Visiting Lecturer Salary in Sri Lanka 2026
UGC hourly rates for visiting staff, what private campuses pay, and the senior lecturer salary for comparison
How much does a visiting lecturer earn in Sri Lanka?
Visiting lecturers at state universities are paid by the hour: the UGC rate is Rs. 1,500 per undergraduate lecture hour and Rs. 600 per practical hour, plus travel. Private campuses set their own rates. For comparison, a permanent senior lecturer earns Rs. 138,980 to Rs. 187,820 basic a month, plus a 116% academic allowance.
How we checked this
- We read UGC Commission Circular 01/2015 on fees for visiting staff and its 2017 amendment, Circular 01/2015(i).
- We read UGC Commission Circular 02/2025 for the U-AC salary scales, academic allowance rates and phased payment tables.
- We checked these in October 2026. University rates are official; private campus rates and monthly examples are our estimates and arithmetic.
What does the UGC pay visiting lecturers per hour?
State universities follow UGC Commission Circular 01/2015, which set these rates per hour for visiting staff. Circular 01/2015(i) of September 2017 then widened the postgraduate line to cover assessments, coordination and supervision. It left the other rates unchanged.
| Type of teaching | Rate per hour |
|---|---|
| Undergraduate courses, lecture | Rs. 1,500 |
| Undergraduate courses, practical | Rs. 600 |
| Pre-university courses, lecture | Rs. 900 |
| Pre-university courses, practical | Rs. 450 |
| Visiting instructors (English and other), hourly | Rs. 750 |
| Postgraduate courses | Set by the university, minimum Rs. 1,000 |
| Foreign experts by teleconference | US$ 50 to US$ 100 |
Travel is paid on top at the existing rates. Postgraduate fees come out of the money each postgraduate course earns, which is why they vary between universities. We searched the UGC circular lists for a later revision of the undergraduate rates and did not find one. Some universities may pay differently, so confirm the rate with the faculty before you accept.
How much can a visiting lecturer earn in a month?
Because pay is hourly, monthly income depends entirely on your teaching load. This is our arithmetic at the UGC undergraduate lecture rate, assuming four teaching weeks in the month and no practicals:
| Lecture hours a week | Monthly fee at Rs. 1,500/hour |
|---|---|
| 4 hours | Rs. 24,000 |
| 8 hours | Rs. 48,000 |
| 12 hours | Rs. 72,000 |
These are not salaries. There is no pay during vacations or exam weeks, no annual increment and no pension, and preparation and marking time is not paid separately at the undergraduate rate. That is why most visiting lecturers treat the work as a second income alongside a full-time job. For other ways to earn on the side, see our part-time job salaries and freelance tutor salary pages.
Visiting lecturer pay at private campuses
Private and non-state degree providers are not bound by the UGC rate. Many rely heavily on visiting staff, especially for professional and IT subjects. These are SalaryLK editorial estimates of typical hourly fees:
| Teaching level | Per hour (LKR, estimate) |
|---|---|
| Foundation, certificate and diploma classes | 1,500 - 3,000 |
| Undergraduate degree modules | 2,500 - 5,000 |
| Master's modules and specialist subjects | 5,000 and above |
Campuses pay more for subjects where industry pay is high, such as software engineering, data science and finance. Your own qualifications matter too, so a PhD or a professional title can lift your rate. Compare full-time pay at private institutions on our SLIIT salary and NSBM salary pages.
What is the senior lecturer salary in Sri Lanka?
Permanent academics at state universities are on the U-AC scales in UGC Commission Circular 02/2025. Lecturers and senior lecturers share U-AC 3-2025, which runs from Rs. 94,400 to Rs. 187,820 basic. On top of basic pay they receive an academic allowance calculated as a percentage of basic plus a fixed sum. That allowance more than doubles monthly pay:
| Post / step | Basic, 2027 (Rs.) | Academic allowance | Total, 2027 (Rs.) | Paid in 2026 (Rs.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lecturer (Probationary), entry U-AC 3-2025, step 1 | 94,400 | 91% + Rs. 1,200 | 181,504 | 171,928 |
| Lecturer, entry U-AC 3-2025, step 12 | 121,340 | 102% + Rs. 1,800 | 246,907 | 233,152 |
| Senior Lecturer Grade II, entry U-AC 3-2025, step 18 | 138,980 | 116% + Rs. 2,100 | 302,297 | 285,821 |
| Senior Lecturer Grade I, entry U-AC 3-2025, step 25 | 160,520 | 116% + Rs. 2,200 | 348,923 | 329,052 |
| Senior Lecturer Grade I, maximum U-AC 3-2025, step 32 | 187,820 | 116% + Rs. 2,200 | 407,891 | 383,809 |
The totals are basic plus academic allowance, taken from the circular's conversion tables. The 2026 column is what is actually paid this year, because the revision is phased in fully from 1 January 2027. Senior Lecturer Grade II needs a PhD, or a master's from at least 24 months of full-time study, plus six years of relevant experience. The full route is in our guide on how to become a lecturer in Sri Lanka, and the wider picture is on our lecturer salary page.
