The Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) is a three-year external degree awarded by the University of Colombo and administered academically by the University of Colombo School of Computing (UCSC). Since 2000, over 43,000 candidates have enrolled, producing 3,767 BIT graduates, 5,454 Higher Diploma holders and 12,720 Diploma holders to date.
Structure
Three levels (Level I → DIT, Level II → HDIT, Level III → BIT), two semesters each, minimum 90 GPA credits overall.
Core Stack Taught
Java, HTML/CSS/JavaScript, PHP & MySQL, SQL, Linux, Android, Java EE, and an introduction to the MEAN stack.
✔ This guide maps every compulsory and optional module to the exact languages, frameworks and tools it teaches, based on the official 2025 BIT Student Handbook.
1. What Is the BIT Degree?
The BIT (Bachelor of Information Technology) is Sri Lanka's longest-running and most recognised external IT degree programme, launched in the year 2000 by the University of Colombo. It was designed to widen access to higher education for students who did not secure a place in the competitive state university system, and for working professionals who want a formal IT qualification through self-study.
The degree is delivered through a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) called Vidupiyasa, built on a customised Moodle framework, and supported by a network of registered private teaching institutes across the country. UCSC does not conduct teaching itself for the BIT — its role is to set the syllabus, run examinations, and award the qualification on behalf of the University of Colombo.
2. Entry Requirements
To register for the BIT degree, a candidate must satisfy both an Advanced Level (or equivalent) condition and an Ordinary Level (or equivalent) condition.
| Requirement | Accepted Qualifications |
|---|---|
| A/L Condition | 3 passes in the Local G.C.E. A/L (New Syllabus) in one sitting, or 4 passes (Old Syllabus) in one sitting; or 3 passes in the Cambridge/Pearson Edexcel International A/L; or a pass in all theory components of the UCSC Foundation in IT (FIT); or HNDIT (SLIATE-verified); or NVQ Level 5+ in IT (TVEC-verified) |
| OR | |
| Foundation Condition | FIT programme, where it allows students to enter into the degree course without A/Ls click here for more info |
| AND | |
| O/L Condition | At least 6 passes in G.C.E. O/L (or Cambridge/Edexcel International O Level) with 3 credits, including credits for Mathematics and English |
Students who already hold the UCSC DIT can register directly into Level II, and HDIT holders can register directly into Level III, provided this is done within ten years of obtaining the DIT/HDIT.
3. Programme Structure: Levels & Credits
The BIT programme runs across three levels, each with two semesters. Level I and Level II are entirely compulsory; Level III mixes compulsory courses with a small number of optional courses, and candidates must accumulate at least 30 GPA credits per level.
Level I — Diploma in Information Technology (DIT)
10 courses across Semester 1 & 2, including an English communication module and the first programming and web courses. 33 total credits / 31 GPA credits.
Level II — Higher Diploma in Information Technology (HDIT)
10 courses across Semester 3 & 4, covering data structures, enterprise development, UX, networks, and Agile practice. 32 total credits / 30 GPA credits.
Level III — Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT)
Compulsory courses plus an 8-credit Software Development Project and a choice of optional specialisations across Semester 5 & 6. 37 total credits / 33 GPA credits.
| Level | Total Credits | GPA Credits | Qualification Awarded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Level I | 33 | 31 | Diploma in Information Technology (DIT) |
| Level II | 32 | 30 | Higher Diploma in Information Technology (HDIT) |
| Level III | 37 | 33 | Bachelor of Information Technology (BIT) |
4. Detailed Syllabus & Technologies Taught
Below is a module-by-module breakdown of the BIT curriculum with the specific languages, frameworks, and tools each course is built around — useful for students planning ahead, and for anyone comparing the BIT against other IT degrees.
Information Systems
Information system concepts, e-commerce, e-business systems, and IS security, ethics and privacy for organisations.
Computer Systems
Data representation, Boolean algebra, CPU/ISA organisation, I/O and storage devices, and an introduction to networks and system maintenance.
Free and Open Source Software for Personal Computing
Hands-on productivity computing using a fully open-source toolchain — file management, documents, spreadsheets, databases, presentations and multimedia design.
