Antigua and Barbuda

Why study a Bachelor or Master in Antigua and Barbuda

Find all the study programs in Antigua and Barbuda

  • About
  • Study
  • Living
  • Universities
  • Student Visa
  • How to Apply
  • Scholarship

About Antigua and Barbuda

Antigua and Barbuda is a Commonwealth country that is independent and is made up of two islands named Antigua and Barbuda, and some other small ones. The country is located where the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans converge and has many beaches, rainforests and beachfront resorts. 

 

It’s well known for its English harbour, which has a yacht club. This is also the site of Nelson’s Historic Dockyard. The capital of St. John’s also has a national museum that displays many artefacts. Students flock to study at its medical schools, which are known for their high standard of education.   

 

If you are interested in studying medicine in Antigua and Barbuda, read on to learn more about the relevant details about how to study in Antigua and Barbuda. 

Languages

English is the official language spoken in the country of Antigua and Barbuda.  Spanish is also spoken by around 10,000 people. The accents of people on each island are different from each other.  

Currency 

The official currency in Antigua and Barbuda is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, abbreviated as EC$ or XCD. 1 XCD is equal to 0.37 dollars.

Geographical information

Geographically, the island is made up of an area of 280 square kilometres. It is mostly made of lowland but in the west area, there are some volcanic mountains called Mount Obama. 

Religion

In Antigua and Barbuda, Christianity is the main religion, with 77 per cent of people belonging to the faith. There are also Muslims practising there, of the Baha’i and Rastafari sects. 

Political stance

Politically, Antigua and Barbuda has a unitary parliamentary representative democratic monarchy with the king or queen being head of state. They appoint a Governor-General acting as a representative of the nation. They also select a Prime Minister to act as the head of government. The Prime Minister advises the Governor-General on appointing ministers. 

Tourism

When it comes to tourism, water sports like swimming, fishing, sailing, and windsurfing are all popular things that tourists like to do. Golfing is also popular there. 

 

Popular tourist destinations include the Half Moon Bay in the southeastern end of Antigua, next to one of the Caribbean’s most beautiful beaches. It has a stunning white sand beach and azure waters against a rich natural foliage. 

 

Another popular destination, Stingray City, is a pool with sand at the bottom and a tropical reef. It has many southern stingrays that swim in the waters, waiting for visitors to feed them.  

Food 

There are popular foods in Antigua and Barbuda including the Saltfish and Fungie dish. Antiguan fungie is created from cornmeal and okra made into a paste. This is then shaped into balls and sauteed. It is typically served with a side of stewed Salt fish. 

Another popular food, Jerk Chicken, was first made popular in Jamaica and then came to the country. It is usually seasoned through dry rubs then spicy sauces are added as a topping.

Study in Antigua and Barbuda

There are several reasons why you should study in Antigua and Barbuda from the unique culture to the exceptional medical programs. Read on to learn more about why you should study there and how much it costs to study there. 

Why should you study in Antigua and Barbuda?

There are several reasons why you should study in Antigua and Barbuda: 

Unique Culture

If you come to these countries in the months of July or August, you will get to enjoy the unique cultural joy of the carnivals. They have beautiful music shows and there are also dancing concerts held around the year in various cities. You can head to them during the weekends while you are studying there. Another popular cultural activity there is cooking as they are a culture that loves to make their own food. There are many cooking schools there if you want to join one and learn the art of cuisine. 

Exceptional Medical Programs

The country is internationally recognized for a number of its degree subjects, specifically in the area of medical ones.  They are known for being excellent and producing great doctors. Students will also have the chance to study and work at the same time. 

Beautiful Scenery 

Another reason to study in the country is the beautiful scenery. Antigua and Barbuda is a stunning country with many beautiful beaches and other natural sites. International students can enjoy these destinations while studying there and take weekend trips and enjoy the lovely scenery. 

How much does it cost?

In general, if you want to study in Antigua and Barbuda, it will typically cost you around 4,000 USD per term for a bachelor’s degree or 12,000 USD per term for a Master’s or PhD Degree. However, if you are studying medicine you’ll pay more. For example, if you are attending the University of health sciences in Antigua, you’ll pay around 13,500 USD in tuition fees, while in the American University of Antigua Medical Program you’ll pay around 31,000 USD per year. 

Living in Antigua and Barbuda

When living in Antigua and Barbuda, you can expect to pay around 1500 USD a month. This is made up of costs of living like accommodation fees and other various costs of living. You can learn more about the details in the following section of the Country Profile. 

Accommodation

For international students who want to study in Antigua and Barbuda, there are several types of accommodation available for students. The options are generally the following ones: 

  • Renting a bedroom in a big house: Each student has their own private room, and they share the rest of the areas like the kitchen, bathroom and living room, as well as any other services offered in the house. 
  • Private rental of a studio or one-bedroom apartment: Students may also choose to rent a private apartment if they don’t want to share with anyone else. However, this will prove more expensive than shared rentals as you’ll need to cover all costs yourself. 
  • Host family rental: you can also stay with a host family and experience the culture directly. You’ll get a private room and home-cooked meals daily and share with the chores such as cooking and cleaning. 

