Occupational Therapy in Sri Lanka: Careers, Curriculum & Future Outlook

📘 Overview

Occupational Therapy helps people of all ages regain independence in the everyday activities that matter to them — after injury, illness, disability or developmental challenges. Offered as a four-year degree by the University of Kelaniya, it is a hands-on allied-health profession blending health science with creative, practical problem-solving. It suits empathetic, patient and resourceful students who want to make a direct, lasting difference in people's daily lives.

It earns a future-proof score of 8.3 because demand for rehabilitation and therapy is rising with ageing populations and greater awareness of disability and mental health, the qualification is highly portable overseas, and the personalised, hands-on care is very resistant to automation.

📚 What You'll Study

The programme combines biomedical science, therapeutic skills and extensive supervised clinical practice.

• Anatomy, physiology and neuroscience
• Foundations of occupational therapy
• Physical rehabilitation and musculoskeletal conditions
• Neurological and paediatric occupational therapy
• Mental health occupational therapy
• Assistive devices and adaptive technology
• Activity analysis and therapeutic interventions
• Clinical placements and a research project

⏳ Duration

This is a four-year B.Sc. degree in Occupational Therapy, including substantial clinical training.

✅ Entry Requirements

This is a Biological Science stream degree. To be eligible you must obtain at least three Simple (S) passes in Physics, Biology and Chemistry at the G.C.E. (Advanced Level) Examination.

• Physics — minimum grade S
• Biology — minimum grade S
• Chemistry — minimum grade S

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

• University of Kelaniya — 50 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.