Introduction to Programming
The BIT degree's foundational programming course — object-oriented design and development using Java, covering packages, exception handling, enumerations, autoboxing, annotations and generics.
Fundamentals of Mathematics
Foundational arithmetic, algebra, equations, measurement, percentages and ratios that underpin the rest of the ICT curriculum.
Communication Skills I
Professional writing, listening, presentation, interview and paraphrasing skills for an English-medium degree.
Mathematics for Computing I
Discrete mathematics for computing: sets, logic, relations, functions, Boolean algebra, combinatorics and probability.
Fundamentals of Software Engineering
The software development lifecycle: agile development, requirements engineering, system modelling, architectural design, testing and evolution.
Database Systems
Relational data modelling, ER diagramming, relational algebra, SQL data manipulation, access control, and normalisation up to 3rd normal form.
Web Application Development I
Front-end and introductory server-side web development — page structure and styling, client-side scripting, XML fundamentals, responsive frameworks, and an introduction to full-stack JavaScript development.
Communication Skills II
Professional responsibility, plagiarism, technical writing, visual communication, teamwork and conflict management.
Object Oriented Analysis & Design
Object-oriented systems analysis and design using use case, activity, class, package, interaction and state machine diagrams, plus component-based software engineering.
Data Structures and Algorithms
Arrays, linked lists, stacks, queues, recursion, trees, graphs, algorithm analysis, and sorting/searching algorithms — built on the Java foundation from Level I.
Data Management Systems
Advanced database concepts — constraints, triggers, indexing and query tuning, distributed database design, and transaction/consistency processing.
Web Application Development II
Server-side web development with the MVC pattern, asynchronous client-side interaction, and an introduction to web application security.
User Experience Design
Interaction design, cognitive and emotional aspects of UX, data gathering and analysis, persona development, prototyping, and usability evaluation.
Enterprise Application Development
Building scalable, secure enterprise applications on the Java Enterprise Edition (Java EE) stack, including remote method invocation, ORM, servlets, and web services.
Information Technology Project Management
Scope, schedule, cost, quality, resource, communication, risk, procurement and stakeholder management for IT projects.
Agile Software Development
Scrum roles, planning and sprints in depth, plus an introduction to Extreme Programming (XP), Lean and Kanban.
Computer Networks
Physical, data link/MAC, network, transport and application layers of the TCP/IP model, network management, and Software Defined Networks (SDN).
Fundamentals of Management & Entrepreneurship
Core management functions (planning, organising, leading, controlling) and entrepreneurship — opportunity evaluation, business models and business plans.
Software Development Project
An individually supervised, client-facing capstone project spanning 300+ hours: gathering requirements, building a working prototype, and evaluating it against a real organisational need. Technology choice is the candidate's own — reflecting the full stack learned across the degree.
Professional Practice
Codes of ethics, IT organisation structure, HR issues, software licensing and contracts, intellectual property and internet-related legal issues.
Principles of Information Security
Hash functions and MAC, symmetric and asymmetric (public key) encryption, key distribution protocols, OS and database security, and electronic payment systems.
Systems & Network Administration
Installing and managing GNU/Linux-based systems and services, host and network administration, automation, virtualization, and cloud computing basics.
Mathematics for Computing II
Theory of matrices, vector spaces and linear transformations, linear/integer programming, and basic statistics.
Emerging Topics in Information Technology
A survey module covering the newest areas of the industry.
Software Quality Assurance
Test case design, levels of testing, CI/CD pipelines, and automated testing across web, Java and mobile platforms.
Mobile Application Development
Native mobile development for Android, covering platform architecture components, local data persistence, and deployment/monetization strategy.
Network Security and Audit
Transport Layer Security, user authentication and network access control, VPNs, perimeter security, email/DNS security, wireless and cloud security, plus IT infrastructure auditing.
e-Business Technologies
e-Marketplace evolution, eBusiness models and revenue models, digital marketing strategy, eBusiness transformation, e-Supply Chain and e-CRM.
Level III requires 30 GPA credits selected from the compulsory and optional courses shown above; the Software Development Project (8 credits) and core compulsory courses cannot be substituted.
