The Maldives Zakat Fund has opened applications for higher education scholarships under its Higher Education Assistance Policy, offering opportunities for studies both in the Maldives and abroad.

Under the programme, 10 scholarship opportunities are available for studies in the Maldives, while 20 scholarships are offered for overseas studies.

The scheme also includes five scholarship opportunities for female doctors to pursue training in Obstetrics and Gynecology in SAARC countries, along with five stipend assistance opportunities for students currently studying in Saudi Arabia and Egypt.

Local scholarship opportunities are available for Master’s and PhD programmes at institutions including Islamic University of Maldives, Maldives National University, Villa College, Avid College and Zikura College.

Eligible fields include Islamic Shari’ah, Quranic Sciences, Islamic Education, Aqidah, Fiqh, Islamic Leadership and Management, Islamic Journalism and other Islamic Studies-related disciplines.

International scholarship opportunities are available in fields such as Islamic Banking and Finance, Halal Industry Management, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Urban and Regional Planning, Arabic Studies, Quranic and Sunnah Studies and Islamic Governance.

The overseas programme includes opportunities at internationally recognised institutions including International Islamic University Malaysia, International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and International Islamic University Islamabad.

According to the Zakat Fund, students may also apply for programmes outside the listed fields by submitting a proposal explaining how the studies would benefit the Maldivian Islamic community.

Applications are open to Maldivian citizens aged 18 and above who meet the academic and financial eligibility requirements and are pursuing full-time studies.

The deadline for applications is 2:00 p.m. on July 16, 2026.