President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has ratified the First Amendment to the Maldives Higher Education and Training Act (Act No. 7/2021). The amendment, which was passed by the 20th People’s Majlis on 5 November 2025, seeks to expand access to higher education and allow qualified institutions to offer university-level education within the country.
The revised legislation updates the criteria for establishing and operating universities in the Maldives. Under the new requirements, 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 registered higher education college into a university, the institution must meet several conditions. These include offering at least three programmes at Maldives National Qualifications Framework (MNQF) Levels 7 and 9, either independently or in affiliation with a foreign university, and maintaining a minimum enrolment of 1,000 students in MNQF Level 7 and above programmes.
In addition, the institution must be ranked under an international university rating system, hold membership for at least five years in both an international university association and an international quality assurance organisation, and have experience conducting international-level research in partnership with foreign universities or organisations.
The amendment also requires that at least 10 per cent of the academic staff hold doctoral qualifications, and that institutions have adequate infrastructure and resources that comply with standards set by the Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development.
Following the President’s ratification, the amendment has been published in the Government Gazette and is now in effect.
