Who Can Apply?
Anyone who satisfies the university’s matriculation requirements can apply to study at the Open Campus. A minimum of five passes [CXC (CSEC) General Proficiency Grades I to III or GCE ‘A’ Level] including English Language, is compulsory for entry. You must also satisfy the entry requirements of the programme of your choice – a pass in Mathematics is required for degree programmes in the Social Sciences. See programmes for the admission requirements of specific programmes.
Age Entry Requirement
There is no minimum age requirement for entry to undergraduate programmes at UWI, except in the Faculty of Medical Sciences.
Admission Requirements
Applicants are required to satisfy the relevant University minimum entry requirements for matriculation, either at Normal or Lower Level, before being considered for admission to degrees or other programmes. These are explained below:
Normal Matriculation
Applicants with the qualifications listed below are eligible for normal matriculation for admission to degree programmes, provided that they have an acceptable pass in English A in an examination of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) or an acceptable equivalent. [An acceptable pass in a CXC (CSEC) examination is defined as a pass with Grades I or II at the General Proficiency Level, or Grade III General Proficiency from June 1998).
1.
Holders of CXC (CSEC) Certificates and General Certificates of Education (GCE) [or approved equivalents] who satisfy Scheme A or Scheme B as stated below:
Scheme A:They possess FIVE (5) subjects of which at least TWO (2) must be GCE Advanced Level (‘A’ Level) passes, while the remainder may be acceptable passes in the CXC or GCE ‘O’ Level examinations
Scheme B:They possess passes in FOUR (4) subjects of which at least THREE must be GCE A-Level passes, while the fourth may be an acceptable pass in the CXC or GCE ‘O’ Level examinations.v
CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination) Certificates
(i)Applicants who possess two 2-unit CAPE courses in a particular subject area fall within the two A-Level matriculations standing (reference Scheme A).
(ii)
Applicants who have six CAPE Units including Caribbean Studies and Communication Studies will be accepted for normal matriculation (reference Scheme B).
2.Holders of degrees from any university recognized by the Board for Undergraduate Studies.
3.Holders of certificates and diplomas awarded by The University of the West Indies.
4.Holders of an Associate Degree from the UWI, or from approved Caribbean tertiary level institutions within a minimum GPA of 2.5.
5.
Persons over age of 21 based on having demonstrated academic potential, having gained academically relevant knowledge and workplace experience. Applicants will be required to present, where appropriate:
Full details of their career; a document outlining knowledge development and employment record official academic transcripts, certificates, documents and references. Applicants may be required to submit to test and/or interviews.
Lower Level Matriculation
Applicants who possess the following are eligible for lower level matriculation for admission to degree programmes:
1.
Holders of five (5) CXC (CSEC) or GCE ‘O’ Level passes or equivalent, not necessarily obtained at the same sitting, as follows:
(i)English (A), and
(ii)Mathematics or a Foreign Language, or an approved Science (not Health Science), or Additional Mathematics or Geography.
(iii)Three other approved subjects not already counted above.
2.Persons over the age of 21 on the basis of their overall academic and professional attainments.
3.
Holders of one of the approved certificates from the School of Continuing Studies with an acceptable pass in English Language.
Other Categories of Applicants
1
Mature Applicants
Mature applicants are persons over the age of 21 years who have been out of secondary school for at least five years. Such applicants may be granted normal or lower level matriculation on the basis of their overall academic and professional achievements.
2.
Specially Admitted and Occasional Students
Applicants may be admitted to take selected courses under the categories of Specially Admitted or Occasional Students. Occasional Students are only permitted to attend face-to-face classes and may not write examinations. Specially Admitted Students may register for online/blended and face-to-face courses and are permitted to write examinations. Specially Admitted/Occasional Students normally must meet the University’s matriculation requirements. For more information please see Specially Admitted & Occasional Students.
3.
Inter Campus Transfer Applicants
Students from the Open Campus may wish to transfer to another UWI campus. In order to complete this process students must complete a transfer application form in duplicate and the return to the Recruitment, Admissions and Registration Department.
English Language and Mathematics Requirements for admission into programmes
English Language Requirements
Applicants who do not possess one of the exempting qualifications listed below are required to take the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT).
Holders of the following qualifications are exempt from the ELPT
(i)Grade 1 – CXC (CSEC) English ‘A’ examination
(ii)Grade A – GCE ‘O’ Level English Language
(iii)Grade A or B – Cambridge GCE A/O Level General Paper examination
(iv)Grades I – II CXC (CAPE) Communications Studies
(v)Grades I – II CXC (CAPE) Communications Studies
(vi)
Grade B+ or above – Advanced Communication or Business Communication – University of Technology (UTECH)
(vii)Grade B+ or above – Freshman Composition I or II – Northern Caribbean University (NCU
The ELPT is administered several times a year. Please check our website www.open.uwi.edu or the Site in your region for test dates. There is a fee of US$25 or the local equivalent. The results of the test will remain valid for a period of five (5) years. See ELPT for further information.
Applicants whose native Language is not English are required to perform satisfactorily in an approved English Language Test. The TOEFL test with a minimum score of 500 has been approved for this purpose.
Mathematics Requirement
For entry into certain ASc and BSc programmes an approved qualification in Mathematics is required. The minimum Mathematics requirement is a pass at CXC (CSEC) General Proficiency or the equivalent. Candidates who do not meet this requirement must successfully complete an approved remedial Mathematics course. Approved remedial Mathematics courses include Improving your Math Skills (IYMS) and MATH0900/CE001 Mathematics. Please consult your Site with respect to the course on offer.
Technical Requirements
Applicants applying to online/distance and mixed-mode programmes should be comfortable using a personal computer and email. Students will need to have access to a computer with Internet access.
