Private colleges will only be eligible for university status after 15 years of operation as a registered college

The regulations for the registration and operation of universities in the Maldives have been officially gazetted and published.

Under these regulations, private colleges operating in the Maldives will be granted the opportunity to register as universities.

Under existing regulations, private colleges are eligible for university status only after operating as a registered college for a minimum of fifteen years. Furthermore, the criteria stipulate that an institution must have functioned as a government-recognized university in a foreign country for at least ten years. It is also a requirement for the institution to offer programs ranging from Bachelor’s to Master’s degrees in at least three distinct fields of study.

The regulations stipulate that upon registration under these rules, a university shall be established as a distinct legal entity.

The core responsibilities of a university include conducting higher education and training programs designed to achieve the highest levels of academic excellence. Furthermore, the institution is mandated to confer the relevant certificates and awards associated with its academic programs and training initiatives.

According to the regulations, proposals for university registration must be submitted through a dedicated portal established by the Ministry of Higher Education. The regulations further mandate that an assessment report be prepared and a final decision reached within three months of the proposal's acceptance.

The regulations also stipulate that a fee of MVR 100,000 is required to register a university's main campus. Furthermore, upon attaining university status, the institution must conduct at least one PhD-level program within two years.