The University of Colombo currently has seven faculties with 41 academic departments and two interdependent schools with five academic departments. All faculties and schools carries out courses of study and research in both graduate and undergraduate studies. In addition, the university has several institutions that specialize in different areas of research.[1]
| Founding of Faculties & Schools of the University of Colombo | ||
|---|---|---|
| Faculty | Year founded | |
| 1870 | ||
| 1942 | ||
| 1947 | ||
| 1949 | ||
| 1963 | ||
| 1979 | ||
| 1987 | ||
| 2017 | ||
| 1996 | ||
| 2002 | ||
In terms of student population the Faculty of Arts is the largest faculty in of the University of Colombo. Made up of eight academic departments and several teaching units, it undertakes studies and research in areas of humanities and social sciences. The origins of the faculty dates back to 1921, with the establishment of the Ceylon University College, as courses in arts subjects where the first to be started. Upgraded to a faculty in 1942 with the establishment of the University of Ceylon that year, it was moved completely to Peradeniya in the early 1950s. In 1963, a new arts faculty was established in Colombo as part of the University of Ceylon, Colombo campus which continues to function as the current faculty.
The Faculty of Education was established in 1973, followed by the merger of Departments of Education of the Peradeniya, Vidyalankara and Vidyodaya that had been brought back to Colombo in 1975. However it traces it roots to 1949 when the Department of Education was founded in Colombo before it move to Peradeniya. It has become the primary center of undergraduate and postgraduate studies and research in education.
The Faculty of Graduate Studies (FGS) is a graduate school it conducts post-graduate degree programs in many fields, via on campus lectures and distance learning. It has the largest number of distance learning course offered via e-learning and m-learning with a student base in both Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It was established by the Faculty of Graduate Studies Ordinance No. 03 of 1987.
The Faculty of Management and Finance traces it roots to the establishment of the Department of Commerce and Management Studies which was later upgraded to a faculty made up of six academic departments. Studies into accounting, business economics, finance, human resource management, management, organization studies and marketing. Its Postgraduate & Mid-career Development Unit which conducts the highly recognized MBA program of the Colombo University.
The Faculty of Medicine is the oldest faculty of the university and oldest medical school in Sri Lanka. Established in 1870 as the Colombo Medical School later renamed as the Colombo Medical College, it was integrated as a faculty of the University of Ceylon at its formation in 1942. The Faculty has close links with several hospitals for teaching, training, clinical services and research. These include;
The Faculty of Law (නීති පීඨය Nithi Pit-haya)(சட்ட பீடம் "Satta peedam"), was founded at the Department of Law in Colombo in 1947 within the University of Ceylon and was moved to Peradeniya as part of the Faculty of Arts. However the department was later shifted to the Colombo Campus of the University of Ceylon upgrade to a Faculty of Law in 1968. The faculty maintains close links with the Sri Lanka Law College, which conducts the law exams need for admittance as an Attorney at Law. Being the first Law Faculty in the country, and the oldest Faculty of Law in the entire University system of the country it conducts both undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs in the field law.
The Faculty of Science was established in 1942 with the founding the University of Ceylon. Part of the faculty was moved to Peradeniya, with other department remaining in Colombo. The faculty carries out research and studies chemistry, mathematics, nuclear science, physics, plant sciences, statistics and zoology. The oldest Faculty of Science in the country, it conducts both undergraduate and post-graduate degree programs in many fields of science.
Established in 1942 with the founding the University of Ceylon, as such it is one of the two oldest faculties in the island. At its formation its nucleus was formed from staff from the Science Section of the Ceylon Technical College. Part of the faculty was moved to Peradeniya, with other department remaining in Colombo. The faculty carries out research and studies Chemistry, Mathematics, Nuclear science, Physics, Plant Sciences, Statistics and Zoology.
The Sri Palee Campus of the University of Colombo is located in Wewala, Horana. Established in 1996 it conducts courses in the field of performing arts and mass media. It was established by a notification of the Sri Lanka government gazette (Extraordinary) No 928/1 dated June 20, 1996. The campus is located in buildings and land donated to the University of Sri Lanka by the Sri Palee Trust in memory of Hon Wilmot A. Perera. The Sri Palee Trust was established by Wilmot A. Perera with his personal lands. The campus is due to expand into two faculties with five academic departments.
The University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC) is a higher educational affiliate institute providing undergraduate and postgraduate education in Computer Science, Information Systems, and Information and Communication Technology. The UCSC was formed on 1 September 2002 with the argumentation of the Department of Computer Science of the Faculty of Science of the University of Colombo and the Institute of Computer Technology by Professor V. K. Samaranayake.[5]
Education centres include: the Advanced Digital Media Technology Centre, Computer Services Centre, Digital Forensic Centre, e-Learning Centre, External Degrees Centre, and the Professional Development Centre.
The "Faculty of Technology" is one of the newest Faculties to join the prestigious University of Colombo.Established in Homagama,Pitipana 2017.The Faculty of Technology of the University of Colombo is pivotally positioned to provide an excellent technological education to the undergraduates seeking admission to the Faculty.Through the academic programmes conducted by the departments of the Faculty, the students are trained as technology professionals with knowledge of the existing novel technologies.
The Postgraduate Institute of Medicine (PGIM) is the only graduate school in the country that provides specialist training of medical doctors. It was established in 1976 as the Institute of Postgraduate Medicine under the University of Ceylon Act No.1 of 1976 with Professor K. N. Seneviratne its first director, it was reorganized and given its current name under the Postgraduate Institute of Medicine Act No.1 of 1980.
The National Institute of Library & Information Sciences (NILIS) is a graduate school that focus on the study and research of library science, information management, and allied fields. It was established in 1999 by an ordinance under section 18 and 24 of the Universities Act No. 16 of 1978 as an institution affiliated to the University of Colombo.
The Institute of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology and Biotechnology (IBMBB) is the Sri Lankan node for the European Molecular Biology Network. It is also designated as a resource centre for molecular life sciences by the international program in chemical sciences, University of Uppsala.
The Institute of Indigenous Medicine specialize in the study of the form of ayurvedic medicine, which has been practiced in the island for over two thousand years. It is located in Nawala a suburb of Colombo.
The Institute of Human Resource Advancement, formerly the Institute of Workers Education provide access to education and lifelong learning for adults. It conducts studies in many areas that is part of adult education.
The Institute of Agro Technology and Rural Science is an affiliated institute of for the UoC, located in Hambantota in the Southern Province of the country.