Top students studying at low-ranked universities, study reveals

A study conducted by the Institute for Global Success (IGS) has found that many Maldivian students who received the President's Scholarship and High Achievers Award are pursuing higher education at universities considered to be of lower quality and misaligned with their academic potential.

The research, carried out in collaboration with admissions experts from the University of Oxford and the University of Cambridge, examined students who began their studies abroad in 2022 and 2023. It analyzed the rankings of the universities they attend and the opportunities available at top-tier institutions.

• Only one President's Scholarship recipient in 2023 is studying at a top 10 global university. This student is training to become a pilot. • Four scholarship recipients are enrolled at universities ranked between 10 and 30. • Another four students are attending institutions that do not rank in the global top 100. • None of the High Achievers Award recipients are studying at a university ranked in the top 20. • Only seven students in total are studying at universities ranked in the top 50. • Among High Achievers Award recipients, 39 are studying at universities ranked below the top 100. • Eleven students are attending universities outside the top 200. • Some students are enrolled at institutions deemed so low in quality that they are not listed in any international rankings.

The study also noted that most President’s Scholarship recipients opt to study in the United Kingdom, with Malaysia being the second most popular destination. However, IGS emphasized that these choices may not always align with students’ academic potential.

Riffath Mohamed, Chairman and CEO of IGS, stressed that the current trend of top-performing students enrolling in low-quality universities highlights the need for both coaching and policy reform.

"Looking at these three years we see a very similar pattern. That is, a culture has developed where the best students study at low-quality universities," Riffath said. "To change this, we will soon introduce a program in collaboration with Oxbridge admission experts."

Riffath recommended that the government revise its policy of rewarding top students abroad without considering the quality of their chosen universities. He also proposed making it a condition for scholarship recipients to attend institutions that meet a specific academic standard.

In 2023, 19 students were awarded the President’s Scholarship. That same year, more than 800 students placed in the top 10 of O Level results nationwide.