Most Pakistani students never think of the Maldives as a place to study. That is exactly why the Villa College International Student Scholarship is interesting. It is a small award run by Villa College, the largest private higher education institution in the Maldives, and it is set aside for non-Maldivian applicants who want to do an on-campus undergraduate degree at the college's Q.I. Campus in Male'. You can see the full scholarship details on our listing, but this guide goes through what the award actually is, what it probably is not, and how to put together an application that stands a chance.
Let me be direct about one thing up front. This is a niche option with very few places. It suits a student who genuinely wants a small, English-medium campus close to South Asia and is comfortable with a limited choice of majors. It does not suit someone hunting for a guaranteed fully funded package.
A scholarship with two places and no published percentage
Villa College was founded in 2007. It runs foundation, undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, some of them joint or top-up degrees with partner universities such as UWE Bristol and Taylor's University, alongside its own locally awarded qualifications in business, IT, hospitality, nursing and the built environment.
Most of the college's scholarship scheme is reserved for Maldivian nationals: alumni scholarships, community-engagement scholarships, underprivileged-student scholarships and so on. The International Student Scholarship is the one category carved out for foreigners. The college lists two slots for it. Whether that means two per intake or two per year is not fully clear, so ask the admissions team how many awards are available in the cycle you are targeting.
The bigger catch is money. The college does not publish a fixed tuition-coverage percentage for this award. Listings sometimes describe the funding as "full / partial", but the safest reading is that it is a competitive, merit-assessed discount or waiver applied against the normal course fee schedule. Do not plan your finances on the assumption that it covers everything. Confirm the exact benefit with the Marketing/Admissions office when you apply.
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Provider | Villa College, Maldives |
| Funding | Discount or waiver on course fees; full or partial, amount confirmed case-by-case |
| Level | Bachelor's (on-campus only) |
| Places | Two slots listed per cycle |
| Deadline | Rolling, tied to intake admission cycles; confirm the current deadline with Villa College Admissions |
| Country | Maldives (Q.I. Campus, Male') |
| Official site | Villa College financial aid page |
What the fee discount does and does not pay for
The core benefit is a discount or waiver on course fees for an on-campus undergraduate programme. Around that, a scholar gets the same things any enrolled student gets: use of the Q.I. Campus facilities and libraries, student support services, and help from the International Student Support Team with visa, accommodation, insurance and settling in.
There is also an indirect benefit. Because some programmes are affiliated with UWE Bristol and Taylor's University, you can study toward an internationally linked degree while paying Villa College fee levels, and then receive a fee discount on top. For the right student, that combination is the real value here.
What it does not mention covering: flights, accommodation and day-to-day living costs. Living in Male' is cheaper than many Western cities, but it is an island nation that imports a lot, so prices are not low. Published estimates for the country (from the Maldives National University) put food at around $120 a week and mobile data at roughly $25 a month. Rent, transport and insurance come on top of that. Plan for these from your own funds, and if you need to show money for the visa, our guide to bank statements and proof of funds is a useful starting point.
Pakistani nationals are eligible, with four conditions
The scholarship is open to anyone who is non-native to the Maldives or does not hold Maldivian citizenship. That includes Pakistani nationals. You also need to:
- meet the standard academic entry requirements of your chosen undergraduate programme, typically O-Level/A-Level or equivalent secondary qualifications;
- not be currently enrolled at another tertiary education institution when you apply;
- apply for, and be ready to enrol in, an on-campus degree programme (online and distance students are excluded).
The third point catches people out. If you are halfway through a first year at a Pakistani university and hoping to switch, you would not meet the "not currently enrolled" rule as written. Ask the college about your exact situation before you invest time in the application.
Postgraduate applicants should skip this one entirely. It is undergraduate only.
Which subjects you can study
Any on-campus undergraduate degree at Villa College is eligible, so the field is your choice within the college's catalogue: business administration, information technology, hospitality and tourism, the built environment and other bachelor's tracks. The range is narrower than you would find in a big study destination, so check that a programme you actually want exists before anything else.
