The Ministry of Islamic Affairs has confirmed that 29 applications were received for higher education scholarships offered through the Maldives Zakat Fund.

The scholarship programme application, which closed on 29 May, offers financial assistance for both local and international studies. According to the ministry, 18 applications were submitted for general higher education scholarships, while 11 were for specialised fields.

This year, the Zakat Fund made 50 scholarship slots available; 20 for study within the Maldives and 30 for overseas education. The international scholarships cover studies in countries including Malaysia, Brunei, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and other SAARC nations, with 17 placements specifically allocated for Malaysia and Brunei.

Out of the 30 international opportunities, 13 are designated as special scholarships, with placements at universities such as Al-Azhar University in Egypt, and Medina University, Qassim University, Umm al-Qura, and King AbdulAziz universities in Saudi Arabia.

Additionally, one scholarship is available in each of the following medical specialisations: urology, urological surgery, paediatric neurology, and neurology. A further 10 stipends are reserved for students pursuing Islamic studies in fields such as Shariah, Al-Qadha, Tafsir, Hadith, Ulum al-Qur’an, Arabic, and other religious disciplines.