Why study a Bachelor or Master in Maldives

Study in Maldives

There are several reasons why international students might choose to study in the Maldives, from the beautiful scenery to the great food and culture. Read on to find out why you should study there and how much it costs international students to do so. 

Why should you study in Maldives?

Here are some of the reasons why international students should go study in Maldives: 

• Stunning natural scenery with constant exploration options. You can always head to other islands and explore them on the long weekends or on vacations. 
• Embracing the Maldivian culture is a plus for international students in the Maldives as they can get a look into the unique culture, behind the resort destination. 
• Has many opportunities to study the fields of hotel management, hospitabiltiy and tourism. You’ll be able to learn first-hand with tourists, if you decide to work during your time studying there. 

How much does it cost?

Studying in the Maldives may not be one of the cheapest places to study in the world, but it’s truly worth it to study at the one of the world’s most breathtaking places. It costs international students from 800 euros to 6000 dollars per semester to study in the Maldives. The variation in fees occurs due to the variation in course study programs and the level of study, whether it’s undergraduate or postgraduate levels. 

Living in Maldives

When it comes to living expenses when studying the Maldives, you can expect to pay from 700 to 1200 dollars a month. This section discusses the different kinds of accommodation that students can choose to stay at and how much other costs of living will be if you choose to study in Maldives. 

Accommodation

As the country is small, housing options are very limited in number. However, you can find several options for living for international students: 

 

• Student dormitories: Student dorms that belong to the universities are an option many international students choose because it is easy and secure. However, it can be pretty costly when compared to the other types of housing with a room in the student dorms costing around 1750 dollars per month.  
• Hotels: Students may also choose to stay in hotels, as they give students good rates and are close to Colleges and Universities. This is also typically an expensive option but you’ll be able to live a luxurious life, with minimal worries about food and cleaning as they’ll be done for you. 

• Apartment rental: Another option for students is private appartment rentals. Rent cost differs based on apartment location, size and services offered. For example, the rent can range from 350 dollars to around 1600 dollars a month. For example, choosing an apartment outside city center might cost you around 450 dollars, while one is the city center will cost you around 600 dollars. Also, some islands are more expensive than others so if the island you are studying on has expensive housing, its worth it to look into close ones as they might have cheaper rent. 

• Shared housing: Shared housing is also a popular option, where students rent an apartment and share it together. It’s a good way to cut down on costs and also make friends with other students. For example, it will cost you around 340 dollars to rent a room outside of the city centre and 450 dollars to rent a room in the city centre.  

 

Other costs of living

Other costs of living to take into consideration are food and utilities. Food can cost you anywhere between 180 to 300 dollars a month, based on what you eat and whether you eat out or at home. Utilities will cost you between 130 and 135 dollars on a monthly basis. Transportation costs a wide range of prices based on the kind you use and how often you move around, ranging from 20 to 100 dollars a month.

Universities in Maldives

When it comes to universities to study in Maldives, there are several good ones to consider. Read on to learn about the top universities in the country and what subjects you can choose to study there. 

 

Degrees available

There are several types of degrees available if you want to study in Maldives. Universities there offer bachelor’s degrees, both in arts and sciences fields. They also offer a master’s degree in Shariah and islamic studies, and in several other fields. 

Top-ranked universities

Here are some of the top-ranked universities you should look into if you are interested to study in Maldives: 

Maldives National University

Location: Male 

Maldives National University is the biggest university in the country and the top ranked one. It was founded in the year 2011 and has 10,000 students attending it. It is a public university that was previously known as the Maldives College of Higher Education. There are several subjects offered there, with a focus on the subjects of engineering, health science, education, tourism, and management.

Mandhu College 

Location: Male 

Founded in 2009, Mandhu college is another top ranked university in the Maldives. The school offers a lot of higher education programs like undergraduate degrees and postgraduate degrees, as well as specialised certificates. The university focuses on the subject areas of Business management, education studies and law studies. 

Cyryx College 

Location: Male 

Founded in 1993, Cyryx College is located in the Maldives. The private university has 1,500 students attending it and 65 academic staff teaching there. It’s well known for courses in subjects in the sector of information technology.  

Maldives Business School

Location: Male

Maldives Business School is another good school that offers courses in Human Resources, Finance, Management and Marketing. The degrees are either online or in person and are of different degree levels like bachelor’s, associate’s degrees and master’s degrees. 

Examples of other universities

Other good universities to look into to study abroad in the Maldives are Villa College, MAPS College and Avid College. 

Student Visa - Maldives

After being accepted into the university of your choice, you’ll need to apply for a study visa. This is mandatory for anyone who wants to study in the Maldives for more than 90 days. Read on to find out what the requirements are for the study visa. 

Visa Requirements

• Filled-in IM23 visa application form
• Passport size photos
• Valid passport
• Letter of acceptance from the university you will attend 
• Health insurance that covers the length of your study period
• Medical certificate, proving you are in good health 
• Relevant fees like the visa application fee 

 

When you’ve been given a student visa to study in Maldives, you’ll be able to study there for a year. After the year has passed, you’ll need to apply for a renewed one to be able to continue your studies there. 

How to apply - Maldives

In order to apply for enrollment in universities in the Maldives, it is best to contact the university and inquire exactly how to apply. In most cases, you’ll submit an online application with the required documents attached. 

 

In general, the required documents are the ones as follows: 

• Filled in university application form
• Degree diplomas for previous academic degrees
• Academic transcripts
• Valid passport
• Passport sized photos 
• Proof of English language proficiency 
• Reference letter from academics 
• CV (if applicable) and work samples/ portfolio 

Scholarship in Maldives

If you want to study in Maldives, there are several scholarships and funds to apply to that can help you financially. One of the best ones is the one offered by the Maldives National University. They offer scholarship programs to help students in need and aim at providing them with excellent educations. 

 

There are several types of scholarships offered by Maldives National University: 

• Undergraduate and Postgraduate full scholarship: In addition to tuition fees being covered by this scholarship, anyone who receives this scholarship will get a monthly stipend and also a book allowance for study materials 
• Undergraduate and Postgraduate tuition fee scholarship: This scholarship pays the tuition fees for the recipients of this award. 
• Shaheed Awards : This scholarship is an award to remember the martyrs of 3rd November 1988. There are several awards in this category:Shaheed Ahmed Rasheed Award, Shaheed Ahmed Labeeb Award, Shaheed Ibrahim Shaheed Award and Shaheed Hassan Zareer Award. 
• Gaumu binaakuraa Scholarship: This scholarship is one offered to fill gap areas of the nation.