The University of the West Indies, Open Campus Homepage
The University of the West Indies, Open Campus Homepage

The University of the West Indies

Open Campus

 



Prospective Students


 

Who can Apply?
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Who can Apply?

Anyone who satisfies the university’s matriculation requirements can apply to study at the Open Campus. An applicant requires a minimum of five passes (CXC General Proficiency Grades I to III or GCE ‘O’ Level) including English Language, which is compulsory for entry. You must also satisfy the entry requirements of the programme of your choice – a pass in Mathematics is required for degree programmes in the Social Sciences. See programmes for the admission requirements of specific programmes.

 

Age Entry Requirement

 

There is no minimum age requirement for entry to undergraduate programmes at UWI, except in the Faculty of Medical Sciences.

 

Admission Requirements

 

Applicants are required to satisfy the relevant University minimum entrance requirements for matriculation, either at Normal or Lower Level, before being considered for admission to degree or other programmes. These are explained below:

 

Normal Matriculation

 

Applicants with the qualifications listed below are eligible for normal matriculation for admission to degree programmes, provided that they have an acceptable pass in English A in an examination of the Caribbean Examination Council (CXC) or an acceptable equivalent. (An acceptable pass in a CXC (CSEC) examination is defined as a pass with Grades I or II at the General Proficiency Level, or Grade III General Proficiency from June 1998.)

1.

Holders of CXC Certificates, General Certificates of Education (GCE)

Holders of CXC Certificates, General Certificates of Education (GCE) (or the approved equivalents) who satisfy either Scheme A or Scheme B as stated below:
Scheme A: They possess FIVE (5) subjects of which at least TWO (2) must be GCE Advanced Level (‘A’ Level) passes, while the remainder may be acceptable passes in the CXC or GCE ‘O’ Level examinations
Scheme B: They possess passes in FOUR (4) subjects of which at least THREE must be GCE A-Level passes, while the fourth may be an acceptable pass in the CXC or GCE ‘O’ Level examinations.v

CXC CAPE (Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examination)

(i) Candidates who have passed two 2-unit courses in a particular subject area fall within the two (2) ‘A’ Level matriculation standing (Reference Scheme A).

(ii)

Six (6) Caribbean Advanced Proficiency Examinations (CAPE) Units, including the two single-unit courses - Caribbean Studies and Communication Studies will be accepted for normal matriculation (Reference Scheme B).

 
2. Holders of degrees from any university recognised by the Board for Undergraduate Studies.
3. Holders of Certificates and Diplomas awarded by this University
4. Holders of an Associate Degree from the UWI, or from approved Caribbean tertiary level institutions with a     minimum GPA of 2.5.
5.

Persons over age 21 based on having demonstrated academic potential, having gained academically  relevant knowledge and workplace experience. Applicants will be required to present, where appropriate:

  • Full details of their career; a document outlining knowledge development and employment record, official academic transcripts, certificate, documents and references. Applicants may be required to submit to test and/or interviews.

 

  1.  

Lower Level Matriculation

 

Holders of the following are eligible for lower level matriculation for admission to degree programmes:

1.

Holders of five (5) CXC or GCE ‘O’ Level passes or equivalent, not necessarily obtained at the same sitting, as follows:

(i) English (A), and
(ii) Mathematics or a foreign language, or an approved science (not Health Science), or additional Mathematics or Geography
(iii) Three (3) other approved subjects not already counted above.

 
2. Persons over the age of 21 on the basis of their overall academic and professional attainments.
3.

.Holders of one of the approved certificates from the School of Continuing Studies with an acceptable pass in English Language

 

 

Mature Students

 


Mature applicants are persons over the age of 21 years who have been out of secondary school for at least five (5) years. Such applicants may be granted normal or lower level matriculation on the basis of their overall academic and professional achievements.

 

Specially Admitted & Occasional Students

 

Candidates may be admitted to take select courses under the categories of Specially Admitted or Occasional Students. Occasional Students are only permitted to attend face-to-face classes and may not write examinations. Specially Admitted Students may register for online/blended and face-to-face courses and are permitted to write examinations. Specially Admitted/Occasional Students normally must meet matriculation requirements. For more information see Specially Admitted & Occasional Students.

 

English Language Requirements

 

Candidates who do not possess one of the exempting qualifications listed below are required to take the English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT).

 

Holders of the following qualifications are exempt from the ELPT

(i)

 Grade 1 - CXC English ‘A’ examination

(ii)

Grade A - GCE ‘O’ Level English Language

(iii)

Grade A or B - Cambridge GCE A/O Level General Paper examination

(iv)

Grades I-II CXC CAPE Communication Studies

(v)

Grade B+ or above – College English Skills I or II – College of the Bahamas

(vi)

 Grade B+ or above – Advanced Communication or Business Communication – University of Technology (UTECH)

(vii)

Grade B+ or above – Freshman Composition I or II – Northern Caribbean University (NCU)

 

The ELPT is administered several times a year. Please check our website www.open.uwi.edu or the site in your region for test dates. There is a fee of US$25 or the local equivalent. The results of the test will remain valid for a period of five (5) years. See ELPT for further information.

 

Applicants whose native Language is not English are required to perform satisfactorily in an approved English Language Test.  The TOEFL test with a minimum score of 500 has been approved for this purpose.

 

Mathematics Requirement

 

For entry into certain ASc and BSc programmes an approved qualification in Mathematics is required. The minimum Mathematics requirement is a pass at CXC General Proficiency or the equivalent. Candidates who do not meet this requirement must successfully complete an approved remedial Mathematics course. Approved remedial Mathematics courses include Improving your Math Skills (IYMS) and MATH0900/CE001 Mathematics. Please consult your Centre/Site with respect to the course on offer.

 

 

Technical Requirements

 

 

Students applying to online/distance and mixed-mode programmes should be comfortable using a personal computer and email. Students will need to have access to a computer with Internet access.