Montserrat, W.I | By Dr. Tiffannie Skerritt Bachelors in Medicine and Surgery (MBBS)
My seven years living, studying and working in Jamaica have been some of the best of my life.
Would I recommend Jamaica as a place to study? Definitely! The options for academic and personal development, both on and off the university campus are limitless, and it is a great place to spread those young adult wings and thrive. These are just a few questions to ask yourself, when considering Jamaica as a place to study, grow and live.
Which school do I choose?
Jamaica has several tertiary institutions that are regionally and internationally renowned. These include The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus which is in the capital Kingston, being the largest of the 4 landed campuses in the Caribbean, the University of Technology, Northern Caribbean University (UTECH), College of Agricultural Science and Education (CASE) and Caribbean Maritime University (CMU), amongst others. Depending on what area you wish to pursue, there may be one or more schools that offer the respective programmes.
Take the time to examine the key features of the school – courses offered and specific content, the length of the program, the school’s accreditation status, student population size, housing options, extracurricular clubs and activities and the school’s history. These will definitely impact the quality of your experience, who you get to meet and how you learn.
Where should I live?
Depending on the institution that you choose, on-campus accommodations may be an option. I chose to stay in dorm for the entirety of my university tenure. Living on hall (dorm), meant that I was just a few minutes walk from faculty buildings, restaurants, banks, the university health centre, supermarket and chapel.
It proved to be a very convenient, cheaper and safer place option at the time when compared to off campus housing. Additionally, there tend to be a variety of dorms with different living arrangements. The dorm may feature shared accommodations or studio-styled apartments for individuals. You can browse the various housing options available and select the one most appropriate for your budget.
After graduating, I moved off-campus and opted for an apartment that was centrally located. Having this apartment allowed easy access to public transportation routes, a gated community (provided some element of security) and furnishings which, minimised the initial investment in items. Bear in mind that the city apartments are significantly more expensive than those further from the capital. Therefore, one means of saving would be to live out of town and commute daily. Unfortunately, the money saved in rural living is exchanged for time lost in traffic commuting back and forth daily.
If you’re thinking about studying in Jamaica, Dr. Tiffannie Skerritt has a lot more advice to share. Follow the blog to be notified of the next post.
Hey! Nia here speaking. I think Tiffannie is a really awesome person. Following her these last couple of years, made me really want to study in Jamaica. You can check out her instagram @tiffannie.skerritt for more cool content on island life on Jamaica and Montserrat.
Part 2 is up right now! Go check it out!
Stevikha Foster is a 4th year student currently studying this course at this campus. She gives a thorough breakdown of what to expect for the first three years of the course.
My Medical School Experience (At UWI Mona Jamaica Campus) YEAR 1 & 2
My Medical School Experience (At UWI Mona, Jamaica Campus) YEAR 3