Lectures on Studies in the USA (group advising sessions) : The Student Adviser offers regular guidance on how to study in the US. Students who attend group sessions are provided general information on admission requirements, selection of universities, application procedure and test information. Prior registration is required for these free group sessions.

Individual Advising Services : The Student Adviser is available by appointment to assist students who need specific information or particular help on any part of the application process.

Reference Library : The US-SLFC's library has an extensive collection of college/university guides, catalogues, application forms, CDs, videos, test preparatory material and reference books on various aspects of higher education in the U.S.

Visa Seminars : The US-SLFC conducts free seminars to help students to prepare for the U.S. student visa interview. Prior registration is required.

Pre-Departure Orientations : The US-SLFC conducts half-day workshops that provide information on living and studying in the U.S.A. , cultural issues, academic matters and visa regulations. Prior registration is required

Computer Corner : Students may use the Internet facility or select from the variety of educational software and college CDs for educational purposes, at the US-SLFC's Computer Corner. Test preparatory software for TOEFL, GRE, GMAT and SAT are also available. Students are charged by the hour for computer usage.

Application Resources : The US-SLFC has compiled a variety of informative handouts on higher education in the U.S. In addition Applying to Colleges and Universities in the U.S. and several publications of test preparation are also available. These are sold at subsidized rates.

Loan of Books : Students may borrow books for the evening by leaving their identity cards. A nominal fee is charged for this.

Authentication of Educational Documents : After careful scrutiny, the US-SLFC authenticates transcripts and other educational documents that students need to submit to American universities as part of their application. A nominal fee is charged for this service.

In addition to the Government Schools there are 33 non-fee-levying Assisted Private Schools and 33 fee- levying autonomous Private Schools. These schools offer the local syllabus as well as the British system. There is another category of English medium International Schools approved and registered by the Board of Investment, Sri Lanka. Some international schools offer the curriculum for the IB Diploma while others coach students for the Edexcel G.C.E Ordinary Level (O/L) Advanced Subsidiary (A/S) and Advanced Level (A2) examinations. A few schools offer the curriculum for the Cambridge Examinations as well.

Sri Lankan G.C.E (A/L) is comparable to the UK qualification of GCE standard on a subject-for-subject basis.

Tertiary Level: Sri Lanka has 15 universities, all of which are public institutions. Other institutions of higher education include medical schools, engineering schools, schools of law, and technical and vocational training schools and National Colleges of Education.

Universities: Admission at undergraduate level to these public universities are based solely on the results of the G.C.E.(A/L) Examination and the Z-score, which considers the difficulty level of the subjects..  Due to restricted facilities admissions have become extremely competitive.  Only 6% of the students who sit the examination are admitted to the universities. Combined with the fact that those who take the British examinations are not permitted to apply for admission, an increasing number of students are looking for opportunities abroad for continuing their higher studies.

First stage: Certificate, Diploma, and Bachelor’s Degree.
Certificates and diplomas are conferred after one or two years. A Bachelor’s Degree is earned after three years as a General Degree or after 4 years as a Special Degree.  A degree in Medicine is awarded after 5 years of study with an additional year of internship, which is compulsory.

Typical degrees: BA/BSc – (General degree) – 3 years, BA/BSc – (Special degree) and Bachelor of Commerce degrees – 4 years, MBBS 5 years, LLB-3years

Second stage: Master’s Degree, M Phil, Postgraduate Diploma.
A Master’s Degree is obtained after two years of study beyond the Bachelor’s Degree and has a dissertation in addition to papers on theory. The M.Phil /PhD syllabus consists mainly of research and may go on for 3 years after the Masters degree. Postgraduate Diplomas, unless stated otherwise, generally require one year of study. Typical degrees: MA/MSc/MBA – 2 years, PhD – 3 years after a Masters degree.

Institutes recognized by the Ministry of Education as degree granting authorities as of April /07

In addition there are 9 Higher Educational Institutes and 7 Other Degree Awarding Institutes.

reference : www.ugc.ac.lk

Vocational and Technical Schools:  These offer one to two year diploma programs and are under the Technical and Vocational Commission. Admission requirements differs according to the program.

National Colleges of Education: A 3 year diploma for teacher training is offered at these schools and the entry requirement is 3 passes at the G.C.E.

Vocational Training - There are also a large number of training institutes run by the Government as well as the private sector for vocational training, catering to the needs of those who leave the school system at different levels.

