Villa College has been selected as the host institution in the Maldives for the King’s Commonwealth Fellowship Programme (KCFP), which offers fully funded undergraduate study opportunities to students from Commonwealth small island developing states.
The Association of Commonwealth Universities (ACU) is currently accepting applications for the fellowships, which cover tuition fees and living expenses.
Villa College said it is the only higher education institution in the Maldives selected as an official host for the undergraduate pathway of the programme.
The college has been a full member of the ACU since 2013 and said its links with the Commonwealth university network and the quality of its education were among the factors behind its selection.
Launched by King Charles III, the programme aims to strengthen the capacity of small island developing states to address development challenges, particularly climate change.
The fellowship is intended to provide young people with the knowledge and skills to contribute to sustainable and climate-resilient communities. Fellows will also join an international academic network as King’s Fellows.
The programme offers undergraduate study opportunities in several fields, including:
- Health: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
- Education: Bachelor of Teaching in Primary and Special Educational Needs
- Engineering: Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering (Hons), Bachelor of Electrical and Electronics Engineering (Hons), and Bachelor of Civil Engineering (Hons)
Fellows will receive a stipend for living expenses in addition to full tuition fees for the duration of their studies.
Students who need to relocate to another island or country for their studies will also receive travel support, including a return air ticket once a year.
A total of 11 fellowships will be awarded under the programme. Seven will be allocated specifically to small and isolated states – Dominica, Grenada, Kiribati, Nauru, Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu – while the remaining opportunities will be open to applicants from 24 Commonwealth small island developing states, including the Maldives.
Villa College vice-rector Associate Professor Dr Ali Najeeb said hosting the fellowship for the first time in the Maldives was an achievement for the country’s higher education sector.
He said the programme would open opportunities for Maldivian students to pursue undergraduate studies through an international fellowship scheme.
Villa College’s Student Services and Contact Centre will provide guidance to students applying for the fellowship, with further information to be shared through the college’s official social media channels.
Applications are open until 8pm on October 14.
Details of the fellowship requirements and application forms are available through the Association of Commonwealth Universities’ official website.
