Established July 2026 · Faculty of Graduate Studies Ordinance No. 3 of 1987

Faculty of Graduate Studies

OUSL’s newest faculty — the central umbrella for postgraduate research, coordination, and quality assurance across the university.

The Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) operates an approved research strategy through the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS), which serves as the central umbrella for research activities across all faculties.

The establishment of the FGS represents a major milestone for OUSL, centralizing the management, coordination, and quality assurance of all postgraduate programs. The faculty brings all postgraduate research under its purview to elevate academic standards and foster interdisciplinary research.

V

Vision

To be a nodal point for open, locally grounded, and globally competitive postgraduate programs that provide life-changing opportunities for postgraduate learning, research, scholarship, and innovation across all regions of Sri Lanka and overseas.

M

Mission

To support, develop, and deliver responsive, innovative, meaningful, flexible, and high-quality postgraduate learning and research opportunities across all regions of Sri Lanka and overseas.

What guides us

Core values

Innovation
I

Innovation

Applying advanced solutions to meet evolving societal needs through research.

Integrity
I

Integrity

Upholding strict moral and ethical principles in teaching, research, and knowledge dissemination.

Responsibility
R

Responsibility

Practicing accountability that respects the needs and sustainability of planetary life.

Progression
P

Progression

Facilitating lifelong learning through effective, efficient service delivery that empowers students and staff.

Governance

Boards of Study

Nine boards oversee academic quality and curriculum across the faculty’s postgraduate disciplines.

  1. Education, ODL, and Educational Technology
  2. Management Studies
  3. Humanities and Social Sciences
  4. Engineering, Technology
  5. Natural Sciences (including Forestry)
  6. IT and ICT (including Computer Science and Computer Engineering)
  7. Multidisciplinary Research (including Environmental Studies, Sustainable Development, and Mixed-Discipline Education)
  8. Agricultural and Biosystems Technology
  9. Health Sciences

Faculty leadership

The Dean

Senior Professor Shyama R. Weerakoon

Dean, Faculty of Graduate Studies

  • B.Sc. Hons. (Colombo)
  • Ph.D. (Western Australia)
  • Post-Doctoral Fellow (Western Australia)

In her own words

Message from the Dean

It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) at The Open University of Sri Lanka.

The FGS aims to be a primary contributor to human capital development in Sri Lanka while leading excellence in graduate education and research. We cultivate a stimulating environment across diverse disciplines, offering a range of Master’s degree programs alongside full-time MPhil and PhD research degrees. All programs align strictly with the Sri Lanka Qualification Framework (SLQF) and the subject benchmark standards of the University Grants Commission of Sri Lanka.

As a state university faculty, we are committed to broadening access to postgraduate education on a non-profit basis without burdening the national treasury. Under this policy, we subsidize strategic, high-demand programs that serve a vital national interest, preparing skilled professionals for key national sectors.

Our programs actively support Sri Lanka’s sustainable development through research and knowledge dissemination. Beyond degree programs, the FGS facilitates scholarly exchange through annual research conferences, the FGS Seminar Series, and our bi-annual multidisciplinary journal.

Graduate education at FGS is a transformative journey designed to foster intellectual curiosity, academic rigor, and professional excellence. I invite all prospective and current postgraduate students to take full advantage of these opportunities to advance your careers, contribute to research, and reach the pinnacle of success.

Senior Professor Shyama R. WeerakoonDean, Faculty of Graduate Studies