Contact information: US-Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission, 7, Flower Terrace, Colombo 7 Sri Lanka

Adviser: Nelum Senadira E-mail: nelums@isplanka.lk

What are the basic admission requirements for getting admission to an undergraduate programme?
You must have a good academic background inclusive of 12 years of appropriate formal education and the G.C.E. O/Ls & A/Ls, adequate financial resources and a good command of the English language. Of the supplementary tests TOEFL is mandatory for all foreign students and SAT 1 and SAT 11 are highly recommended, especially by the Consular Officer.
TOEFL
SAT 1 & SAT 11

What would be the estimated expenses for one Academic year?
The cost of study varies widely among institutions and the cost of living varies from one location to the next. Please visit the US-SLFC's Library to know more about the expenses at various universities/colleges.

What are the types of higher education institutions in the U.S. ?
There are different types of institutions . Each has its own programmes and entry requirements.
For more information: www.educationusa.state.gov/undergraduate

When does the academic year begin? What is a semester?
The academic calendar will be slightly different for each university but normally runs from early September to end of May. A semester is a term.

What does FALL and SPRING admissions mean?
These are the two main semesters. The Fall semester begins at the end of August or early September. The Spring semester starts around January/February.

What is a Credit System?
A student's rate of advancement in meeting curriculum requirements is measured in course units or credits. These are referred to as credit hours. Usually it takes between 130 - 180 credits to graduate.

What are the degree courses that would make up my study programme?
The individual courses that make up the degree programme can be divided into the following:

Core courses: These provide the foundation of the degree programme and are required of all students. Eg. Mathematics, English, humanities, physical sciences and social sciences.

Major courses: A major is a subject in which a student chooses to concentrate. Most major in one subject; however some colleges offer the option of pursuing a double major with a related subject. Your major courses represent one-quarter to one-half of the total number of courses required to complete a degree

Minor courses: A minor is a subject in which a student may choose to take the second greatest concentration of courses. The required number of courses tends to be half the number of major courses.

Elective courses: These may be chosen from any department. They offer opportunities to explore other topics or subjects you may be interested in and help make up the total number of credits required to graduate.

What are "Grades" in the American system?
American universities employ a system of continual assessment and assign grades for each course taken. Almost everything you do for a class will influence your final grade. Examinations and tests, essays or written assignments, laboratory reports, laboratory or studio work, class attendance, and class participation may all be used to determine your final grade. This means it is essential to keep up with the reading and course work and to attend classes on a regular basis.
The following is a general percentage/letter grade scale for classes taken at U.S. colleges:

100 - 90% = A
89 - 80% = B
79 - 70% = C
69 - 60% = D
59 - 50% = E
49 - 0% = F

What is a GPA?
Each student completes his or her degree with a grade point average (GPA). A cumulative grade point average is the GPA for all courses taken throughout the degree programme. Most universities use a GPA scale of 4.0, but a few universities use a scale of 5.0. To work out your GPA, take the numerical value assigned to the letter grade you achieve for each course (typically 4 points for an "A," 3 points for a "B," and so on), then multiply this number by the number of credits each course is worth. Finally, add these numbers together and divide by the total number of credits for all courses. For example:

What is an "Accreditation"?
Accreditation is the uniquely American process by which colleges and universities (as well as other groups of educational & service institutions) voluntarily establish and enforce criteria for the assessment of the quality of institutions, degree programmes and professional certificate programmes within certain academic and professional fields. Being "accredited" signifies that the institution or programme meets minimum quality standards established by the group.

What is a "transcript"?
A transcript is an authenticated copy of a student's official academic record detailing courses the student has taken and the grade received in each.

TOEFL .

Web Resource Guide : www.ets.org/toefl

Contact information for General Inquiries & Paper-Based Testing Registration:

Phone: 1-609-771-7100 Fax: 1-609-771-7500 E-mail: toefl@ets.org

Mail: TOEFL Services, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6151 , Princeton , NJ 08541-6151 , USA .

Express courier Delivery: TOEFL Services (25-Q-310), Distribution & Receiving Center , 225, Phillips Boulevard, Ewing , NJ 08628-7435 , USA.

Methods for Registration :

Mail: complete the registration form in the envelope marked "Paper-Based Testing Only" in the center of the bulletin and mail to:
TOEFL Registration Office, P.O. Box 6152 , Princeton , NJ 08541-6152 , USA .

Online Registration: www.ets.org/toefl for test takers with valid credit cards

Scheduling hints:

• Register early: test centers fill up quickly
• Take the test as soon as possible so your scores will be received in time to be considered with your application.
• Spell your name exactly as it is spelt on your identification documents.

