Study in Bahamas

The University of The Bahamas (UB) operates campuses at Oakes Field in Nassau and UB-North in Freeport, with centres in Exuma and Andros and the Gerace Research Institute in San Salvador. UWI Global Campus Bahamas provides online, blended and face-to-face study in Nassau. Other international online or blended providers may be used when NAECOB, the national body responsible for institutional and programme registration, accreditation and recognition, recognises them. Registration and recognition must be checked for the specific institution and programme because not every provider or qualification has automatic equivalence. UB states that it aims to become the first NAECOB-accredited institution. UB freshman admission commonly requires at least five BGCSE or equivalent passes, including English, Mathematics, Social Science, Natural Science and one academic subject, normally with grades of C+ or better. Other possibilities include four passes with a deficiency in English or Mathematics, together with Social or Natural Science; SAT results of at least 1000 with a GPA of 3.00 or higher; ACT results of at least 21 with a GPA of 3.00 or higher; IB English and Mathematics grades of at least 4 with a GPA of 3.00 or higher; AP English and Mathematics grades of at least 3 with a GPA of 3.00 or higher; or a GPA of at least 2.50 across at least two years of high school plus one Grade 12 term and UB placement. Completing a recognised Academic Enhancement programme can also provide access. Some programmes add requirements: Art may require a portfolio, Music may require BGCSE Music at B+ or a Grade 5 Royal Schools or Trinity qualification plus an audition or interview, Nursing prefers Biology or Chemistry and requires UB Pre-Nursing plus an interview, and Education may require vetting. Transfer applicants to UB generally need at least 15 college credits with grades of C+ or higher from an institution recognised by UB, a GPA of at least 2.00 and an official transcript sent directly by the previous institution. Applicants aged 25 or older may use the mature-entry pathway, which includes UB placement in Basic College Mathematics and Writing & Rhetoric I, or equivalent English and Mathematics evidence. Academic Enhancement and College Preparatory programmes provide non-credit upgrading for applicants aged 16 to 24; they normally start in August or January, and a successful grade of C in each required course can lead to direct entry into an UB associate or bachelor programme. Mature Academic Enhancement serves applicants aged 25 or older. UWI Global Campus Bahamas generally requires at least five CXC General Proficiency subjects at Grades I to III or GCE O-Level passes including English, together with programme-specific requirements. Social Sciences degrees require a Mathematics pass. The campus may require the English Language Proficiency Test, which costs US$25 and remains valid for five years, and Medical Sciences programmes have their own age rules. UB applications use an online or paper form, a non-refundable B$50 fee, passport or photo identification, a personal statement, examination results and an official transcript. For Fall entry in August, the usual deadline is the first Friday in February; for Spring entry in January, it is the last Friday in September. After acceptance, UB issues an identification number, confirms the degree programme and advising unit, and assigns a campus. A deferral normally lasts no more than one semester, and a major change after the first semester requires a form. International applicants must meet direct-entry requirements, submit Immigration First Schedule Form I at least six months before enrolment when required, and obtain full acceptance before registering for courses. Credential evaluation, proof of English and maintenance of immigration status may also apply. At UB, students must complete academic advising before registration and register online. Orientation usually takes place two weeks before Fall classes and one week before Spring classes. A record of MMR vaccination is required, and missing evidence can place a medical hold on the account. Campus and programme availability varies. Course exemptions may be possible. A bachelor degree normally requires at least 120 credits and a GPA of 2.00 or higher overall and in the major; an associate degree normally requires at least 60 credits with the same GPA standard. General education normally accounts for at least 37 bachelor credits or 28 associate credits, and some programmes include internships or practical courses. For UB undergraduate study, Bahamian students pay B$115 per contact hour for lower-level courses and B$172.50 for upper-level courses. International students pay B$230 per contact hour. For a post-Fall-2019 entrant taking 15 credits in each of Fall and Spring, the published annual estimate is about B$6,300 in lower-level tuition and fees or B$7,900 in upper-level tuition and fees, plus books and supplies of about B$1,500 or B$2,000 respectively. A four-year estimate of B$35,400 includes books and fees but excludes housing, living expenses and local taxes. Application, capital development, technology, library and student activity fees are charged separately, and fees, VAT and payment deadlines can change. UB graduate tuition is generally B$500 to B$600 per credit for Bahamian students and B$1,000 to B$1,200 per credit for international students, with an application fee of B$80. UWI's 2025/26 rates are BSD411 for a three-credit undergraduate course, BSD548 for four credits and BSD822 for six credits; international students pay US$648 for three credits. UWI also charges compulsory identification, Guild and technology fees, while textbooks, late registration and some documents cost extra. Funding may include the Bahamas Government Tertiary Grant for eligible Bahamian full-time UB undergraduates with a current GPA of at least 2.00 and at least 12 Fall or Spring credits. It generally covers tuition and compulsory course fees but not books, security deposits, applications, drop/add charges, repeats or summer study, except for specified Nursing and Hospitality internships. The Accommodation Grant can provide up to B$500 per person from August to April for eligible full-time students under 25 who move between islands or come from specified care backgrounds. National Awards and bursaries can provide up to B$5,000 per year when applicants meet the required BGCSE or UB GPA standards and maintain the required GPA and credit load. Teacher Education and Nursing grants or stipends have additional field-specific conditions. The Ministry's SELD unit coordinates scholarships, while the Education Loan Authority offers Bahamian tertiary loans with interest reported at roughly 2 to 4 percentage points above prime and repayment through salary deduction, standing order, bank payment or online payment. Students remain responsible for institutional charges and for maintaining academic or immigration status. They can request official transcripts and status letters, seek course exemptions, defer within the permitted period and use the available grade-appeal process. After completing the required credits, GPA and programme conditions, they apply for graduation and receive an official transcript and degree. The qualification may lead to employment, a regulated profession or further study, but professional programmes can impose separate licensing requirements. Access remains concentrated in Nassau and Freeport, while island centres and distance or blended study extend reach across the archipelago. The 2022 Census signal cited in the 2025–2035 National Youth Policy found that 22% of people aged 15 to 34 had completed some post-secondary education and 78% had not obtained tertiary education, making affordability and local access significant practical factors.