Many graduates of this program (including a Cornell professor) have gone on to receive Fulbright grants so that they can return to Sri Lanka for further study.

What makes this program unique?

• Courses with renowned faculty at the prestigious University of Peradeniya
• 4-week immersive field research project of your choice Lasting relationships with your host family Resource-rich library with ~5,000 titles & friendly staff at the ISLE Center
• Opportunity to learn Kandyan dance, batik, cooking, meditation, and more
• Traveling the country to experience the diversity of the island through field-based talks and tours

What makes Sri Lanka unique?

Sri Lanka has a rich cultural heritage with over 3,000 years of documented history (and over 125,000 year old archeological ruins). The "Maritime Silk Road" connected South and Southeast Asia with the ancient Silk Road, and Sri Lanka's location and made it a key point of dissemination of Buddhist religion and art as well as the movement of people and goods. Kandy, the home of the ISLE program, is the last capital of the ancient kings of Sri Lanka and an important Buddhist pilgrimage site. Home to many cultures, languages, and ethnicities, Sri Lanka is majority Sinhalese, with a large minority of Tamils. Other ethnic groups also call this South Asian island nation home. Many NGOs work on development issues, making Sri Lanka a great place for students of the humanities or social sciences.

Cornell Contacts:
Prof. Anne Blackburn, South Asian Studies
Mr. Bandara Herath, Sinhala instructor
Rehan Dadi, undergrad alumn
Aimee Douglas, graduate student in Anthropology
Chantal Croteau, grad student in the Southeast Asia Program

ISLE Facebook Page:

How do I choose among programs?

• See the Office of Global Learning’s “Selecting a Program” page for information on program types and considerations
• Use the search features on the Experience Cornell  Opportunities page to filter for programs approved by your college, and by particular subject areas
• Go to the “Get Advice” page for information on drop-in advising hours, scheduling an advising appointment, returned student contacts, and college advisors for study abroad
• Find out about upcoming events, check out FAQs, and read stories from returned study abroad students

How do I apply?

Applying to study abroad is a two-step process. You may complete both steps simultaneously, but the Cornell approval process must be complete before your program advisor in the Office of Global Learning can submit any approval or nomination to the program.

1. For Cornell Approval, click on the "Apply" button on this webpage. Applications are approved by the Office of Global Learning on a rolling basis until the application deadline listed on this page.
2. For Program Admission, complete an external application directly on the program’s webpage, using the link in the “Snapshot” section. (Note: This deadline may be in advance of the general Cornell deadline for approval. Many programs fill by rolling admission.)