President’s Scholarship now restricted to fields on the national training needs list

The government has announced changes to the Presidential Scholarship scheme, limiting eligibility to fields included in the Maldives’ Training Needs Requirement List, published by the Ministry of Higher Education.

Previously, students awarded the Presidential Scholarship were allowed to pursue studies in any field. However, under the new regulation issued on Sunday, the scholarship will now be granted only for fields identified as national priority areas.

The ministry noted that students who completed Grade 12 last year and sat the higher secondary examinations will be given a one‑time exemption, allowing them to study in any field of their choice despite the new restriction.

The regulation also introduces a special allowance of MVR 6,000 per month in addition to the standard stipend for students studying at Maldivian learning centres under the scholarship.

To qualify for the Presidential Scholarship, students must meet one of the following academic criteria:

• Achieve at least one A* in A‑Level, or  

• Achieve A in five subjects, including HSC Dhivehi and Islam, and obtain a grade C or above in English at O‑Level or higher.

The ministry said the changes are intended to align scholarship funding with national workforce needs.