineligible; ask what they need and when.

Does the foundation year guarantee a place?

The record says completion makes you eligible to transfer to a partner university. Eligibility is not the same as a guaranteed offer for every course, so ask NCHS what grades each university requires.