Studying abroad can be a valuable way to pursue higher education, gain international experience, and build a stronger career path. However, tuition, travel, and living costs can be expensive, so scholarships and funding opportunities are important for students who want to study overseas.
Many students from Sri Lanka consider advanced degrees in countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, and Australia. Scholarships can help reduce the cost of tuition and living expenses, but eligibility, award amounts, and deadlines change regularly. Below are country-based scholarship options that may be relevant to Sri Lankan students.
Scholarships for Sri Lankan Students
1. Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program (USA)
- Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Amount: Partial funding through awards of US$10,000, US$7,500, US$5,000, and US$2,000
- Eligible Degree/s: Undergraduate and graduate studies | Offered by: ACFE Foundation
The Ritchie-Jennings Memorial Scholarship Program supports students who are preparing for careers in fraud examination or similar anti-fraud fields. It is not limited to a fixed list of universities; eligible students must be enrolled at an accredited four-year college or university and meet the program’s enrollment requirements.
The scholarship helps students advance their education and anti-fraud career goals. Recipients also receive one year of ACFE membership, and scholarship funds are paid directly to the recipient’s university or college.
Applicants must demonstrate an interest in fraud examination or a similar anti-fraud profession and have a declared major or minor in accounting, business administration, finance, criminal justice, or a similar fraud-related discipline. Undergraduate applicants must be enrolled in at least 9 semester hours per term, while graduate applicants must be enrolled in at least 6 semester hours per term. The application also requires official transcripts and two recommendation letters.
Students comparing study options in the United States can also review profiles such as Boston University and Fordham University, but eligibility for this scholarship depends on ACFE’s official rules rather than attendance at those specific institutions.
2. Chevening Scholarships (United Kingdom)
- Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Amount: Fully funded, subject to the official award terms and any course-specific conditions
- Eligible Degree/s: One-year taught Master’s | Offered by: Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and partner organizations
The United Kingdom is a popular destination for international students, including students from Sri Lanka. Chevening Scholarships support eligible future leaders who want to complete a one-year taught master’s degree in the UK.
Chevening Scholarships generally provide full financial support for eligible master’s study, including tuition support, travel, and a monthly living allowance. Applicants should check the official award terms carefully because some awards, partner arrangements, and MBA courses may have different funding conditions.
To be considered for Chevening, applicants must be citizens of a Chevening-eligible country or territory, commit to returning home for at least two years after the scholarship ends, hold an undergraduate degree that qualifies them for a UK master’s program, and have at least 2,800 hours of eligible work experience gained after completing their undergraduate degree. Applicants must also apply to eligible UK master’s courses and meet the published offer deadline for their application cycle.
Eligible Chevening courses must be full-time, UK-based, start in the autumn term, and lead to a taught master’s qualification. Students researching UK universities can explore profiles such as the University of Nottingham, University of Oxford, and the University of Cambridge, but final course eligibility should always be checked through Chevening’s official course guidance.
3. The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) Scholarships (Germany)
- Scholarship Program Link
- Scholarship Amount: Partial funding, with monthly support depending on study level
- Eligible Degree/s: Bachelor’s, Master’s, Ph.D. | Offered by: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
The Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) International Scholarship Program supports international students and doctoral candidates who want to begin or continue studies at a German university. It may support bachelor’s students from the second semester onward, master’s students, postgraduate students, doctoral candidates, and certain research stays in Germany.
KAS scholars may receive financial support as well as non-financial support, including seminars, mentoring, university groups, and access to an international scholar network. The program emphasizes academic achievement, social engagement, democratic values, and a commitment to building connections between Germany and the scholar’s home country.
For bachelor’s, master’s, and postgraduate programs, recipients can receive up to €992 per month, usually for a standard support period of two years. Doctoral candidates can receive up to €1,400 per month for a standard funding period of three years. Additional allowances may be available in some cases, but KAS does not cover enrollment, re-registration, or exmatriculation fees.
Applicants are expected to have at least B2-level German by the start of their studies. Master’s applicants must intend to enroll in a four-semester master’s program at a German university, and bachelor’s applicants must have successfully completed at least two semesters of a bachelor’s program at a German university. KAS currently states that there is no age limit for applicants.
The scholarship is not restricted to a short list of named universities. Students researching German study options can also review profiles such as Humboldt University of Berlin and RWTH Aachen University, but applicants should confirm scholarship eligibility through KAS and their chosen German university.
4. Ontario Graduate Scholarship (OGS)
- Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Amount: CAD $10,000 or CAD $15,000 for one year
- Eligible Degree/s: Master’s and Doctoral | Offered by: Province of Ontario and the University of Toronto
At the University of Toronto, the OGS is valued at CAD $5,000 per session. Awardees may receive CAD $10,000 for two consecutive sessions or CAD $15,000 for three consecutive sessions, and each award is tenable for one year.
Applicants must be registered or intend to register in an eligible full-time graduate program, must not have exceeded the maximum permitted government-funded support, and must generally have achieved at least an A- average, or equivalent, in each of the last two completed years of study. Recipients must remain enrolled full-time in the eligible program for which the award was granted.
5. Vonwiller Foundation Postgraduate Research Scholarship (Australia)
- Scholarship Program
- Scholarship Amount: University of Sydney RTP stipend rate for up to 3 years, with a possible 6-month extension
- Eligible Degree/s: Ph.D. | Offered by: Vonwiller Foundation
Students from Sri Lanka who want to pursue a Ph.D. in Australia may consider the Vonwiller Foundation Postgraduate Research Scholarship at the University of Sydney. The scholarship supports a full-time Ph.D. within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney.
The scholarship provides a stipend allowance equivalent to the University of Sydney Research Training Program (RTP) stipend rate for up to 3 years, with a possible extension of up to 6 months, subject to satisfactory academic performance.
To be eligible, applicants must have an unconditional offer of admission to study full-time in a Ph.D. within the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Sydney. Applicants must be willing to conduct research in the area of detection and treatment to prevent the progression of coronary artery disease (CAD), and they must hold at least a three-year bachelor’s degree in a related field such as medical informatics, computer science, machine learning, deep learning, artificial intelligence, data science, bioinformatics, applied machine learning, or a similar area.
Studying abroad can be a strong investment in a student’s future, but it requires careful planning. Scholarship rules can change, so students should confirm eligibility, award coverage, and application deadlines directly with the scholarship provider or university.
Hopefully, this article on the best scholarships for Sri Lankan students was informative and helpful. Make sure to also check out our Scholarships Page and available courses for Sri Lankan students!
