In its more than 60 years of existence, UWI has evolved from a fledgling college in the Caribbean island of Jamaica with 33 students to a full-fledged University with over 45,000 students, approximately 9000 graduates annually and more than 120,000 alumni. This impressive network of UWI Alumni includes one Nobel Laureate, dozens of Rhodes Scholars and more than 18 current and former Caribbean Prime Ministers and Heads of State.
In 1943 the Vice Chancellors of United Kingdom Universities convened a special commission to “consider the principles which should guide the promotion of higher education, learning and research… in the colonies.”The recommendations of that commission saw a Royal Charter formally establishing what was then the University College of the West Indies in 1948.
In 1960 The UWI’s second campus at St. Augustine was born out of a merger between the University College and the Imperial College of Tropical Agriculture (IATA) in the island of Trinidad. The two campus College remained affiliated with the University of London until 1962 when it became The University of the West Indies,an institution in its own right with the privilege of granting its own degrees.
Today, UWI is the largest and longest standing higher education provider in the English-speaking Caribbean. UWI offers undergraduate and postgraduate certificate, diploma and degree options in Engineering, Humanities & Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Pure & Applied Sciences, Science and Agriculture, and Social Sciences. As an icon of Caribbean integration and culture, UWI remains committed to enhancing every aspect of Caribbean development and improving the well-being of the people of the Caribbean.
Our dedicated Student Services offices have been set up to support you as you during your time at UWI. The staff at these offices will be able to provide you with information on numerous student services including Financial Aid, Accommodation, Mentoring Programmes and even Part-Time/Vacation Employment.
UWI is ideal for creating memories. With hundreds of student clubs, campus events and dedicated student activity centres, excitement is always on at your University.
UWI promises a study experience which is extremely well rounded and completely unmatched anywhere else in the world. Choose to study at UWI and we are sure you will graduate not only with a globally recognized degree but a rich and satisfying cultural experience and lasting relationships.
At UWI we take great pride in our undergraduate and postgraduate degrees, as well as our Certificate and Diploma programmes which are designed to meet the changing needs of the Caribbean in the global environment. While each of the four campuses offers a range of programmes accessible to registered students, UWI’s academic schedule also features a slate of summer programmers that are accessible to persons who meet the matriculation standards but may not be registered students as well as open lectures for the general public.