Study Abroad in Jamaica
You're sitting in a library, at a desk, books open, earbuds drowning out the deafening silence and wishing you were somewhere else. Now, imagine sand between your toes, sounds of surf, studying while reclining on a beach chair and the sun energizing your brain cells. Sounds heavenly and attainable if you study abroad in Jamaica. It is not the first destination one thinks of when thinking about studying in another country but Jamaica offers a variety of universities. The beach, mountains, food and culture are perks to island life.
A good education is at the top of everyone's list when searching for a university. When considering studying abroad, students can be most curious about academic life, language and housing.
Language
The national language of Jamaica is Standard English, a mix between American and British English. Most locals speak Jamaican Creole (Patois) at home which has West African influences. If English is not your first language, the local universities will require that students take an English proficiency test like the TOEFL.
Housing
Jamaican universities offer full time students on campus accommodations but there is limited space. Off campus housing can be arranged through the Lodging or Housing Office on campus. Northern Caribbean University has separate housing for male and female but also offer assistance with off campus housing.
Academic Life
Jamaica was under British rule until 1962 when it gained it's independence. The country did, however, keep the British schools system. In the US, they are called colleges, in Jamaica they are called Tertiary or University. Like most universities, you need to have some general testing done like A-Level or CAPE, the US equivalent to SAT or ACT which are accepted in most Jamaican universities. Most universities are semester based. Classes and testing are the same as US colleges. If you are a student 21 or older, you will have to apply for the Mature Students status instead, and will often require an interview.
There are two popular areas in Jamaica for students to consider studying abroad, Kingston and Manchester.
Kingston
Kingston is home to four universities, two of the biggest ones are The University of the West Indies (UWI) and University of Technology (UTech). UWI offers graduate and postgraduate degrees for Education, Law, Social Sciences, Medical Sciences and Technology to name a few. It's a large school hosting 10,000-14,999 students. UWI is located in Mona which is a neighborhood of Kingston. Mona is considered the wealthier area of Kingston, with the Long Mountains to the northeast and the Blue Mountains to the south. UTech is located in the greater Kingston area, offering graduate and postgraduate degrees in Business, Engineering, Education and Law. It is a midsize school hosting 8,000-8,999 students. Kingston offers some fabulous activities such as hiking in the mountains, visiting the home of popular reggae singer Bob Marley and trips to Fort Clarence beach.
Manchester
Manchester, Jamaica is home to Northern Caribbean University (NCU) located 2 miles from the larger city of Mandeville. NCU offers graduate and postgraduate degrees in Education, Business, Sciences, Religion and Theology and many more. It is a Christian university that adheres to Christian values and standards. It is a smaller school with 5,000-5,999 students. In their free time, students can enjoy the oldest 9 hole golf course in the caribbean, tour the High Mountain coffee factory, visit Mrs Stephenson's Garden or catch a glimpse of Jamaica's 25 endemic bird species.
Scholarships
Students can obtain scholarships through their home universities or the American universities that run programs in Jamaica. Program providers also offer scholarships.
