MQA announces that PhDs completed in Maldives will only be recognised after at least three years full‑time

The Maldives Qualifications Authority (MQA) has announced that doctoral degrees completed in the Maldives will only be recognised if the programme runs for at least three years full‑time or six years part‑time, in line with new standards published in the government gazette.

The guideline, issued under Gazette No. 126‑R/2025, clarifies the criteria for recognising PhD and equivalent doctoral programmes conducted by Maldivian higher education and training institutions. MQA noted that while the Maldives already has a framework for recognising foreign‑awarded PhDs, no formal standard previously existed for locally delivered doctoral programmes.

Under the new rule, PhDs completed in the Maldives, whether delivered solely by a local institution or jointly with a foreign university, will be recognised according to the same principles used for overseas doctoral degrees.

MQA states that a full‑time PhD must span a minimum of three academic years, while part‑time study will be counted as double the duration of full‑time. Institutions may offer part‑time pathways, but these must meet the extended duration requirement.

The guideline also specifies that a doctoral degree must comprise 360 credits and include substantial research work. MQA estimates that completing a PhD requires at least 36,000 hours of academic engagement over three years, a threshold that cannot be realistically met in a shorter period.

Because of the extensive workload and research expectations, MQA has advised current PhD candidates to pursue their programmes on a part‑time basis, unless they are able to fully commit to the full‑time requirement.

MQA has instructed all higher education and training institutions offering doctoral programmes to align their programme structures, delivery methods, and assessment standards with the newly issued guideline. The authority said the standard is essential to ensure the quality, credibility, and international comparability of PhDs awarded in the Maldives.

The Maldives first opened a domestic PhD pathway on August 18, 2016. Former Education Minister Dr. Aishath Ali became the first person to earn a PhD from the Maldives National University, followed by former Deputy Minister of Gender and Family Dr. Suneena Rasheed.

The new guideline is intended to standardise doctoral education across the country and ensure that locally awarded PhDs meet internationally accepted benchmarks.