Maldives offers Zakat-funded scholarships for Islamic higher education
Zakat fund to finance overseas and domestic degrees in Islamic studies, journalism and women’s healthcare for low-income students
MALE, Maldives (MNTV) — The Maldives has opened applications for dozens of higher education scholarships funded through the country’s national Zakat system, expanding the use of Islamic charitable funds to support students pursuing advanced studies in Islamic scholarship, journalism and women’s healthcare.
The Maldives Zakat House announced that 40 scholarship opportunities are being offered this year for Maldivian students seeking to pursue higher education both domestically and abroad, with priority given to applicants from financially vulnerable backgrounds.
Under the program, students will receive funding for Master’s and PhD-level studies across a range of Islamic disciplines including Islamic Sharia, Quranic studies, Islamic education, Aqeedah, Fiqh, Islamic leadership, Islamic research and publishing, and Islamic journalism.
The initiative reflects a broader effort in the Muslim-majority Indian Ocean nation to channel Zakat — an obligatory form of Islamic charitable giving — toward long-term educational and social development programs instead of limiting its use to direct welfare assistance.
According to the announcement, 30 scholarships will be awarded under the main scheme, including 10 placements within the Maldives and 20 opportunities for study abroad.
Students selected for local programs will study at institutions including the Islamic University of Maldives, Maldives National University and several private colleges.
International placements include opportunities at prominent Islamic universities such as Al-Azhar University in Egypt, the International Islamic University Malaysia, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia, Universiti Brunei Darussalam and the International Islamic University Islamabad in Pakistan.
The Zakat House also introduced two special scholarship schemes under the program. One provides stipends for Maldivian students already studying in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, while another allocates funding to train female doctors in women’s health-related fields, an area authorities say remains important for national healthcare development.
Officials said applications could also be considered for fields outside the listed disciplines if they are deemed important for the development of Maldivian Islamic society.
The Maldives operates a centralized Zakat collection system administered by the state, with funds traditionally used for poverty alleviation, healthcare assistance and social welfare programs. In recent years, authorities have increasingly promoted the use of Zakat for education and human capital development, particularly in Islamic studies and community-oriented professions.
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