Arabic Language
Arabic Language in Sri Lanka: Careers, Curriculum & Future Outlook
💼 Targeted Job Roles
- Arabic Translator / Interpreter
- Arabic Language Teacher or Lecturer
- Foreign-Employment & Recruitment Liaison Officer (Middle East)
- Embassy / Diplomatic Mission Support Staff
- Tourism & Hospitality Officer (Arabic-speaking visitors)
- Trade / Import-Export Coordinator with Gulf markets
- Media, Content & Translation roles (Arabic)
- Support roles in Islamic banking and finance
📘 Overview
The BA in Arabic Language develops reading, writing, speaking and translation skills in both Classical and Modern Standard Arabic, alongside Arabic literature and culture. Offered at the South Eastern University of Sri Lanka through its Faculty of Islamic Studies & Arabic Language, it carries real practical value given Sri Lanka's deep economic and cultural ties with the Middle East. It suits students with a strong interest in languages, communication and cross-cultural work.
It earns a moderate future-proof score: Arabic is a genuinely useful skill for Sri Lanka's large Gulf migrant-employment, trade and tourism links, but a stand-alone language degree is strongest when paired with teaching, translation or a professional specialisation, and routine translation faces growing competition from technology.
📚 What You'll Study
The programme builds language proficiency together with literary and cultural understanding:
- Arabic grammar and morphology (Nahw and Sarf)
- Reading, writing and composition
- Spoken / communicative Arabic
- Classical and Modern Standard Arabic
- Arabic literature and texts
- Translation between Arabic and other languages
- Arab and Islamic culture, history and civilisation
- Applied Arabic for media, business and professional contexts
⏳ Duration
The BA in Arabic Language is a three-year Bachelor's degree.
✅ Entry Requirements
To be eligible you need at least Simple (S) passes in any three subjects at the G.C.E. Advanced Level, and one of those subjects must be Arabic.
- Arabic — minimum grade S (compulsory)
- Any two other A/L subjects — minimum grade S each (any subjects are accepted)
Final selection also depends on your Z-score, which varies by university and district every year — check your eligibility with the free tool on findmydegree.lk.
🏛️ Where It's Offered
- South Eastern University of Sri Lanka — 225 seats
ℹ️ Entry requirements, seats and universities are sourced from official UGC data (2024/2025 A/L). Career and curriculum details are general guidance — confirm specifics with each university.