Why Maldivian students should think strategically about scholarships

The Maldives has limited local university capacity, so many students pursue degrees abroad (e.g. in Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, the UK or Australia). For Maldivian IGCSE, A Level and IB students, government scholarships, loan schemes and external grants are critical to making overseas study affordable.

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1. Maldivian Government Scholarships & Loan Schemes

Most popular for:
Maldivian citizens studying in priority fields such as Medicine, Engineering, Teaching, Tourism & Hospitality and ICT, both locally and abroad.

Coverage

• Can include:
  • Full or partial tuition support
  • Living stipends
  • Travel allowances for study abroad
• Some schemes are scholarships, others are loans with subsidised repayment.

Eligibility

• Maldivian citizenship.
• Strong academic performance at IGCSE/O Levels and A Levels / IB.
• Admission to an approved university and programme.
• Priority often given to critical skills areas for national development.

How many & odds

• Numbers vary annually based on government budget and priorities.
• Competition is strong, especially for full scholarships to popular destinations.

How to apply

• Watch announcements from the Ministry of Higher Education / relevant government body.
• Submit:
  • Exam results and predicted grades
  • Offer letters from universities
  • Financial and personal documentation

Duration

• Usually covers the standard length of the degree (3–6 years), with performance checks.

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2. Local University & College Scholarships (MDX Maldives, Villa College, etc.)

Most popular for:
Business, Hospitality, IT and Education degrees offered by institutions in the Maldives itself.

Coverage

• Partial tuition waivers for:
  • High‑achieving high school graduates.
  • Students in specific priority disciplines.

Eligibility

• Strong IGCSE/A Level results.
• Meeting institutional entry requirements.

How to apply

• Apply for admission and then for institutional scholarships via each college’s portal or scholarship office.

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3. External & Regional Scholarships for Maldivian Students

Maldivian students also compete for:

• Commonwealth and regional scholarships.
• University‑specific scholarships in India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia and the UK (covered in other articles in this series).

These often provide partial to substantial tuition support.

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What % of fees do Maldivian scholarships cover?

• Government awards can approach 100% of tuition and living costs for students in priority fields, particularly in Asia.
• Local institutional scholarships usually cover a portion of tuition (e.g. 25–75%).
• External scholarships vary widely but can significantly reduce expenses when combined with family contributions.

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Eligibility, odds and planning timeline

• Eligibility: good grades, offers from recognised universities, and alignment with national skills needs.
• Odds: stronger for in‑demand fields (Medicine, Engineering, Education) than for purely lifestyle or niche degrees.
• Timeline: plan 18–24 months ahead, allowing time to:
  • Secure offers from universities
  • Sit IELTS/TOEFL if needed
  • Gather documents for government and external scholarship rounds

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How Tutopiya can help Maldivian students

Tutopiya already supports many students in Malé and other islands with:

• High‑quality online tuition for IGCSE, A Levels and IB.
• Academic preparation for regional universities and scholarship benchmarks.
• Guidance on how Maldivian families can mix local support + foreign university scholarships in a realistic plan.

If you are Maldivian and aiming for a funded undergraduate degree, we can help you raise grades and compare multiple regional options.