Be a World Class Professional Graduate Chemist

Join the Institute of Chemistry Ceylon, the largest producer of Graduate Chemists in Sri Lanka

The Institute of Chemistry Ceylon which was establishment under Parliamentary Act No. 15 of 1972 and successor to the Chemical Society of Ceylon founded in 1941 is proudly celebrating its 75 the Anniversary in 2016. The Institute has now opened opportunities to apply for the the 39th batch of its most popular Graduateship programme (GIC) and the 44th batch of Diploma in Laboratory Technology (DLTC) Programme. Since 1996 the Institute continues to be the largest producer of chemists in Sri Lanka contributing nearly 50% of the total production of Chemists in the country.The resource personnel are drawn from a number of Sri Lankan Universities, research institutes, service institutions, industry and the private sector. They represent a cream of intellectuals in Chemistry that is rare to find at any institution in the country. Increasing facilities are provided to students to enable even more fruitful studies. Entrance scholarships, other scholarships and subject prizes are awarded every year to the most meritorious students. Bursaries too are available to those in financial needs every year.

The professional qualification of Graduate Chemist has for the past three decades been recognized as equivalent to a University Special/ Honours degree in Chemistry by professional bodies in the UK Australia,USA,Canada,France, Ireland, Singapore, Italy and New Zealand and is fully recognized (by universities both in Sri Lanka and abroad) for registration for post graduate studies (MSc/MPhil/ PhD).The Graduateship programme is the only such programme in Sri Lanka to be accredited internationally by the Royal Society of Chemistry, UK. Nearly 100 graduates have already obtained Ph D degrees and over 250 have secured other post-graduate degrees. Many of our graduates have also obtained lucrative employment globally as well as in Sri Lanka. Various membership grades such as Corporate Membership (consisting of Fellow F.I.Chem.C) and Member (M.I.Chem.C)) and the non Corporate Membership (consisting ofAssociate (A.I.Chem.C.), Licentiate (L.I.Chem.C) of the Institute) are open to those chemists who fulfill the requirements laid down by the Institute.

Who are qualified to apply?

Students having 3 A/L passes (Local/UK) in science stream including Chemistry (any number of sittings) or pending results can enroll for the Graduateship programme to become a Graduate Chemist. The programme is also open for those students following full time courses either in state universities or other institutions and B.Sc. general degree students who have been not selected to read for Special Degree in Chemistry. DLTC holders can enroll for the Graduateship programme even without A/L Qualifications.

With a view to meeting the requirements of students, GIC programme is offered at weekends and duplicated on three week days by the College of Chemical Sciences. The Graduates who passed out from CCS could become Chemistry academics, research scientists, analytical chemists, biochemists, polymer chemists, computational chemists and in many other fields.

Versatility of the programme

Students who are admitted into the programme in 2017 will be able to pass out as fully qualified and globally recognized Graduate Chemists by 2020 within a period of 4 years and without any delay, whatsoever. After 2 years of study the students have the opportunity to become Advanced Diplomates on successful completion of the Level 2 Examination They also have the opportunity to obtain BSc Hons Degree in Applied Chemistry at Nothumbria University of UK (after one more year study in UK) or BSc Degree from the University of Cincinati, USA (after 2 more years of study in USA).

Increasing demand for the Graduateship course

The Graduateship Programmehas been subject to several changes over its 35 years of existence in order to meet contemporary global and national needs and thus a very high standard is maintained by the College of Chemical Sciences.A large numbers of A/L qualifieds do not get opportunity for admission to a Sri Lankan University due to the present district quota system. Due to the absence of any degree level programme catering to the basic sciences locally or even off-shore, the Graduateship Programme is heavily in demand particularly amongst school leavers. The very high quality, variety and devotedness of our academic staff (both internal and visiting) together with the extremely low cost (of about Rs 6 lakhs for the total period of 4 years complete with practicals) and the complete absence of any delay in passing out have attracted students to enroll in the Course.In view of these features some school leavers even reject University admission they have been offered and join the GIC programme. Our Graduateship Programme has now become the largest producer of Graduate Chemists in Sri Lanka from 1996 and Annual intake has now increased to 225 students.

National Value of Graduate Chemists

According to the most recently available UGC estimates it costs the national budget well over one million rupees to produce a four year science graduate as recurrent expenses alone. Broad estimates have shown the national value of the Graduate Chemists and the Laboratory Technicians produced by our Institute over the past 4 decades will amount to around 2 billion rupees at today’s costs. However the fee payable by the students for the course is perhaps the minimum in the world. This has been possible to wise financial management of the Institute.