✨ Should I Apply for Sri Lanka Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship?
Instant AI-powered application intelligence
High for students from low-income families who secure a university seat
Competition
🌍 Overview
💰
Award Amount
LKR 5,000 to LKR 5,500 per monthly installment
⏱
Duration
Entire duration of the undergraduate degree program (typically 3 to 4 years)
🗓
Deadline
Concurrent with the University Grants Commission (UGC) university admission registration period
⚙️
Fields
All academic disciplines offered at state universities including Medicine, Engineering, Law, Arts, and Management
🏆
Awards/Year
Approximately 15,000 to 20,000 new awards per academic year
🏛️
Provider
Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund (MHESTF)
📊
Acceptance
Varies based on the annual government budget and Trust Fund capacity
The Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship is Sri Lanka's premier national scholarship program for university students. Established in 1981 by the Late Hon. Lalith Athulathmudali, it aims to support students from underprivileged backgrounds. The fund is primarily financed through Mahapola trade fairs and dedicated lotteries, ensuring that academic merit is rewarded and financial barriers to higher education are reduced.
👥 Who Should Apply
Based on Z-score ranking (Merit) or a combination of Z-score and parental income (Ordinary). Must be under 25 years of age.
🏛️ Host University
All State Universities under the University Grants Commission (UGC) of Sri Lanka
🤝 Sponsor
Mahapola Higher Education Scholarship Trust Fund / Ministry of Trade
⚙️ Fields of Study
All academic disciplines offered at state universities including Medicine, Engineering, Law, Arts, and Management
✨ Key Benefits
Provides a consistent monthly financial allowance to assist with the daily living expenses and educational materials for university students.
🎯 Target Students
Sri Lankan domestic undergraduate students
🏷 Tags
Sri Lanka
Undergraduate
Mahapola
UGC
Stipend
State University
💸 Funding Breakdown
Tuition
No (Note: Tuition is already free for Sri Lankan citizens in state universities)
Living Stipend
LKR 5,000 for Ordinary Scholarship; LKR 5,500 for Merit Scholarship per month
Total Award
LKR 5,000 to LKR 5,500 per m
✈️ Travel: No
🏠 Accommodation: No
💊 Health Insurance: No
🔄 Renewable: Yes
💳 App Fee: Free
🎓 Tuition Coverage
No (Note: Tuition is already free for Sri Lankan citizens in state universities)
🏠 Living Stipend
LKR 5,000 for Ordinary Scholarship; LKR 5,500 for Merit Scholarship per month
🎁 Other Benefits
Payments are made for 10 months of each academic year
📋 Renewal Conditions
Maintaining active student status, meeting minimum attendance requirements, and successful completion of academic years
✅ Eligibility Requirements
🌍 Eligible Nationalities
Must be a citizen of Sri Lanka, have passed the G.C.E. Advanced Level exam, and be selected for a state university
🎓 Academic Level
Undergraduate (Bachelors)
📊 Minimum GPA
Not applicable (Selection is based on Z-score ranking and district quota)
🗣️ English Requirement
No specific English score required for the scholarship itself
🎂 Age Limit
Under 25 years at the time of university admission registration
💼 Work Experience
Not required
💰 Financial Need
Required for the 'Ordinary' scholarship tier (Parental income must be below a set threshold)
🎯 Target Students
Sri Lankan domestic undergraduate students
📝 Application Requirements
Interview
No (Selection is automated via UGC and Trust Fund data)
Documents Required
- Academic Transcripts
- Passport / National ID
- No Recommendation Letters
- CV / Resume
- No specific English score required for the scholarship itself
- Interview: No (Selection is automated via UGC and Trust Fund data)
- Min GPA: Not applicable (Selection is based on Z-score ranking and district quota)
📋 Application Process
Ensure all details in the UGC university admission form are accurate, particularly family income and district information.
💡 Insider Tip: Maintain a valid bank account in your name at a state bank (Bank of Ceylon or People's Bank) for the stipend disbursement.