Dear Editor,

I am writing to bring attention to a concern regarding the Government of Antigua and Barbuda’s tuition-free education policy at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Five Islands Campus.

I have been a student at UWI Five Islands since September 2025. I am currently pursuing my first Bachelor’s degree.

Recently, UWI Five Islands issued a document titled

“Your Fees at a Glance: Tuition, the Tuition-Free Policy, and how to pay,”

which outlines the tuition-free policy for the 2026/27 academic year.

According to the document, under the section

“Tuition-free for new Antiguan & Barbudan students,”

it states that from the 2026/27 academic year, the Government of Antigua & Barbuda will pay approved tuition if the student:

is a citizen of Antigua and Barbuda, with proof;

is a new, first-time Bachelor’s student this year or later;

does not already hold a Bachelor’s degree;

holds an offer to an eligible programme; and

signs the Ministry’s Funding Agreement.

However, the document then states:

“Continuing students who started before 2026/27 are not covered and keep paying the A&B rate.”

This is where I am seeking clarification.

Although I am considered a continuing student because I started my programme in September 2025,

this is still my first Bachelor’s degree.

I am therefore concerned about why students in my position are excluded from the tuition-free policy simply because we began our studies before the 2026/27 academic year.

I believe continuing students who are still pursuing their first degree deserve a clear explanation regarding this policy and why the timing of when we began our studies determines whether we qualify for tuition assistance.

I am therefore asking your newsroom to investigate this matter and seek clarification from the Government of Antigua and Barbuda and UWI Five Islands Campus.

What exactly is the Government’s tuition-free policy intended to cover? Why are students who started before 2026/27 excluded when they are still pursuing their first degree? And what support, if any, is available to continuing students in this situation?

I have attached the document issued by UWI outlining the tuition-free policy and fees, along with supporting information regarding my situation.

I am bringing this matter forward because I believe other continuing students may be facing the same issue. I believe students deserve transparency and clear answers about a policy that directly affects our ability to afford and continue our education.

Thank you for taking the time to consider this matter. I would greatly appreciate your assistance in bringing attention to this issue and obtaining answers for affected students.

Kind regards,

A Concerned UWI Five Islands Student

This article was originally published by Antigua News Room. Read the original article here: LETTER: What’s Really Going On With the Tuition-Free Policy at UWI Five Islands?.