Government invests MVR 835 million in Free Degree Program over six years

The Maldivian government has spent MVR 835 million on the Free Degree Program over the past six years, providing thousands of Maldivian students with access to government-funded first-degree education.

According to statistics published by the Auditor General’s Office, the Ministry of Education received 19,265 applications for the scheme between 2019 and 2024. Of these, 16,388 applications were approved, accounting for approximately 85 percent of all applications received.

The figures highlight the scale of the government’s investment in expanding access to higher education and reducing the financial burden of obtaining a first degree for Maldivian students.

Annual expenditure on the programme increased steadily during its first five years, reflecting the growing number of students benefiting from the scheme.

The six-year expenditure breakdown is:

• 2019: MVR 85 million
• 2020: MVR 133 million
• 2021: MVR 141 million
• 2022: MVR 163 million
• 2023: MVR 163 million
• 2024: MVR 150 million

The Free Degree Program was introduced to increase opportunities for Maldivian students to pursue higher education without having to bear the full cost of tuition. Through the programme, eligible students can undertake approved first-degree programmes at participating higher education institutions.

The continued allocation of hundreds of millions of rufiyaa to the programme represents a significant public investment in developing the country’s human capital, while allowing more young Maldivians to pursue professional qualifications without the financial barriers traditionally associated with university education.

With 16,388 applications approved during the six-year period, the programme has become an important component of the country’s higher education support system, helping widen access to degree-level education across the Maldives.