The University of West London (UWL) has officially opened its branch campus in Sri Lanka, marking a milestone in UK-Sri Lanka higher-education collaboration and creating new opportunities for local students to tap into South Asia’s emerging growth.
The launch was highlighted during the signing of the agreement by British High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, Andrew Patrick. “Which part of the world is going to grow in the coming decades? Not the US, UK, or Europe, but Tamil Nadu, which is expected to grow.
This venture provides an opportunity for Sri Lankan youth to become part of an international network,” Patrick said.
The new branch, operated in partnership with ANC Education, builds on UWL’s decade-long presence in Sri Lanka. Since 2013, the partnership has enabled over 5,000 Sri Lankan students to earn UWL degrees in fields including business, law, and psychology.
Degree programmes at the Colombo campus will be significantly more affordable than pursuing the same courses in the UK, offering greater financial accessibility for Sri Lankan students. Under the branch-campus model, students gain direct enrolment with UWL, ensuring access to the university’s academic standards, qualifications, and global networks while studying locally.
The campus will expand to offer programmes in data science, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, sustainability, and biosciences, aligning with Sri Lanka’s national vision for skill and knowledge development.
UWL Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Peter John CBE described the launch as a proud moment for the university and British higher education. “The establishment of our branch campus reflects our confidence in Sri Lanka and our commitment to delivering career-focused, high-quality degrees internationally. With over 5,000 Sri Lankan graduates already benefiting from our partnership with ANC Education, this campus will open even greater opportunities,” he said.
ANC Education Chairman Dr. Jagath Alwis said construction of a state-of-the-art university building in Colombo would begin soon. “This partnership marks a major step forward for higher education in Sri Lanka. The branch campus will provide students with access to globally recognised British degrees and a dedicated UWL learning environment. It will contribute to the country’s knowledge economy, retain talent, broaden access to international education, and strengthen graduate employability. Recruitment for new programmes will begin once regulatory approvals in the UK and Sri Lanka are completed,” he said.