Number of recipients
In addition to being a prestigious academic exchange program, the Fulbright Program is designed to expand and strengthen relationships between the people of the United States and citizens of other nations and to promote international understanding and cooperation. To support this mission, Fulbright Scholars may be asked to give public talks, mentor students, and otherwise engage with the host community, in addition to their primary activities.
For teaching awards, applicants may be involved in the following activities: teaching courses, developing curricula, or training and building capacity.
For teaching/research, applicants may determine percentage of the grant dedicated to each activity and should define this clearly in the project abstract/summary and the project statement.
| 2025 (confirmed) | 2026 (estimates) | |||
| Start date | 1st term | 2nd term | 1st term | 2nd term |
| MNU | 9th Feb-17th July | 17th Aug-25th Dec | Feb- July | Aug-Dec |
| High schools and school run by Ministry of Education | 6th April- 24th July | 10th Aug- 25th Dec | April-July | Aug-Dec |
Weblink to MNU academic calendar 2025:https://mnu.edu.mv/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/2025-Academic-Calendar-final-17.11.2024.pdf
Weblink to academic calendar of 2025 by Maldives Ministry of Education (holds the mandate to determine calendar for all local public schools and high schools: https://www.moe.gov.mv/storage/files/downloads/calendars/1730401199029-Academic%20Calendar%20-%202025%20(Tentative%20-%2031.10.2024).pdf
All applicants must meet the Program eligibility requirements (click to review the requirements).
A letter of invitation is strongly encouraged. Applicants are encouraged to contact prospective hosts and local academics during the application process and discuss the parameters of the teaching/research they are proposing. Prior contact and communication between the applicant and the host ensure greater commitment and create a professional space that enables the grantee to function effectively once in country.
All teaching will be in English. Additional language proficiency is not required.
Terminal degree and five years of teaching experience preferred, but not required depending on area of expertise and research.
Islamic University of Maldives
For more information about applying, including alumni perspectives, please view our webinars or join an office hour for live assistance.
Round-trip, Fly America Act compliant international travel for the grantee will be arranged by an agency designated by IIE.
Additional Travel and Relocation Allowances: $2,750
$1,685 books and educational materials allowance for teaching and teaching/research grants; should be donated to the host institution (or other entity) upon grantee's departure. $3,570 research allowance for research-only grants.
Additional living and housing allowance is provided for grantees with one accompanying dependent or two or more accompanying dependent. These amounts range from $965/month to $2,890/month.
In addition, travel allowances are provided for up to two dependents.
Up to $6,000 per child (up to two) or $12,000 per family for accompanying dependent children in grades K-12 is reimbursed for one semester, upon submission of receipts. Up to $12,000 per child (up to two) or $24,000 per family for accompanying dependent children in grades K-12 is reimbursed for two semesters, upon submission of receipts. Amount may be adjusted for shorter grant periods. Reimbursement is based on actual cost of tuition and fees only or homeschooling materials.
Dependents must accompany the grantee for at least 80% of the period abroad and a minimum of one semester in order to qualify for additional dependent benefits. Dependent benefits are not provided to Flex grantees.
South and Central Asia Fulbright Regional Travel Grant
With additional funding provided by the United States Department of State's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, during their grant period, Fulbright Scholars in the South and Central Asia (SCA) region may apply for a regional travel grant to engage in a variety of activities at academic institutions or non-profit organizations in eligible SCA countries (Bangladesh, India, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan). Activities that U.S Scholars may engage in include: faculty and student lectures, graduate or faculty seminars, conferences, curriculum development, public lectures, panel presentations, needs assessment, or some combination thereof. Scholars in the arts may be invited to give master classes or recitals, participate in exhibitions or workshops, or consult with cultural institutions. Activities may not include research. This grant will cover travel to and from the destination and lodging may be offered by the hosting institution. Scholars may only apply for this grant once they are in country on their Fulbright grant, and as funds are limited, may only participate in one Regional Travel Grant during their Fulbright grant.
Before traveling to another country on a Regional Travel Grant, it is important to confirm trip details with the U.S. Embassy Public Affairs Section or Fulbright Commission in that country.
South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference
With funding provided by the United States Department of State’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, the U.S.-India Educational Foundation (the Fulbright Commission in India) invites eligible Fulbright grantees in the South and Central Asia region to attend the annual South and Central Asia Fulbright Conference in India (usually held in February or March). The conference is an opportunity for Fulbright U.S. Scholars and U.S. Student Researchers who are on their Fulbright grants in the SCA region at the time of the conference to gather to discuss each other’s work, network, and share their experiences as international exchange participants.
Financial assistance to attend the conference is provided as an additional Fulbright grant benefit.
