Aid to Maldives Scholarship Scheme — Bachelor's Scholarship

The Aid to Maldives Scholarship Scheme (scheme code G0164) is one of the named scholarship schemes the Indian Council for Cultural Relations runs on behalf of the Government of India, and it is reserved for nationals of the Maldives. It funds undergraduate study at Indian universities, including engineering degrees.

Applications are filed on ICCR’s A2A portal, on the same annual cycle as every other ICCR scheme. Universities on the ICCR list check admission eligibility, and the Indian Mission handling the Maldives selects scholars within the slots allocated to the country.

Awards are tenable only at universities and institutions empanelled with ICCR, and the scholar relocates to India for the full length of the degree.

Benefits & funding

Full tuition and the university’s compulsory charges are paid for the course.
A monthly living allowance, plus hostel accommodation or a house rent allowance where no hostel place is available.
An annual contingent grant towards books and study materials.
Three months of stipend are released in advance once the scholar’s Indian bank account is opened and registered with ICCR; later payments arrive by bank transfer.
ICCR pays no medical costs: every illness is the scholar's own expense, and each scholar must buy medical insurance with a minimum cover of INR 500,000 (about USD 6,800).
Return economy-class airfare is included under some ICCR schemes but not all; confirm whether this scheme carries it with the High Commission of India in Malé before booking travel.
Hostel and mess deposits and Indian immigration fees are paid by the student.
ICCR does not fund beyond the normal duration of the course. Failing a year suspends the scholarship, and it is revived only after the student self-finances and passes that year within twelve months.

Eligibility

Open to nationals of the Maldives only.
For undergraduate courses at Indian universities, including engineering courses.
School-leaving qualification (12th standard or equivalent) is required for undergraduate entry.
Engineering applicants must have taken Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in their school-leaving examinations.
Aged 18 to 35 as of 1 July 2026; universities may set their own age rules within these limits.
A valid passport is required for the whole course, and missions ask for at least two years of validity as of 1 July of the entry year.
English has to be strong enough to follow lessons; applicants submit a 500-word essay in English, and a test score such as TOEFL or IELTS where the course requires one.
Study is limited to universities and institutions empanelled with ICCR, listed on the A2A portal, and to one course only.
Medicine, law, nursing, physiotherapy, five-year integrated degrees and B.Tech at the IITs sit outside the scheme.
Scholars may not work in India during the course, and the scholarship ends no later than three weeks after the university declares the consolidated final results.

Can you apply?

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Eligible nationalities
Maldives
Education required
High School
Age requirement
18–35 yrs

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Application process

1
Register on the A2A portal for the academic year and fill the application online; postal or hard-copy applications are rejected.
2
Upload the required documents: passport copy, academic certificates and marksheets in English, a 3.5x4.5cm photograph, a physical fitness certificate on the prescribed form, and character or recommendation letters from the current institution.
3
Submit the 500-word English essay, plus any course-specific test score such as GMAT for an MBA or TOEFL/IELTS for English-taught courses.
4
List university and course preferences in priority order — missions state up to five choices from the participating institutions.
5
Universities assess admission eligibility on the portal and confirm provisional admission.
6
The Indian Mission makes the scholarship selection within the slots allocated to the Maldives; applying guarantees neither admission nor an award.
7
Accept the offer on the portal, buy the required medical insurance, and travel to India on a Student Visa.

Program timeline

27 February 2026
2026–27 applications opened on the A2A portal.
15 April 2026
application deadline for 2026–27.
universities confirm admission decisions.
30 April 2026
Indian Missions allocate scholarships and selected students accept.
15 May 2026
second round of selection closes where slots remain.
10 June 2026
Late February 2027 (expected)
the 2027–28 cycle opens, following the 2026–27 pattern.