University of the West Indies at Cave Hill (Barbados)
The Program
Study at the main University in the Commonwealth Caribbean and experience traditions drawn from West Africa and Britain, as well as from the Amerindian legacy.
University of the West Indies (UWI) campus is five miles from Bridgetown, in the northern suburb of Cave Hill. UWI is considered the largest and most long standing higher education provider in the Caribbean. The university has more than 30,000 students from all major campuses in the Caribbean, and one-third of those students are enrolled at Cave Hill. The university is well-known for their cutting edge Science programs and Women’s and Gender Studies.
Program Locations
Barbados
Bridgetown
Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados, has a population of almost 100,000. Located on the island’s south-west coast, the city is a major financial and commercial center of the Caribbean. Broad Street runs through the heart of Bridgetown, passing the Parliament building, and is the city’s main shopping thoroughfare. Other sights of interest include Independence Square, the Barbados Museum, and a statue of Lord Nelson. With average temperatures around 30°C/86ºF all year round, Bridgetown is a distinctly laid-back city with plenty of cafés and refreshment stands.
Academics
In order to have an idea of what is available at the Cave Hill campus, you can visit the University of the West Indies website.
You will officially register for courses once you arrive on-site at the university, so you may not know ahead of time what your schedule will look like. However, you should start talking to your advisor now about the types of courses you plan to take while abroad and should plan on having a few backup course options.
You will need to be sure that you are registered as a full time student according to UWI and Rutgers University. That means you will need to take at least 12 credits each semester. The credit translation system between UWI and Rutgers University is 1:1, meaning a 3-credit course at UWI will also be a 3-credit course on your Rutgers University transcript. You will generally receive 3-credits per class taken at UWI. It is not possible to take classes not-for-credit, nor is it possible to take classes as Pass/Fail (unless the course is an internship and you receive prior approval).
For information about Study Abroad credit transfer, registration, and transcripts please visit the Academics section of our website.
Housing and Meals
Please not: on-campus housing is extremely limited and is not guaranteed.
On-Campus Housing
The two residential halls offered on the Cave Hill Campus are the Frank Worrell Hall and Sherlock Hall. The Frank Worrell Hall consists of three buildings with ten suites in each building. Here, you will share a suite with six other students. Each building is enclosed in a combination of garden walls and shared common facilities, including a laundry unit.
The recently renovated, Sherlock Hall is the oldest of the two halls. It can accommodate a total of 90 students. On the ground floor of the hall is the Campus Cafeteria. The campus cafeteria offers breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks to the entire campus community. You can also purchase food and groceries from the E-Lounge and the Campus Mart. Students are not required to purchase a meal plan and food can be purchased based on your preference.
For more information regarding on-campus housing, please visit the UWI website.
Off-Campus Housing
Most off-Campus accommodations are located within 5 miles of the Cave Hill Campus. The campus can be easily accessed by public transportation or campus buses. It is your responsibility to work with the off-campus housing office to secure your accommodations.
For semester students, securing a short-term lease is challenging and, often, your housing will not be determined until very close to the program start date. Please contact the Rutgers Study Abroad Barbados Program Manager for more information about the process of securing off-campus accommodations.
For additional information regarding off-campus housing, please visit the UWI website.
Financial Information
Program Costs
| NJ Resident | non-NJ Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| ATW Program Cost* | $10,000 | $13,900 |
Program Cost includes:
• Tuition
• Administrative Fees
• Emergency Medical Access Abroad
• *Access the World (ATW)
Out-of-Pocket Costs
| Airfare | $1,000 |
| Housing (average: cost will vary by accommodation type) | $2,500 |
| Meals | $3,000 |
| Visa (Estimate is for US Citizens) | $650 |
| Classroom Materials | $600 |
| Local Transportation | $500 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,500 |
| Total | $9,750.00 |
Out-of-Pocket Cost includes:
The above costs are estimations and represent the known out-of-pocket costs students encounter during their time abroad.
Some of these expenses will be paid for prior to going abroad, such as an airline ticket and visa costs, while some of these expenses, such as meals and local transportation, will be paid in-country as part of your daily expenses. As you plan, you will need to budget these costs and spend wisely throughout your time abroad.
Program Costs
| NJ Resident | non-NJ Resident | |
|---|---|---|
| ATW Program Cost* | $10,000 | $13,900 |
Program Cost includes:
• Tuition
• Administrative Fees
• Emergency Medical Access Abroad
• *Access the World (ATW)
Out-of-Pocket Costs
| Airfare | $1,000 |
| Housing (average: cost will vary by accommodation type) | $2,500 |
| Meals | $3,000 |
| Visa (Estimate is for US Citizens) | $650 |
| Classroom Materials | $600 |
| Local Transportation | $500 |
| Personal Expenses | $1,500 |
| Total | $9,750.00 |
Out-of-Pocket Cost includes:
The above costs are estimations and represent the known out-of-pocket costs students encounter during their time abroad.
Some of these expenses will be paid for prior to going abroad, such as an airline ticket and visa costs, while some of these expenses, such as meals and local transportation, will be paid in-country as part of your daily expenses. As you plan, you will need to budget these costs and spend wisely throughout your time abroad.
Scholarships
Faculty Leaders
"I did not expect to feel so isolated. I thought every moment would be blissful. But I am thankful for those trials because through them I changed, I grew. I learned I am stronger than I ever thought I was. I learned that I am adventurous. I learned that I could make a family with people who I had not known months before. I learned that I am capable, and I learned that with a little support there is nothing that I cannot do. I am extremely thankful that I decided to go to Barbados and I am thankful for everyone I met along the way that made the journey even better. After being back in New Jersey for a couple days I already miss the island that became my platform for growth and my second home."