Admission to Graduate Studies

ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS

MA Degree

Minimum Requirements:

Applicants should have a good honours degree in the discipline in question from a recognised tertiary institution. The minimum requirement for admission to a taught Master=s degree is normally a Lower Second Class Honours degree or its equivalent.

In addition, applicants who have graduated from the UWI must have passed at least eight semester-long courses in the relevant discipline in Years II and III of the BA programme with grade B or better. (Other applicants should hold an equivalent qualification.)

Conditional Entry:

Applicants who do not satisfy the above requirements may be allowed to take a Qualifying Examination which may consist of one, two or three courses chosen from Levels II and III of the BA programme to be passed with grades of B or better.

MPhil Degree

Minimum Requirements:

The norm for admission to the MPhil degree is a First or Upper Second Class Honours degree or its equivalent in the discipline in question.

Upgrade from the MA:

Alternatively, candidates for the MA degree who have successfully completed their Course Work component with an average grade of 60% or more may be allowed to upgrade to the MPhil degree.

Availability of Expertise and Resources:

Given the large research component of this programme, it should be noted that admission is contingent upon whether candidates have a thesis proposal compatible with the expertise and resources available at Cave Hill.

PhD Degree

Minimum Requirements:

UWI graduates in possession of the MA degree by coursework and/or the MPhil degree in the discipline in question in which the average course work mark is 60% or better may be allowed to register for the PhD degree.

Graduates from other recognised tertiary institutions who hold equivalent qualifications may be allowed to register for the PhD degree.

Upgrade from the MPhil:

Alternatively, students currently studying at UWI for the MPhil degree who have

• achieved a grade of at least 60% in the required Reading Field,

• successfully defended a Thesis Proposal of a scope and depth deemed worthy of an upgrade, and

• consistently produced work of a standard and quantity, in the opinion of their Director, to merit an upgrade,

may be allowed to transfer to the PhD programme.

To this end, candidates will also be required to successfully complete an Upgrade Seminar according to the guidelines prescribed later in this pamphlet.  (See THE MPHIL / PHD UPGRADE SEMINAR.)

APPLICATION DEADLINES 

All candidates for the MA, MPhil, and PhD degrees must submit their applications directly to the School for Graduate Studies and Research not later than January 31 of the year in which they wish to enter the university.

Candidates for the PhD degree who wish to enter in semester II of the academic year must submit their application not later than July 31 of the preceding calendar year.

TRANSCRIPTS

Applicants who are not graduates of the University of the West Indies must at the time of their application arrange for the submission of original transcripts of their university record.

APPLICATION FEE 

Each application must be accompanied by the non-refundable application fee specified on the form.

Completed applications forms should be returned directly to:

The Administrative Assistant,
The School of Graduate Studies and Research,
The University of the West Indies,
Cave Hill Campus,
P.O. Box 64, Bridgetown,
Barbados, West Indies.