Is visiting lecturing worth it compared with a permanent post?
On money alone, no. A new Senior Lecturer Grade II is paid Rs. 285,821 a month in 2026. A visiting lecturer would need to teach about 190 undergraduate lecture hours a month at the UGC rate to match that, which is not realistic. A permanent academic is also paid every month of the year, earns increments and builds a pension. A visiting lecturer is paid only for the hours taught.
Visiting work suits professionals who want teaching experience, a network of students and a modest second income. It is also a common first step toward an academic career. For specific universities, see our University of Moratuwa salary and University of Colombo salary pages.
Our take: treat it as a side income, not a career on its own
On the evidence we found, the state university rate of Rs. 1,500 an hour has not been revised for undergraduate teaching since 2015. Over the same period, the permanent academic scales were revised in 2025. That makes visiting work at state universities more about experience and reputation than money.
If income is the goal, we would look first at private campuses and postgraduate programmes, where rates are set locally and can be much higher. If an academic career is the goal, we would use visiting work to build a teaching record while completing the postgraduate degree that Senior Lecturer posts require.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the visiting lecturer salary in Sri Lanka?
Visiting lecturers are paid by the hour, not a monthly salary. Under UGC Commission Circular 01/2015, state universities pay Rs. 1,500 per lecture hour and Rs. 600 per practical hour for undergraduate courses, plus travel. Teaching eight lecture hours a week for four weeks would earn about Rs. 48,000. Private campuses set their own rates.
What is the visiting lecturer payment per hour at state universities?
The UGC rate is Rs. 1,500 per hour for undergraduate lectures, Rs. 600 for undergraduate practicals, Rs. 900 for pre-university lectures and Rs. 450 for pre-university practicals. Visiting instructors are paid Rs. 750 an hour. Travel is paid in addition. This is the latest UGC rate circular we could find, so confirm the current rate with the faculty.
How much do visiting lecturers earn for postgraduate courses?
The UGC lets each university's governing authority decide the rate for postgraduate lectures, assessments, coordination, supervision and practicals, subject to a minimum of Rs. 1,000 an hour. Those payments come from the fees the postgraduate course generates, so rates vary by university and programme.
What is the senior lecturer salary in Sri Lanka?
Senior lecturers at state universities are on U-AC 3-2025. Senior Lecturer Grade II starts at Rs. 138,980 basic and Grade I at Rs. 160,520, rising to Rs. 187,820, when fully paid in 2027. A 116% academic allowance is added, so total pay is about Rs. 302,000 to Rs. 408,000 a month.
What is the senior lecturer grade II salary in 2026?
Under UGC Circular 02/2025, a new Senior Lecturer Grade II is at step 18 of U-AC 3-2025. In 2026 the amount paid, basic plus academic allowance, is Rs. 285,821 a month at that step. The full figure of Rs. 302,297 is paid from 1 January 2027.
How do I become a visiting lecturer at a university?
Universities appoint visiting lecturers when a department lacks in-house staff for a subject. The UGC tells institutions to use visiting staff only on a need basis. Most appointees are practising professionals or postgraduate holders in the subject. Watch faculty notices, contact heads of department directly and keep a short teaching CV ready.
How much do private campuses pay visiting lecturers?
Private campuses set their own rates. Based on our estimates, diploma and foundation classes pay about Rs. 1,500 to Rs. 3,000 an hour, degree-level modules about Rs. 2,500 to Rs. 5,000, and specialist or master's-level teaching more. Rates depend on the subject, your qualifications and the campus.
Do visiting lecturers get EPF?
Usually not. A visiting lecturer is paid a fee for each hour taught rather than a salary, so the institution does not treat them as an employee contributing to EPF. The income still counts for income tax, so keep your own record of fees received across all institutions.
What is the probationary lecturer salary at state universities?
A Lecturer (Probationary) starts at Rs. 94,400 basic on U-AC 3-2025 when fully paid. With the academic allowance of 91% plus Rs. 1,200, that is Rs. 181,504 a month from 2027. In 2026 the amount paid at the entry step is Rs. 171,928.
Sources
- Commission Circular 01/2015: fees and travelling of visiting staff - University Grants Commission
- Commission Circular 01/2015(i), September 2017 - University Grants Commission
- Commission Circular 02/2025(i): revision of salaries for academic and non-academic staff - University Grants Commission
- Schemes of recruitment for academic posts, non-medical/dental - University of Jaffna
Updated Reviewed by SalaryLK Editorial TeamHow we research salaries