The University of the West Indies
Enjoy the Crop Over festival in Barbados, the Carnival tradition in Trinidad, Reggae in Jamaica or the 365 beaches of Antigua and Barbuda based on which campus you choose!
The UWI is the premier university in the Caribbean region and the oldest regional university. It has been ranked among the top 5% of universities in the world. (THE) No matter which campus you choose, enjoy the laid-back island culture and multicultural roots that lead to national sports that include everything from cricket and polo to marathons and football (soccer) and any number of water sports. Celebrate Emancipation Day (August 1) in most of the campus countries, Independence Day (Jamaica, August 6; Trinidad and Tobago, August 31; Antigua and Barbuda, November 1; and Barbados, November 30) and enjoy a variety of adventures on land and sea in all the countries.
Key information
Application information
Student experience
Not Just A Vacation - Practicum in Barbados
Submitted for the 2015 International Video Contest by Kathleen Muir
UWI Promo Video
Useful links
Program details
Campuses:
There are five campuses – four landed campuses in four different countries, and an Open campus offering on-line courses. So students must choose the campus to which they will apply.
- The Cave Hill campus is located in the Cave Hill area of Bridgetown, Barbados.
- The Mona campus is located in the Mona area of Kingston, Jamaica.
- The St. Augustine campus is located in St. Augustine, Trinidad which is 15 km from Port of Spain, the capital city, , and the newest campus (launched in 2019)
- The Five Islands campus located in Five Islands, Antigua and Barbuda, 8.3 km from St. John’s, the capital city.
Areas of Study:
The UWI offers a wide array of programmes at the undergraduate and graduate levels through departments in eight faculties and various centres and institutes. The faculties are: Engineering, Food and Agriculture (based only on the St. Augustine Campus in Trinidad and Tobago), Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport.
Some of the programmes are offered by all five campuses (e.g. in Education and in Social Sciences), others are offered on the each of the campuses in Barbados (Cave Hill), Jamaica (Mona), Trinidad and Tobago (St. Augustine) and the Open Campus, while others are available only at three, two or one of the campuses. For a searchable list of all the programmes, campus of offer, and level, click here for details.
Course Information:
Students at the UWI must take at least four courses to maintain full-time student status. 3 credits = 1 UCalgary half course.
The UWI Academic Year is divided into two semesters: Semester one runs from late August to December and semester two runs from January to May. For more detailed information see the academic calendar. Each faculty may also offer courses during the summer break.
-
Costs
Exchange students pay their tuition and academic fees to the University of Calgary. Other expenses are paid directly to the service provider.
Information on accommodation and living costs can be found on the UWI website.
Cave Hill Campus (Barbados)
St. Augustine Campus (Trinidad and Tobago)
Mona Campus (Jamaica)Also, remember to include things like visas, insurance, vaccinations etc in your budget planning.
-
Funding
Did you know that you can take your University of Calgary funding with you on exchange? Since you remain a degree seeking student at the UCalgary while on exchange you remain eligible for any awards and scholarships you are eligible to receive from the university as well as student loans.
Our office administers several awards, including the Global Access Fund (based on a funding-first model where students apply prior to committing to a global learning program) and the Global Learning Award (students apply after being accepted to a global learning program; the amount varies year-to-year as the money is split among chosen recipients). Students may only receive these awards once. Please see the funding page, linked below, for more information.
The Cave Hill, Mona, and St. Augustine campuses of The University of the West Indies have on campus student housing. More information can be found on each campus' website.
Five Islands campus
This exchange is open to regular, full-time students in any faculty at the U of C, who have completed at least 1 full year (10 courses) at the post-secondary level, with a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.5.
There are support services for students with disabilities on the Cave Hill, Mona and St. Augustine campuses. Cave Hill campus has disability support through their Office of Student Services, , the St. Augustine campus has a Student Life and Development Department (SLDD) which assists students, including those with disabilities, and Mona campus offers support through special student services. Please contact study.abroad@ucalgary.ca so that an advisor can arrange for you to speak with the appropriate campus services directly.
Have questions?
The advisor for the program is: Veronica V. Cardoso
How to Apply
Download the application guide
This PDF contains information on how to complete your application and what to do after you have applied.
Identify three programs of interest
We recommend applying for your top three programs for the priority application deadline, as placement may be competitive. We will assess your applications in ranked order.
Check requirements and deadlines
These may vary by program, so check the individual program pages and make sure that you are aware of any different application deadlines or eligibility requirements.
Start your application
Once you have gathered everything you need, you can begin your application!
Please note: Applications will not be considered complete until all required documents are submitted in full.
International travel presents challenges that may not be found when attending classes on campus. There may be a lack of resources, emergency services, hospitals, accessibility issues and/or demands on the physical and the mental self, all of which can challenge individuals when away from their usual support systems and structures. Adequate preparation is essential.
For this reason, it is imperative that you evaluate all aspects of your own physical, psychological, emotional and spiritual condition against the rigors of the particular global learning program you are selecting. If you are unsure of whether or not this program is a good fit for you and/or if you have any circumstances that could impede your enjoyment of the program, please contact us. Our Global Learning Advisors will be happy to assist in finding the best options for you and arrange any supports or accommodations necessary to ensure your success.
If you have or are seeking a certificate from Student Accessibility Services, you should provide this early to your Global Learning Advisor to ensure that the option that you are seeking can support your needs.
Please note: All participants must adhere to COVID-19 and other vaccination-related requirements for the destinations visited on this program. Failure to do so may have consequences such as being denied access to accommodation/housing, program activities, or to the host country itself.