Please refer to the figures above for an estimate of total monthly Fulbright award benefits. Benefits may include a monthly base stipend, living and housing allowances, and additional one-time allowances. Benefits may vary based on a scholar's current academic rank (or professional equivalent), the city of placement, the type of award (teaching, teaching/research, or research), and the number of and duration of stay of accompanying dependents. Research-only or Professional Project grantees receive a standard stipend that is not adjusted for academic rank. In most cases, dependent benefits will not be provided to Flex grantees, or to grantees pursuing grants less than four months (or a semester) in length.
Final grant amounts will be determined prior to the start of the academic year and are subject to the availability of funds. The United States Department of State reserves the right to alter, without notice, participating countries, number of awards and allowances.
Maldives has maintained its distinct identity for centuries by speaking the same language and belonging to one religion, Islam, despite the wide geographic distribution of the population. Maldives is a relatively new democracy, with the first multiparty election held in 2008. With a population of approximately 540,000, higher education options have been limited and those who wanted to pursue university degrees generally traveled overseas to do so, mostly to the Middle East, Australia, and elsewhere in Asia, often with generous scholarships.
The Maldives follows the British system for primary education through A levels, so post-secondary education is influenced by the British model as well.
Maldives National University, inaugurated on February 15, 2011, was previously known as the Maldives College of Higher Education, which was established on January 1, 1999, as part of a restructuring and rationalization of all government-run post-secondary education. Operating under the aegis of the Ministry of Higher Education, Maldives National University is the first and largest public degree-granting institution in the country. The university offers a range of degrees, diplomas, and certificates with particular emphasis on Marine Science, Sharia and Law, Engineering, Health Science, Education, Tourism and Management. The enrollment at Maldives National University is approximately 10,000 students in long-term programs that extend over one academic year. For more information, visit www.mnu.edu.mv.
Villa College is a private college founded in 2007. The college has more than 3,000 students at nine campuses throughout Maldives. Undergraduate and master’s degree programs include Research and Innovation, Accounting, Business, Computer Science, Education, Hospitality, Law, Marine Studies, and Public Health. For more information, visit www.villacollege.edu.mv.
MI College (MIC) is a private college founded in 2006. With almost 2,000 students at the undergraduate and master’s degree levels, MIC has 17 branch campuses throughout Maldives. Degree programs include Business, Management, and Hospitality; Education and Arts; Foundation Studies; and Science and Information Technology. Master’s degree courses include Education, Special Needs Education, Early Childhood Education, Islamic Studies, Business Administration, Public Administration, And Information Technology. For more information, visit www.micollege.edu.mv.
Islamic University of Maldives, formerly known as the College of Islamic Studies (Kulliyah Al- Dhirasaathil Islamiyah) became a full-fledged higher education institution on 21st February 2004. This change in status was initiated with the intention to widen the scope of Islamic education provided to Maldivian students who sought Islamic education without having to travel abroad. With the new developments, College of Islamic Studies continued to offer a number of academic programs with special focus on diploma and degrees in areas such as Quranic Studies, Arabic language, Islamic Studies and Sharia and Law until it was upgraded to the first ever Islamic University of Maldives (IUM) by a presidential decree in 2015. Currently, IUM has five faculties, and four centers including newly established Centre for Research and Publication and Centre for Postgraduate Studies. Further broaden its horizons by June 2016, IUM introduced one PhD and six masters programs which are all new programs in the Maldives. Currently IUM has 2 PhD programs and 11 masters programs. IUM student body is estimated to be below 1000. For more information visit www.ium.edu.mv.
Fulbright grantees to Maldives will require flexibility, patience, and adaptability to help make the most of challenging conditions—including receiving host government approval, finalizing affiliations, and securing housing—in an energized environment. Another consideration is that the capital city of Malé is a crowded +/- 3.5-square-mile tropical island with a population of around 225,000. However, Fulbright Scholars have the opportunity to contribute to a burgeoning higher education system. The Maldives continues to rely on foreign workers at many levels, including some at professional levels. The continued development of the country requires the existence of a university-educated population that can contribute to the growth of a professional class.
Priorities for the U.S.-Maldivian relationship include supporting democratic institutions and values, economic development and debt management, helping the Maldives strengthen cyber and physical security, and environmental sustainability and ocean research.
Visit our Scholar Directory to view and search all Fulbright alumni. You can also learn more about Fulbright Alumni Ambassadors.
Housing in the Maldives can be a challenge to obtain due to shortage of apartments and very high costs. The allowance paid by IIE is sufficient to find a suitable furnished apartment but housing differs from what is common in the United States. Scholars are advised to start looking for an apartment as soon as they are awarded the grant.
Maldivian culture and laws are quite different from the United States, refer to U.S. Department of State travel information for further details.