The University of the West Indies

A Global 21st Century University Rooted in the Caribbean

The University of the West Indies (The UWI) is the Caribbean’s premier, higher education institution. It has been and continues to be a pivotal force in every aspect of Caribbean development, residing at the center of all efforts to improve the well-being of people across the region for over 75 years.

One of only two regional universities in the world, The UWI comprises nearly 50,000 students across its five campuses throughout the English-speaking Caribbean: Mona in Jamaica, St. Augustine in Trinidad and Tobago, Cave Hill in Barbados, Five Islands in Antigua and Barbuda and its Global Campus.  

Although our foundation is rooted in the Caribbean, The UWI stands ready to confront present and future challenges and opportunities, rising to empower its communities by delivering world-class education services.

The UWI’s global strategy, developed over the past decade, has expanded the University's reach with international centers in partnership with higher education institutions throughout North America, Latin America, Asia, Africa, and Europe, making us one of the world’s most globalized universities.

A Legacy of Producing Leaders

With a network of more than 237,000 alumni, there is no sector of Caribbean society, including the highest levels of government and business, in which our graduates are not found. Over 25 have risen to become Heads of Government or Heads of State, and countless are leaders of all professions – locally, regionally, and internationally. Two of the three Nobel Laureates of Caribbean descent also have direct ties to the University: Mona alumnus Sir Derek A. Walcott (Nobel Prize for Literature, 1992) and former Vice-Chancellor Sir Arthur Lewis (Nobel Prize for Economics, 1979). Notable alumni include the current President of the 78th Session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 78), Ambassador Dennis Francis, and the current Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Carla Barnett.

Leading as an Activist University

The UWI is an activist university with a mission to advance learning, create knowledge, and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean and the wider world. The regional institution is an ideal partner for research collaboration, expert-knowledge exchange, and stakeholder engagement in a diverse range of Caribbean-focused development projects, initiatives, and inter-institutional agreements with regional and international governments, multi-lateral development agencies, and the private sector.

Reparatory Justice

With social justice as part of its core, The UWI has affirmed its commitment to greater advocacy and consciousness-raising, at the forefront of justice conversations, including the pursuit of reparations to be made to peoples of the Caribbean.

Under Vice-Chancellor Beckles, the University established a Centre for Reparations Research (CRR) based on a mandate of the 34th meeting of the Caricom Heads of Government.

In 2019, The UWI ushered in the first-ever Caribbean Reparatory Justice initiative in partnership with University of Glasgow (UoG) in Scotland to create the Glasgow-Caribbean Centre for Development Research, built upon a negotiated 20-year commitment of a £20 million investment as part of an inaugural global reparations development framework.

The UWI has also been at the front and centre of two landmark individual family apologies and reparatory initiatives.

An SDG-engaged University

The UWI’s advocacy on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the 2030 Development Agenda has received global acknowledgement. In 2018, the International Association of Universities (IAU) designated The UWI as the lead institution for a Global University Consortium on SDG 13 (Climate Action) to recognise the University’s decades of research contributions to climate change and sustainable development.

In an analysis of research conducted over the past three decades, before and after the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 5th Assessment Report, The UWI emerged as the leading University producer of information on Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The UWI has also has consecutively made the list of the world’s top universities in the Times Higher Education Impact Rankings for its performance across the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) spectrum.

As a committed partner in the global plan of action to drive economic prosperity and social well-being while protecting the environment, The UWI has established an International School for Development Justice (ISDJ)—a school dedicated exclusively to supporting the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. The school has been developed to respond to the need to educate current and future activists within the framework of the 17 United Nations SDGs and will take a partnership approach to enhance its educational provisions with Universities, United Nations and development agencies.

Starting as a University College of London in Jamaica with 33 medical students in 1948, The UWI has evolved into a modern, future-driven, activist, top-ranked academy. Our mission to advance learning, create knowledge and foster innovation for the positive transformation of the Caribbean is centred on producing critical thinkers and leaders who serve the needs of the 21st century society.

Over 1000 certificate, diploma, undergraduate and postgraduate degree options are available in Culture, Creative and Performing Arts, Food and Agriculture, Engineering, Humanities and Education, Law, Medical Sciences, Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Sport.

The UWI has been consistently ranked among the best in the world by the most reputable ranking agency, Times Higher Education (THE). Since The UWI’s 2018 debut in THE’s rankings, it has performed well in multiple schemes—among them including World University Rankings, Golden Age University Rankings (between 50 and 80 years old), Latin America Rankings, and the Impact Rankings for its response to the world’s biggest concerns as outlined in the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Good Health and Well-being; Gender Equality and Climate Action.

The Largest Pool of Caribbean Intellect

As the Caribbean’s leading university, The UWI possesses the largest pool of Caribbean intellect and expertise committed to confronting the critical issues of our region and the wider world.

We're a leading University producer of knowledge on Small Island States (SIDS) and committed to applying research to solutions that improve lives in our region and wider world.

By taking the cue from real-world needs, the work of the University expands beyond the walls of academia as researchers collaborate with industry leaders to bring innovative products to market, reignite the region's productivity and competitiveness, and unleash its economic potential.