Sri Lanka Exempt Qualifications
Lists Sri Lankan qualifications exempt from NZQA assessment for SMC points and the conditions that apply.
- Status
- active
- Updated
- 2026-04-29
- Also known as
- Sri Lanka Special Category
- Sources
- S-sri-lanka
At a glance
Certain Sri Lankan academic qualifications are exempt from the International Qualification Assessment (IQA) by NZQA and attract the following points under the Skilled Migrant Category (SMC), provided the qualification was awarded by a listed institution, within the stated years, and meets all conditions in the Academic Qualifications Table. [S-sri-lanka]
- Bachelor-level qualifications (NZQF Level 7): 50 points
- Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Social Sciences (NZQF Level 8): 50 points
- Master of Commerce, Master of Philosophy (NZQF Level 9): 70 points
- Doctor of Philosophy (NZQF Level 10): 70 points
Qualifications marked as “Requires assessment by NZQA” are not exempt and must be submitted for an IQA. [S-sri-lanka]
Definition
Academic Qualifications Table
| Qualification | Abbreviation | Level in NZQF terms | Points under SMC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bachelor of Applied Science with Honours | BASH | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelor of Arts ‘Special’ (specialty may be stated)** | BAS | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelor of Business Administration ‘Special’** | BBA | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelor of Commerce ‘Special’** | BCS | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelor of Dental Surgery** | BDS | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelor of Design with Honours | BDH | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelor of Laws ‘Special’** | LLB | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelor of Science ‘Special’ (specialty may be stated)** | BSS | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelor of Science with Honours (specialty may be stated) | BSH | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelor of Science of Engineering / Bachelor of the Science of Engineering with or without Honours (a speciality will be stated) | BSE | 7 | 50 |
| Bachelors (External) with any titles | — | Requires assessment by NZQA | — |
| Bachelors stated as ‘Pass’ or ‘Pass Class’ | — | Requires assessment by NZQA | — |
| Masters (External) with any titles | — | Requires assessment by NZQA | — |
| Master of Arts | MA | 8 | 50 |
| Master of Science | MS | 8 | 50 |
| Master of Social Sciences | MSS | 8 | 50 |
| Master of Commerce | MC | 9 | 70 |
| Master of Philosophy | MP | 9 | 70 |
| Doctor of Philosophy | PhD | 10 | 70 |
Notes:
-
- Abbreviations used are for the purposes of this list only.
- ** Degrees may additionally state ‘Honours’ on the award certificate.
- If an applicant believes their qualification may be higher than the level stated, they should apply to NZQA for an International Qualification Assessment. [S-sri-lanka]
Awarding Institutions Table
| Institution | Qualification awarded from or between dates |
|---|---|
| Buddhist and Pali University of Sri Lanka | BAS, MA, MP and PhD: 2000 |
| Eastern University, Sri Lanka | BAS, BSS, MA, MS, MP and PhD: 2000; BBA and BCS: 2005 |
| The Open University of Sri Lanka | LLB, MS, MP and PhD: 2010 |
| University of Colombo | BAS, BSS, MA, MS, MP and PhD: 1990; BBA: 2010; LLB: 2000 |
| University of Jaffna, Sri Lanka | BAS, BSS, MA, MS, MP and PhD: 2000; BBA: 2005 |
| University of Kelaniya | BAS, BCS, MA, MC, MSS, MS, MP and PhD: 2005; BSS: 2005–2016; BSH: 2017 |
| University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka | BDH, BSH, MS, MP and PhD: 2005; BSE: 2014; BSS: 2005–2012 |
| University of Peradeniya | BASH: 2010; BAS, BC, BDS, BSS, MA, MS, MP and PhD: 1990; BBA: 2006; BSE: 2014 |
| University of Ruhuna | BAS, BSS, MA, MP and PhD: 2000; BBA: 2006; BSE: 2014 |
| University of Sri Jayewardenepura, Sri Lanka | BAS, BCS, BSS, MA, MS and PhD: 1990; MP: 2000 |
Effective 19/02/2018. [S-sri-lanka]
Application in decisions
An immigration officer assessing an SMC application may treat a Sri Lankan qualification as recognised for points without requiring an NZQA International Qualification Assessment if all of the following are met:
- The qualification appears in the Academic Qualifications Table. [S-sri-lanka]
- The awarding institution appears in the Awarding Institutions Table. [S-sri-lanka]
- The qualification abbreviation matches the right‑hand column. [S-sri-lanka]
- The award date falls within the year range stated. [S-sri-lanka]
- No exclusion note applies. [S-sri-lanka]
If any condition fails, the qualification must be referred to NZQA for an IQA. [S-sri-lanka]
Interpretation & edge cases
Mandatory NZQA referral The following must be referred to NZQA for an International Qualifications Assessment, even if the qualification otherwise appears in the tables: [S-sri-lanka]
- All honorary degrees
- Any listed qualification where study was completed at an institution outside Sri Lanka, including overseas campuses of a listed awarding institution
- Any listed qualification that contains cross-credited courses or papers
- All qualifications awarded after 2017
Documents required
- Award certificates must be provided in the original language. [S-sri-lanka]
- Award certificates are double‑sided with an English language version on one side. [S-sri-lanka]
Degrees marked ‘Special’ Degrees listed as ‘Special’ may state ‘Honours’ on the certificate. [S-sri-lanka]
Level disputes If an applicant believes their qualification may be higher than the NZQF level listed in the table, they must apply to NZQA for an IQA. [S-sri-lanka]
Effective date This list applies from 19 February 2018. Earlier awards may still be assessed under transitional instructions. [S-sri-lanka]
Citations
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