Living in Barbados

Travel Arrangements

When making your travel arrangements you are advised to travel on a return and NOT a one-way ticket. Arrangements are made for students to be collected at the airport. We ask that you inform us as soon as possible of your scheduled arrival date and time as well as the name of your airline carrier and your flight number in order to facilitate this process.

Arrival in Barbados

Upon arrival, and after clearing Immigration and Customs, please proceed to the exit where you will be met by a UWI Official with a UWI welcome banner. The UWI official driver will take you to your residence.

Accommodation

Accommodation on Campus You may choose to stay with a family or in a shared apartment or house. We will assist you in identifying accommodation to suit your budget. The self-catering apartments and houses will normally be located within the environs of the University, on the UWI shuttle bus route, and are fully furnished. Two or three persons will share an apartment/house. Each would have a private bedroom. There may be a need to share a bathroom between two persons. It all depends on your budget.

Staying with a family is the best budget option and will give you more opportunity to practise your English. Limited space may also be available at the UWI Halls of Residence, mostly in the summer. You may also choose to stay in a hotel. This is the most expensive option. We can assist you in finding a suitable hotel.

Daily Transportation

Getting around in Barbados is relatively easy as you have a number of different modes of transportation from which to choose. These are:

The Government-owned buses which are blue with yellow stripes and carry the letters BM on their license plates. The Campus is located on Route 24 - Wanstead. Buses run from as early as 6:00 a.m. to as late as 10:30 p.m.

The privately owned minibuses which are yellow with blue stripes and carry the letter ‘B’ on their license plates. The Campus is serviced by the Wanstead buses.

The privately owned route taxis known as “ZR” vans due to their license plates. Look for the vans with the number "3" on the front. They service the Wanstead, Black Rock, Redmans Village routes, and pass outside the main entrance of the Campus.

Public transportation is safe and easily accessible across the island. The fare to ride on public and privately owned transportation is Bds$3.50 (US$1.75) for a one way ticket. Do remember that when you are at the bus stop you need to put your hand out to signal to the bus driver you want to take the bus.

Taxis are also readily available, but are more expensive.

Campus Shuttle
The Campus Bus Service operates three routes to and from the city centre and the immediate surroundings of the campus. All registered students are eligible to ride on the Campus Buses. Please remember to take your student ID card with you at all times, as you will be asked to present it to the driver before entering the bus.

Meals

You may purchase meals on the Campus at the Student Cafeteria or the Mount Restaurant. Meals range from US$5 - $15. The Campus Mart is a small mini mart on Campus where you can purchase snacks. Supermarkets are easily accessible, if you choose to do your own cooking, which is the more budget friendly option.

Campus Amenities

Your UWI ID Card will enable you to have access to the library, student gymnasium, UWI bus, sports facilities, computer laboratories etc.

There is an additional charge included in the programme fee for students on the three-month programme, which gives them access to the Campus medical insurance scheme and use of the Health Clinic. Students on shorter courses will need to purchase travel insurance, which includes medical insurance, and show proof of this prior to travelling to Barbados. This may be included as part of your air ticket.

Prescription Drugs

If you are on prescribed medication, you may bring adequate supplies of the medicine or travel with your original prescription. Prescriptions can be filled at the campus pharmacy or any local pharmacies across the island.