History
The University of Ceylon was established by the State Council in April 1942. The first Vice-Chancellor of the new University, Sir Ivor Jennings, hoisted the flag on July 1942 at the College House where his office and the central administration were located. The
Education
Today, the University of Colombo with a proud history of over 115 years continues in its endeavour to meet the challenge of maintaining its position as the “Metropolitan University, Modern and International in Outlook and Character”. The location of the University affords the student population all the advantages of a “metropolitan university”, with easy access to international information/ resource centres, libraries, theatres, sports complexes etc.
University of Colombo Key Statistics & Highlights
- #1001 Ranking
- 46 Scholarships
- 972 Academic Staff
- 30,227 Students
- 19,648 Students (female)
- Public Institution Type
University of Colombo Overview
University of Colombo Scholarships
University of Colombo Scholarships
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University of Colombo Student Reviews & Awards
Based on 33 reviews
- 5 Star 17 Reviews
- 4 Star 11 Reviews
- 3 Star 5 Reviews
- 2 Star 0 Reviews
- 1 Star 0 Reviews
I am extremely satisfied with my overall study .
I really enjoyed my overall study experience. The staff were helpful, the communication was clear, and everything was well organized. I felt supported throughout the process and appreciated the professional service. I am very satisfied and would happily recommend it to others.
It is fine not too shabby.
University is pretty small but the education that they offer is very good.
The Best
I remember how challenging it was to decide where to study comparing universities, reading reviews, and trying to imagine what life would be like in each place. That experience made me realize how valuable honest feedback and personal experiences are when making such an important decision. By sharing my own study journey, I can help other students see what it’s really like from academic expectations and campus life to challenges and highlights so they can make a more confident, informed choice about their own future.
University of Colombo Rankings
Study Portals Meta Ranking
Studyportals ranking look at the scores of the most used ranking systems and present you with one number of how well this University performs.
QS World University Rankings
By TopUniversities
Dropped 50 places compared to 2025
QS World University Rankings is one of the top international rankings measuring the popularity and performance of universities all over the world. They measure university reputation based on the impressions of higher education experts, companies who hire graduates, and teaching quality. QS also considers the ratio of international teachers and students present at universities, as well as the times research papers were mentioned by researchers. After calculating and comparing these criteria, QS ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend QS World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1001 | 951 | 1001 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
World University Rankings
By Times Higher Education
The university hasn’t moved up or down in the rankings over the past year.
World University Rankings is a vital resource that provides the definitive list of the world's best universities. They look at how often they're producing new ideas, what their reputation is around the world, and how much they're contributing to science and academic fields. After calculating and comparing these criteria, THE ranks the universities accordingly.
3 year trend World University Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| 1001 | - | 1001 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Best Global Universities Rankings
By U.S. News & World Report
Dropped 107 places compared to 2025
Best Global Universities Rankings by U.S. News & World Report presents all the top universities from the U.S. and 60 other countries around the world. They measure the rate of students going to their second year of studies, as well as the rate of students who graduate. It also asks university representatives on the performance of universities, and evaluates university resources, teacher salaries, graduation rates, student academic achievements and satisfaction. After calculating and comparing these criteria, U.S. News ranks the top international universities accordingly.
3 year trend Best Global Universities Rankings
| 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| - | 1239 | 1346 |
We don’t have enough recent ranking data to show a 3-year trend for this university.
Housing services
Hostels:
- Kithyakara Men's Hostel
- Havelock Women's Hostel
- Bullers Women's Hostel
- Muttiah Women's Hostel
- De Saram Women's Hostels
- Blomfontein Men's Hostel
- Green Path Bhikku House
- Boralesgamuwa Student House
- Thelawala Hostels
- Siva Chinnathambi Women's hostel
- Nursing Faculty Women's hostel
- Technology Faculty Hostel
Library services
Main Library is the focal point of the Library Network of University of Colombo which consist of the branch Libraries of the Faculty of Medicine & Faculty of Science and it caters to Faculties of Arts, Education, Graduate Studies, Law and Management & Finance. The Main Library is located at Philip Gunawardena Mawatha (Reid Avenue).
Campus life
The University of Colombo has nine faculties with 56 Academic Departments, a Campus, a School, 7 Institutes and 8 Centres and Units. Many undergraduate and postgraduate study courses in the fields of Arts, Science, Medicine, Management, Finance, Law, Education, IT, Aesthetic Studies. Molecular Biology etc are conducted by the University. The University also offers several other services, such as library services, career guidance, and services for differently-abled students.
Sports facilities
Newly constructed Fitness Centre was opened by the Vice-Chancellor Senior Prof. Lakshman Dissanayake on 12/08/2015 at the University of Colombo Gymnasium.