In general, you can expect to pay an average of 600 dollars a month, usually including utilities. How much you’ll pay depends on the kind of accommodation you choose, the location of it and the services offered along with the apartment. 

Other costs of living

Other costs of living include around 70 dollars for utilities a month and around 70 additional dollars for the internet. You’ll also need to set aside around 35 dollars for local transportation, as well as costs for monthly food. 

Universities in Antigua and Barbuda

If you want to study in Antigua and Barbuda, there are two main universities that are great and specialized in medicine. There are several types of other colleges like institutes for hospitality training and information technology. Read on to learn about the available degrees and top-ranked universities. 

Degrees available

The types of degrees available are according to the kinds of schools available. There’s a junior state college and some educational institutes like the hospitability training one and the information technology one, which offer diplomas. They also have two medical schools, which offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate degrees in the field of medicine. 

Top-ranked universities

Here are the two universities located in Antigua and Barbuda that are medical schools: 

  1. University of Health Sciences Antigua (UHSA)

Location: Picadilly 

The top university to study in Antigua and Barbuda, the University of Health Sciences Antigua was founded in 1982. The university is located in Dow’s Hill, Picadilly. It’s a highly ranked institution producing great doctors, nurses and researchers. These are biomedical and behavioural fields in the clinic to help improve patient health and well-being. 

  1. American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUA)

Location: Osbourn

American University of Antigua College of Medicine (AUA) is a medical school accredited all over the world, offering a high-quality medical education. It emphasizes on increasing the representation of minorities and promoting racial diversity. It selects students who have an excellent potential to be successful physicians and gives them excellent education to be great doctors. 

 

Student Visa - Antigua and Barbuda

In order to study in Antigua and Barbuda, like in any other country, you’ll need to obtain a study visa. Non-immigrant students who aren’t citizens of OECS countries, or who don’t have indefinite status, will need a study permit to study at any university in Antigua and Barbuda.  Read on to learn more about the requirements for study visas and information that is relevant to the application process. 

Requirements

If you are an international student applying for a study visa to study in Antigua and Barbuda, you’ll need to hand in the following documents to qualify for a study permit: 

  • Study visa Application form
  • Acceptance Letter from Ministry of Education
  • Acceptance letter from the university that you’ve applied to
  • Passport, with enough space for the visa
  • Passport size photos, at least 2 
  • Proof that you are able to support yourself financially, at least for the course of the study period, with proof of at least 6 months of financial statements 
  • Health insurance proof
  • Certificate of good health 
  • Birth certificate 
  • Air tickets

Relevant Information 

International students are admitted to study in schools and colleges in Antigua and Barbuda. If you want to study in Antigua and Barbuda, you’ll need a study permit that lasts for an entire year. If you want to study for longer than a year, you’ll need to renew the permit. You’ll need to be accepted into the university before you can apply for a study visa, otherwise, your application will be automatically rejected. If not, you can also hand in proof of accommodation. 

How to apply - Antigua and Barbuda

In order to apply to a university in Antigua and Barbuda, you’ll need to follow certain steps.  You’ll need to first head to the university website and fill in the university application and pay the university admission fee, then hand in the documents that are required. Afterwards, you’ll wait for your university to respond if you are accepted or not and perhaps, request additional documents too or an interview. Read on to learn more about the required documents that you’ll need to hand in with your university application to study in Antigua and Barbuda. 

Required Documents 

The documents needed to apply to universities to study in Antigua and Barbuda are: 

  • Academic Transcripts 
  • Previous academic Diplomas
  • Filled out the application form
  • Proof of paid admission fee
  • 2 or 3 passport-sized photos, standard passport photo size 
  • Photocopy of passport or identification document 
  • Two recommendation letters from trusted Academics, such as professors or teachers 
  • Proof of financial stability, through submission of 6 months of financial statements. This covers tuition fees or food costs. 

Scholarship in Antigua and Barbuda

Several good scholarships are offered to students who want to study in Antigua and Barbuda. These are for international students who would like to study in the country but don’t have the financial means to do so. Read on to learn more about them. 

Antigua and Barbuda board of education scholarship

If you need financial assistance and want to study in Antigua and Barbuda, it’s worth looking into the Antigua and Barbuda board of education scholarship. This one offers financial aid to international students looking to study in the country. This scholarship is awarded to students based on various merit criteria, like academic merit or other skills. 

Required Documents

The required documents to apply for this scholarship are:

  • A recent passport-size photograph
  • A certified copy of the candidate’s passport or another form of identification
  • A certified copy of your birth certificate
  • A certified copy of the academic certificate/diploma/ degree
  • A certified copy of the academic transcript and grades
  • A letter of acceptance from the university you are going to study at. (If you are already studying at the Institution, you’ll need to hand in a progress report or transcript)
  • Statement from a parent supporting them regarding bonding and funding (if applicable)
  • Written explanation with rationale and motivation for undertaking course of study