Validity: scores are valid for two years

Graduate Admission Tests
Most graduate admissions departments require satisfactory scores on the GRE General test and/or the GRE subject test, or the GMAT.
In addition, most universities require a good score at the TSE before considering the award of an assistantship.

Contact information for General Inquiries
Web Resource Guide : www.gre.org
Phone: 1-609-771-7670 (Monday to Friday) Fax: 1-609-771-7906
E-mail: gre-info@ets.org
Mail: GRE-ETS, P.O. Box 6000 , Princeton , NJ 08541-6000 , USA.
Preferred Forms of Payment : Credit cards( VISA, MasterCard, American Express) or with a Bank draft
List of Subject tests : Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology/ Biology/ Chemistry/ Computer Science/ literature in English/ Mathematics (rescaled)/ Physics/Psychology (Computer Science Test will not be administered in April 2005
Reporting Score Reports : Within 4-6 weeks.

Scheduling hints:

• Register early: test centers fill up quickly. Take the test as soon as possible so your scores will be received in time to be considered with your application. Spell your name exactly as it is spelt on your identification documents.

Test Center : 10289 Colombo , U.S. Sri Lanka Fulbright Commission
Validity: scores are valid for five years
GMAT ( Graduate Management Admission Test)
Format: Measures basic verbal, mathematical and analytical writing skills. It is specifically designed to help graduate schools assess the qualifications of applicants for advanced study in business and management.
Web Resource Guide : www.mba.com
Contact information for General Inquiries
Phone: 1-609-771-7330 Fax: 1-609-883-4349
Preferred Forms of Payment: Credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express
Methods for Registration :
Online registration : www.mba.com

Scheduling hints:

• Send the pre registration form as soon as possible so your test preparation material will arrive on time.
• Spell your name exactly as it is spelt on your identification documents.

Validity: scores are valid for 5 years
Please refer the GMAT reading file in the US-SLFC's reference library for more information.

TSE ( Test of Spoken English)
Most universities would need the applicants to have a good score at the TSE when being considered for assistantships
The primary purpose of the TSE is to measure the ability of nonnative speakers of English to communicate orally in English. Required by some universities when granting assistantships.

Format: consists of 9 items, each of which requires examinees to perform a particular speech act. E.g. narrating, recommending, persuading, giving and supporting an opinion. There are two categories within the TSE program:
TSE-A is for teaching and research assistant applicants or for undergraduate or graduate x\school applicants.
TSE-B is for all other individuals, such as professionals or for those in an occupational field.

Web Resource Guide : www.ets.org/tse
Contact information for General Inquiries
Phone: 1-609-771-7100 Fax: 1-609-771-7500 E-mail: toefl@ets.org
Mail: TOEFL/TSE Services, Educational Testing Service, P.O. Box 6157 , Princeton , NJ 08541-6151 , USA .
Express courier Delivery: TOEFL/TSE Services, Educational Testing Services, Distribution & Receiving Center , 225, Phillips Boulevard, Ewing , NJ 08628 , USA .
Preferred Forms of Payment: Credit cards (VISA, MasterCard, American Express) / Bank draft
Methods for Registration :
Mail: complete the registration form in the center of the bulletin and mail it to ETS in the envelope provided.
Online Registration: www.toefl.gre/tse for test takers with valid credit cards

Scheduling hints:

• Take the test as soon as possible so your scores will be received in time to be considered with your application.
• Spell your name exactly as it is spelt on your identification documents.

Test Centers : Sri Lanka H 400 Colombo
Test Dates : See page 20 of bulletin
Scoring : The score is reported on a scale of 20-60.
Validity: scores are valid for two years

How do I finance my graduate studies programme?
Education in the United States may seem expensive, but you have probably already realized that it offers excellent value for the money invested. Educational financing requires effective applications, assessing your personal funds, identifying financial assistance, and reducing educational costs. The following options may be available for outstanding applicants

Planning Ahead
It is a myth that international students can easily get the money they need for study after they have been admitted to a college or university in the United States . In fact, such an assumption can lead to hardship and disappointment. Most institutions have committed all their scholarship and loan funds long before the academic year begins. Also, as part of the application for a student visa, you must be able to show proof to both the graduate school admissions office and to your local U.S. embassy or consulate that you have sufficient funds to meet the total annual expenses. If you plan to bring a spouse and/or children with you to the United States , you will also need to prove in advance that you have funds to support your family.

