Villa College Selected as Maldives Host for King’s Commonwealth Fellowship

Villa College has been selected as the Maldives’ host institution for the undergraduate pathway of the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP), with applications now open for fully funded degree opportunities.

The programme, administered by the Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU), offers fellowships to students from Commonwealth Small Island Developing States (SIDS), with a focus on building capacity to address development challenges including climate change.

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Villa College said it is the only higher education institution in the Maldives selected to host the undergraduate fellowship pathway.

The fellowships will cover 100 per cent of tuition fees for the full duration of study, with selected students also receiving a living stipend. Students required to relocate for their studies will be eligible for travel support, including one return airfare per year.

Degree opportunities available through the programme at Villa College include a Bachelor of Science in Nursing; Bachelor of Teaching in Primary and Special Educational Needs; and bachelor’s degrees in Mechanical Engineering, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Civil Engineering.

A total of 11 fellowships are being offered under the programme. Seven are designated for students from Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu, while the remaining opportunities are open to applicants from 24 Commonwealth SIDS, including the Maldives.

The programme was initiated by King Charles III and aims to support young people from small island nations in developing skills and knowledge relevant to climate resilience and sustainable development. Selected students will join an international network as King’s Fellows.

Villa College Vice Rector Dr Ali Najeeb said the opportunity would provide Maldivian students with access to fully funded higher education through an international fellowship programme.

Villa College has been a full member of the ACU since 2013 and said its connection with the network and its educational programmes contributed to its selection as a host institution.

Applications close on October 14, 2026, at 8pm Maldives time.

Eligibility requirements and application forms are available through the Association of Commonwealth Universities’ King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme.