Law Degree Excluded From Full Free-Tuition Benefit at UWI Five Islands
Students enrolling in the new law degree programme at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus will receive only a 50 percent tuition subsidy from the government, despite the administration’s broader commitment to provide free university education for eligible undergraduates.
The clarification emerged during Thursday’s post-Cabinet briefing, where Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant said the law programme was not included in the government’s original free-tuition pledge because the degree was introduced after the policy was first conceived.
“The government is giving 50% towards the legal education at UWI Five Islands,” Merchant said.
The announcement comes as interest in the programme continues to exceed expectations. Merchant disclosed that 137 students had already been accepted into the law programme as of Wednesday, with applications remaining open until the end of June.
“So far, there are 137 persons who have applied and have been accepted to pursue law at the University of the West Indies Five Islands campus,” he said. “The period for application goes until the end of June, so there are bound to be a large cadre of individuals who will be pursuing law.”
Cabinet this week reaffirmed its commitment to free tuition for Antiguan and Barbudan students pursuing their first undergraduate degree at UWI Five Islands, subject to eligibility requirements. Officials later clarified that the benefit will apply to both existing and new undergraduate students.
Merchant said the law programme required separate consideration because it was added to the Five Islands curriculum after the government announced its free-tuition initiative.
“Government’s negotiations led to law now becoming a part of the curriculum at UWI Five Islands,” he said. “While it did not form part of its original decision because law was not being offered at UWI Five Islands, it finds it necessary that it should give some support.”
The rapid growth of the programme has reinforced government plans to expand the campus. Cabinet has established a subcommittee comprising Education Minister Daryll Matthew, Social Transformation Minister Rawdon Turner and Information and Communications Technology Minister Melford Nicholas to work with university officials on future expansion and partnerships.
The committee will examine opportunities for new academic programmes and infrastructure development aimed at supporting Antigua and Barbuda’s workforce needs.
Government officials have also proposed expanding the country’s windfall tax regime to help finance tertiary education, including operations at UWI Five Islands and institutions within the Antigua and Barbuda College of Advanced Studies system.