It is unique within the Sri Lankan national university system for being the only university to offer programs of study leading to certificate, diploma, degrees and postgraduate degrees up to PhD level through the Open and Distance Mode of Learning (ODL).

[1] The OUSL has the same legal and academic status as any other national university in Sri Lanka.

The university policy on admission would enable a person to register at the lowest 'Level' with mere basic literacy and then climb up to postgraduate level.

[7] The concept of Distance Education at the OUSL functions through a dynamic network of regional and study centres, with knowledge imparted through multiple media.

This method provides the distance learner with the best possible learning opportunity to enable a balancing of personal, work related and academic obligations.

[7] The open university of Sri Lanka has unique admission procedure and criteria for various study programmes.

the university does not consider their Z scores or marks received at General common test.

The open university of Sri Lanka accepts both Local and London AL results.

Professor Dhammika Tantrigoda is the present chancellor of the Open University of Sri Lanka.

According to Green policy adopted by the open University of Sri Lanka in 2018, CESSD involving process of offering more study programmes, engage with environmental research and advocacy, designing few collaborating research projects with UK and Germany.

The psychological counselling unit will be committed to meet the needs of students and staff members of OUSL Strive to create an environment where you can feel at home.

The distance learning methodology adopted by the OUSL may initially appear as a challenging task to students.

Regular lectures, a feature of face-to-face teaching at a conventional university, is minimal at the OUSL.

The OUSL adopts a multimedia system for teaching with a strong emphasis on distance learning.

The study system supports the students through printed course material, audio visual aids, discussions, day schools, tutor clinics, lab and field works, industry visits, web-based learning, etc.

Printed course materials are carefully prepared to suit self study and independent learning.

Self-assessment questions and activities included in the course material will enable the learners to continuously assess themselves as they proceed.

Continuing education courses are offered for students registered for regular programmes of study who wish to widen their knowledge in areas of their choice These include support courses, such as Mathematics, English, Computer literacy, etc.

A student can offer a limited number of continuing education courses, over and above the maximum workload allowed during an academic year.

Thus, these are particularly suited for students who lack direct entry requirements for the Degree Programme.it is two-year course equals to 12 & 13 grades of G.C.E Advanced level classes .

The Credit rating gives a measure of the time expected to be spent on studying the course.

The minimum credit rating of courses presently offered by the Faculty of Natural Sciences is 3.

However, both programmes should be 45 credits, This corresponds approximately to the workload undertaken in an academic year by a full-time student in conventional university.

Many students, who are either employed or with other commitments find it difficult to spend this much of time for their studies and handle this full workload.

Day Schools are interactive sessions where the student will get the opportunity to meet the respective course teachers to clarify any difficulty they come across in their study material.

However, attending a day school well prepared will immensely help students perform well in the courses.

In order to give the students additional help and also to familiarize them with modern learning trends and tools, some courses are supplemented with an online component.

The regional center libraries are open during working hours each day, except on Sundays and Mondays.

The main library is well equipped with a substantial collection of books in a wide variety of subjects and many foreign and local journals.

In-house photocopying facilities are also available at very nominal rates for the convenience of all library users.