5. Grading System & Degree Classification
Each course is marked out of 100 and converted into a Grade Point Value (GPV) used to calculate the Grade Point Average (GPA).
| Marks Range | Grade | GPV |
|---|---|---|
| 85–100 | A+ | 4.00 |
| 70–84 | A | 4.00 |
| 65–69 | A- | 3.70 |
| 60–64 | B+ | 3.30 |
| 55–59 | B | 3.00 |
| 50–54 | B- | 2.70 |
| 45–49 | C+ | 2.30 |
| 40–44 | C | 2.00 |
| 35–39 | C- | 1.70 |
| 30–34 | D+ | 1.30 |
| 25–29 | D | 1.00 |
| 0–24 | E | 0.00 |
| Class | Minimum Overall Class GPA |
|---|---|
| First Class | 3.70 |
| Second Class (Upper Division) | 3.30 |
| Second Class (Lower Division) | 3.00 |
At least 90 GPA credits (minimum 30 per level), an overall GPA of 2.00+, at least 20 credits graded C or above per level, a pass in every Enhancement course, no grade below D in any course, and at least a C grade for the Software Development Project.
6. Programme Fees (Local Students, 2025 Intake)
| Item | Rate (LKR) | Units | Total (LKR) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Application Fee | 5,000.00 | 1 | 5,000.00 |
| Annual Registration (Level I) | 30,000.00 | 1 | 30,000.00 |
| Exam Fee per Paper | 1,500.00 | 10 | 15,000.00 |
| Total for Level I (excl. application fee) | 45,000.00 |
Foreign-citizen and SAARC-resident rates, and full miscellaneous fee schedules (transcripts, verifications, re-scrutinization, etc.), are published on the official BIT website: www.bit.lk.
Tution Fee will be added, depending on the institute you select to study.
Study with matrix for an affordable price.
7. BIT in Numbers (Live Charts)
The following charts are built directly from the official awardee statistics, fee tables and credit structure published in the 2025 BIT Student Handbook.
DIT / HDIT / BIT Awardees by Year (2000–2024)
Source: Table 2.1, BIT Student Handbook 2025
Cumulative Awardees Since 2000
DIT 12,720 • HDIT 5,454 • BIT 3,767
GPA Credits per Level
Total credits offered vs. GPA-counted credits per level
Programme Fees by Level (Local, LKR)
Source: Table 8.2, BIT Student Handbook 2025
Grading Scale: Marks vs. Grade Point Value
Source: Section 5.5, BIT Student Handbook 2025
8. Career Opportunities
The BIT degree's applied, technology-heavy curriculum consistently places graduates in the following roles across local and international ICT employers:
- Software Engineer
- Data Analyst
- QA / Test Engineer
- UX Engineer
- Web Developer
- Business Analyst
- Network Administrator
- Information Security Analyst
- Project Manager
- ICT / IT Lecturer
A meaningful share of BIT graduates also progress into postgraduate study — locally through UCSC's own Master's and MPhil/PhD programmes, or at foreign universities — on the strength of the applied curriculum.
9. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What programming language does the BIT degree start with?
Java. IT1406 Introduction to Programming in Level I teaches object-oriented programming using Java, which is then extended in Data Structures & Algorithms (Level II) and Enterprise Application Development with Java EE (Level II).
What web development technologies are covered?
HTML, CSS, JavaScript, XML and Bootstrap in Web Application Development I (Level I); then PHP with MySQL, AJAX and web application security in Web Application Development II (Level II).
Does the BIT degree cover mobile app development?
Yes — IT6306 Mobile Application Development in Level III covers native Android development, Android Architecture Components, and the Room database.
What is the minimum requirement to be awarded the BIT degree?
A minimum of 90 GPA credits with at least 30 from each of Level I, II and III, an overall GPA of 2.00 or above, at least 20 credits graded C or above per level, a pass in every Enhancement course, and at least a C grade for the Software Development Project.
How long does the BIT degree take to complete?
The minimum duration is three academic years, structured as Level I (DIT), Level II (HDIT), and Level III (BIT), though students have up to three consecutive years to complete each level.
About Matrix Campus Academic Board
Matrix Campus provides objective academic guidance, BIT lecture support, and professional IT training in Sri Lanka. Our goal is to empower students with accurate, unbiased information to build successful technology careers.
