Law cut-off marks 2025/2026, by university and district
Law is among the hardest degrees to enter, with a median cut-off higher than 98% of courses in the 2025/2026 table, and it takes students from four A/L streams. Only three universities offered it: the University of Colombo (median 2.0202), the University of Peradeniya (median 1.9884), the University of Jaffna (median 1.9161). The lowest Z-score that won a Law place anywhere was 1.7904, in Nuwara Eliya.
Lowest Z-score that won a place, by district
For each district, the lowest minimum Z-score at which any of the 3 universities selected a Law student from that district in 2025/2026, and which university it was. Your own chances also depend on the order of your choices and the university you list.
| District | Lowest Z-score | University |
|---|---|---|
| Colombo | 1.9787 | University of Peradeniya |
| Gampaha | 1.8642 | University of Jaffna |
| Kalutara | 1.9161 | University of Jaffna |
| Matale | 1.8950 | University of Jaffna |
| Kandy | 1.8965 | University of Jaffna |
| Nuwara Eliya | 1.7904 | University of Jaffna |
| Galle | 1.9434 | University of Jaffna |
| Matara | 1.9409 | University of Jaffna |
| Hambantota | 1.9254 | University of Jaffna |
| Jaffna | 1.9367 | University of Jaffna |
| Kilinochchi | 1.9884 | University of Peradeniya |
| Mannar | 1.9299 | University of Jaffna |
| Mullaitivu | 1.9639 | University of Jaffna |
| Vavuniya | 1.8685 | University of Jaffna |
| Trincomalee | 1.8562 | University of Jaffna |
| Batticaloa | 1.9625 | University of Jaffna |
| Ampara | 1.9788 | University of Peradeniya |
| Puttalam | 1.8477 | University of Jaffna |
| Kurunegala | 1.9106 | University of Jaffna |
| Anuradhapura | 1.9339 | University of Jaffna |
| Polonnaruwa | 1.9435 | University of Jaffna |
| Badulla | 1.9123 | University of Jaffna |
| Monaragala | 1.8929 | University of Jaffna |
| Kegalle | 1.9769 | University of Peradeniya |
| Ratnapura | 1.9504 | University of Jaffna |
Universities compared
Lowest, median and highest minimum Z-score across the districts with a qualified candidate, and how many districts had none (NQC).
| University | Lowest | Median | Highest | NQC districts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| University of Colombo | 2.0129 | 2.0202 | 2.1215 | 1 | |
| University of Peradeniya | 1.9769 | 1.9884 | 2.2771 | 4 | |
| University of Jaffna | 1.7904 | 1.9161 | 1.9639 | 4 |
What the numbers say
- Among districts with a qualified candidate, the lowest selected Z-score for Law was 1.7904 (Nuwara Eliya, University of Jaffna) and the highest 2.2771 (Jaffna, University of Peradeniya).
- By median across districts, University of Colombo was the hardest to enter (2.0202) and University of Jaffna the most reachable (1.9161).
- The cut-off moved most with the district at University of Peradeniya: from Kurunegala at the low end to Jaffna at the high end, a spread of 0.3002, narrower than the median spread of 0.3319 across every course and university in the table.
- 9 of the 75 district places (12%) had no qualified candidates (NQC), but every district had at least one university that admitted someone.
- By median cut-off, Law was harder to enter than 98% of the course names in the 2025/2026 table.
- 16 of the 16 educationally disadvantaged districts (where the 5% EDD quota applies) had a place for this course at one university or more.
Every university, every district
The minimum Z-score selected for Law at each university from each district, as the UGC published it. NQC means No Qualified Candidates and is not a Z-score of zero.
| District | University of Colombo | University of Peradeniya | University of Jaffna |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colombo | 2.0156 | 1.9787 | NQC |
| Gampaha | 2.0132 | 1.9898 | 1.8642 |
| Kalutara | 2.0129 | 1.9941 | 1.9161 |
| Matale | 2.0159 | 1.9817 | 1.8950 |
| Kandy | 2.0182 | 1.9860 | 1.8965 |
| Nuwara Eliya | 2.0233 | NQC | 1.7904 |
| Galle | 2.0129 | 1.9803 | 1.9434 |
| Matara | 2.0251 | 1.9914 | 1.9409 |
| Hambantota | 2.0139 | 1.9951 | 1.9254 |
| Jaffna | 2.0370 | 2.2771 | 1.9367 |
| Kilinochchi | 2.0430 | 1.9884 | NQC |
| Mannar | NQC | 2.0052 | 1.9299 |
| Mullaitivu | 2.0541 | NQC | 1.9639 |
| Vavuniya | 2.1215 | 2.1127 | 1.8685 |
| Trincomalee | 2.0248 | NQC | 1.8562 |
| Batticaloa | 2.0238 | 1.9781 | 1.9625 |
| Ampara | 2.0323 | 1.9788 | NQC |
| Puttalam | 2.0200 | 1.9836 | 1.8477 |
| Kurunegala | 2.0146 | 1.9769 | 1.9106 |
| Anuradhapura | 2.0181 | 1.9921 | 1.9339 |
| Polonnaruwa | 2.0280 | 1.9894 | 1.9435 |
| Badulla | 2.0197 | 1.9774 | 1.9123 |
| Monaragala | 2.0274 | 1.9970 | 1.8929 |
| Kegalle | 2.0204 | 1.9769 | NQC |
| Ratnapura | 2.0147 | NQC | 1.9504 |
Who can apply
Law admits from the Arts, Commerce, Biological Science, Physical Science streams, according to Section 2 of the UGC Admissions Handbook. The handbook adds subject and grade conditions for some courses, so check it before you apply. Most places are filled by district quota; some go on all-island merit, and 5% are set aside for the educationally disadvantaged districts.
Want to check your own Z-score against every course at once? Use the cut-off finder.
Questions
- Which university has the lowest cut-off for Law?
- In 2025/2026, University of Jaffna had the lowest median cut-off for Law (1.9161) and University of Colombo the highest (2.0202). The figure that applies to you is the one for your district, in the tables on this page.
- What Z-score do I need for Law?
- It depends on your district and the university. The lowest Z-score that won a place anywhere was 1.7904 (Nuwara Eliya). The district table on this page gives, for each district, the lowest Z-score that won a place at any university. Next year's cut-offs will differ: they come from the next exam's results.
- Which A/L stream can apply for Law?
- Law admits from the Arts, Commerce, Biological Science, Physical Science streams, according to the UGC Admissions Handbook. The handbook adds subject and grade conditions for some courses, so check it before you apply.
- What does NQC mean?
- No Qualified Candidates: no student from that district was selected for that course at that university. Per the UGC, the district quota may already have been filled, the course may have filled from higher Z-scores in other districts, or nobody from that district met the requirements. It is not a Z-score of zero.
More courses
- Medicine cut-off marks
- Agriculture cut-off marks
- Biological Science cut-off marks
- Engineering cut-off marks
- Computer Science cut-off marks
- Physical Science cut-off marks
- All 2025/2026 cut-offs
Source: University Grants Commission, Sri Lanka, G.C.E. (A/L) 2025, after re-scrutiny. Data last checked 2026-07-31. Spotted an error? Tell us.