Calculating Your Expenses
There are two main types of expenses - tuition/fees and living expenses. These vary widely, which gives you some control over the costs involved in your education. All U.S. universities publish information on the costs for their institution and area. For more information please refer www.educationusa.state.gov/graduate/aid/calculate

Funding opportunities available for Sri Lankans

Fulbright Scholarships : Please visit http://www.fulbrightsrilanka.com/grants_sl.html for more details.

Funds from U.S. Universities: About one-third of international graduate students finance their studies through financial aid from U.S. universities. However, availability of financial assistance varies by field of study, level of study, and type of institution (research universities are likely to have the most funds available). Also, some universities will give aid to students only after they have successfully completed their first semester or first year of study.
To identify universities that offer financial assistance, consult university reference books or computer search software at information and advising centers. You can also find information on financial assistance directly from university catalogs and Web sites. Some university reference books provide information on financial aid awarded to first-year graduate students, but these statistics include U.S. students as well as international students. Also, all students, including international students, are required to pay U.S. income tax on certain forms of graduate financial assistance. If you are awarded a grant by a university, be sure to check with the institution to see if you are subject to any type of taxation.

The main types of financial aid available from universities are:

• Fellowships : Departments and institutions award fellowships on the basis of academic merit, normally after the first year of study. Graduate fellowships may be modest, covering only tuition and fees, or full grants, providing the cost of tuition, fees, and monthly stipends for maintenance. Fellowships rarely cover the total cost of living and studying.
• Assistantships : Assistantships are the most common form of financial aid at the graduate level. Assistantships are cash awards that require the performance of services related to the field of study, usually about 20 hours per week. Sometimes an assistantship carries with it a waiver (a remission or reduction) of tuition and fees. Awards may range from as little as $500 to as much as $30,000 (or higher, if high tuition costs are waived) for an academic year, so it is important to check what proportion of your costs the assistantship will cover. There are several types of assistantships:
• Teaching assistantships may be available for the first year of graduate study in university departments with large numbers of undergraduates in introductory courses. Teaching assistants (TAs) supervise undergraduate laboratory classes, lead discussion groups, or teach small classes. Increasingly, universities require that applicants achieve a high score on the Test of Spoken English (TSE) before receiving a teaching assistantship. Often universities require teaching assistants to complete training programs that prepare them to teach in the U.S. educational milieu. If you are interested in applying for a teaching assistantship, be sure to mention in your application any previous teaching experience that you have had.
• Research assistantships involve performance of research services related to the field of study. The advantage of a research assistantship is that it can be related to your thesis or long-term academic interests. Research assistants (RAs) are chosen for their demonstrated research and interpersonal skills. Computer ability, writing skills, and experience working as part of a team are three essential qualifications. Find institutions that have grants in your field, and apply to these universities for research assistantships. If you apply to institutions whose research funding matches your interests, professors who are the principal researchers for grants in your area will often single out your application for funding, especially if you have proven research experience.
• Administrative assistantships usually require 10 to 20 hours per week working in administrative offices of the university, such as the International Student Office. You will need to contact each office individually at most institutions, although a few may have a central location for applications. Read the material from each institution to learn where to send applications.

Competition for all types of assistantships is intense, since only limited numbers are available at any one institution. International applicants must compete with U.S. students. In general, doctoral students are more likely to receive support than master's candidates. Although financial need is taken into consideration, the most important factor in selection is academic achievement and promise in the field of study. Practically all awards for graduate study are made one year at a time. Renewal is not automatic and depends on your performance and the availability of funds; however, in general, departments will do all they can to ensure you receive continued financial support. Once enrolled at an institution, you should begin seeking funding for the next academic year.
To apply for university funding, find out which offices are responsible for the various programs and request application materials. The graduate school may control the funds, or the department or program may administer them, or a combination of both. Read carefully all the information pertaining to funding, since the application process can be complex and time-consuming.
When an offer is made, compare the total award package, including tuition and fees, amount of stipend, length of award, and work responsibilities. If you receive more than one offer, you will have to weigh the benefits of each award from each institution and make the best decision. The decision of which institution to attend should never be based on the amount of an award alone, since financial assistance has nothing to do with the quality of the program. Selecting an institution is a complex and important decision; be sure to take all factors into consideration to make the choices that are best for you.

Writing a Research Proposal

To receive funds for research or study in the United States , some organizations require a carefully designed research proposal. Please refer http://educationusa.state.gov/graduate/aid/proposal.htm.