Getting
an education can be extremely challenging and expensive, especially in the
Maldives. Whether students are looking to study at a university in the Maldives
or travel abroad to have the full student experience, education comes at a
hefty cost that most cannot afford.
While
most students studying in the Maldives usually work part-time in order to pay
for their monthly university fees, it is definitely not ideal as having a job
while studying for your degree or master’s is a challenge in itself. For most
students, all around the world and even in the Maldives, the one of the ways to
access a good tertiary education is through student loans.
Relatively, a significant percentage of the youth has a bachelors degree or a masters degree in the Maldives and to most while it
could be huge debt on their head - it is also seen as an asset, as it facilitates
better jobs and paves a better path for their future.
On
February 15, 2023, the Maldives Government announced the applications for 720
student loan slots which provide future students with the opportunity to apply
for financing to study both in the Maldives as well as abroad.
While
student loan announcements are made annually to facilitate financing for
higher education, this year student loan slots include sectors that are highly
sought after each year but remained unavailable until now.
With
this year’s loan scheme application process, the Government opened up 60 slots
for piloting students, which is a large number from the 10 slots that were
opened up in 2022. Piloting is one of the highly sought after qualifications in the Maldives
as the country’s aviation industry is seen as one of the best sectors to join - after the tourism industry.
In
addition to this, the Government also opened up 55 slots for MBBS degrees and
20 slots for masters in post-graduate medicine abroad. This is yet another
improvement from the 10 slots that were opened up in this sector in 2022,
helping students who want to pursue the medical field achieve their dreams a
bit easier this year.
With
applications for student loans open until March 15, 2023, this is a
good time for students looking to pursue
higher education, awaiting access to finance to look into the student loan
process and get started on planning their future in university!