The five documents and the 300-500 word statement
The document list is short, which is good news for Pakistani applicants used to long attestation chains:
- Completed Villa College scholarship application form
- Copy of your passport
- Academic transcripts and certificates (O-Level/A-Level or equivalent)
- Two letters of recommendation from teachers, mentors or professionals
- A statement of purpose of 300-500 words covering your academic and career goals and the expected impact of the scholarship
The college does not list attestation requirements for the scholarship itself, but get your transcripts in order early anyway, since admissions or immigration may ask for verified copies. Our documents checklist for international scholarships covers how to prepare these.
The statement of purpose is where most of the competition happens. With so few places, a generic "I want to study abroad to broaden my horizons" essay will not stand out. Explain why the Maldives, why Villa College, and why the specific programme. If you are choosing a hospitality and tourism degree, for example, a country built around tourism is a concrete reason worth writing about. Keep within the 300-500 word range.
Applying: admission first, then the scholarship email
- Choose an eligible on-campus undergraduate programme and apply for admission through the college's online application portal.
- Once you have an offer of admission (or in parallel, depending on the college's current process), prepare the scholarship application form and supporting documents.
- Write your statement of purpose.
- Get your two recommendation letters from people who can speak to your academic potential.
- Email the completed form and all documents to marketing@villacollege.edu.mv, or to whichever scholarship contact is currently named on the Villa College financial aid page. Check this before sending.
- If shortlisted, expect an interview or further verification from the scholarship committee before the final decision.
Whether the scholarship application goes in alongside or after the admission application is not fixed in what the college publishes. One email to the admissions team before you start will settle it.
Timing around the February and September intakes
There is no single fixed deadline. Applications are rolling and tied to the intake admission cycles, which commonly fall around February and September, though this varies. The rough sequence looks like this:
- The programme application opens for an intake, and you apply for admission first.
- You submit the scholarship application by email at some point within that admission cycle.
- After document review, the committee may shortlist you and request an interview.
- The award decision comes before the relevant intake's enrolment deadline.
Rolling deadlines reward early applicants. With only two slots listed, applying near the end of an intake window means competing for places that may already be gone. Aim for the start of the window.
The visa sequence and why you should not fly early
The student visa goes through the Maldives Immigration IMUGA portal. The process is a sponsor declaration (IM21), followed by the student visa (IM23). Start it only after you have a confirmed offer letter, and do not travel to the Maldives before the visa is approved. The college's International Student Support Team helps with this, and the Villa College international students page is the place to find their current guidance.
Where applicants go wrong
The most common mistake is assuming "scholarship" means fully funded. Ask for the exact discount in writing before you commit to a programme, and build a budget for the remaining fees and living costs.
The second mistake is relying on unverified listings. Many Maldives scholarship pages online actually describe scholarships for Maldivian citizens going abroad, not the other way round. The Maldives National University's student scholarships require Maldivian citizenship, and there is no broad Maldivian government scheme for foreign students. Check claims against official .edu.mv or .gov.mv sources.
Third, do not ignore backup options. If the international slots are not available in your cycle, ask Villa College about the Government Grant Scheme and other discount schemes, but expect most of them to be restricted to Maldivian nationals.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Villa College International Student Scholarship fully funded?
The college does not publish a fixed coverage percentage. Treat it as a merit-based fee discount or waiver, and confirm the exact benefit directly with Villa College.
Can Pakistani students apply?
Yes. It is open to anyone who is non-native to or not a citizen of the Maldives, which includes Pakistani nationals.
Can I use it for a master's degree or an online programme?
No. It is limited to on-campus undergraduate degree programmes at Villa College.
How many scholarships are awarded?
Villa College lists two slots for the International Student Scholarship. Confirm with admissions how many are available in the intake you are applying for.
Does the Maldives National University offer scholarships to international students?
No. MNU's published student scholarships require Maldivian citizenship, and there is no equivalent open category for international applicants there.
Who should I contact with questions?
Email marketing@villacollege.edu.mv to confirm the current deadline, the coverage and whether to submit the scholarship form with or after your admission application. Check the financial aid page first in case the contact has changed.
Before you apply, check the current cycle on the Villa College financial aid page and keep our full scholarship page handy for the key details.