The Ministry of Higher Education, Labour and Skills Development has decided to permit students of the presidential scholarship and high achievers scholarship to switch majors.
The Ministry of Higher Education has gazetted the new regulations on the Presidential Special Scholarship and High Achievers Scholarship for students who pass with first class honours in the Higher Secondary Examination.
State Minister for Higher Education Dr Abdul Raheem Hassan told PSM News that according to the old regulation formulated in 2019, courses cannot be changed after any financial transaction.
However, there have been instances of changing courses becoming necessary for various reasons, he said, adding that the new regulation allows for this necessity.
"This will be a great convenience for the students. We have done this on the instructions of the President," Dr Abdul Raheem Hassan, State Minister for Higher Education said.
According to the new regulation, the scholarship recipient can switch majors under three circumstances after submitting the placement certificate to the Ministry of Higher Education.
To qualify, the new regulation clearly states that no payment must have been made to the higher education institution mentioned in the previously submitted placement letter.
For master’s degree programs of not more than 4 years that allows direct entry without first degree
- Be a student at the time of implementation of this regulation
- First time to switch majors
- Even if the course changes, there is no conflict with any other provision of the scholarship policy
The Presidential Scholarship is awarded to students who score A stars in five subjects including Dhivehi and Islam.
The High Achievers Scholarship is awarded to students who have scored a pass of not less than "A" in five subjects including Dhivehi and Islam. Of these two scholarships, students who receive the President's Scholarship have the opportunity to study at any university in any country of their choosing.
The High Achievers Scholarship will provide opportunities to study in the region, Malaysia, China, the Philippines and OICD countries. But the scholarship will be available in specified priority fields.