President Ratifies Amendment Higher Education and Training Act to Ease Establishment of Universities

President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the First Amendment to the Maldives Higher Education and Training Act, easing the process for providing university-level education in the country.

The amendment, passed by the 20th People’s Majlis at its 16th sitting of the third session of 2025 on 5 November, aims to expand access to higher education and allow qualified institutions to offer university-level programmes within the Maldives, the President’s Office said. It also revises the criteria for establishing and operating universities.

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Under the new rules, an institution applying for registration as a university must have either operated as a local college for at least 15 consecutive years or functioned as a university abroad for a minimum of 10 years.

To convert a higher education college into a university, the institution must meet additional criteria, including offering at least three programmes at Maldives National Qualifications Framework (MNQF) Levels 7 and 9, maintaining 1,000 or more students at Level 7 and above, and having at least 10 per cent of academic staff with doctoral qualifications. The institution must also meet international ranking or membership standards and possess adequate infrastructure.

Following ratification, the amendment has been published in the Government Gazette and is now in effect.