The UWI Foreign Language Policy for a Multilingual University

What is The UWI Foreign Language Policy?

In keeping with one of its strategic objectives to enable graduates to develop foreign language competencies suitable for a 21st century world, The University of the West Indies has implemented a foreign language policy that came into effect in the 2022/2023 academic year.

ALL students who have been accepted into The University of the West Indies from the academic year 2022/2023, and onwards, to read for an undergraduate degree are required to register for and successfully complete a prescribed three-credit foreign language course at the level of their competence.

Who is exempted from the Foreign Language Policy?

Foreign Language Policy Exemption Form

Students requiring an exemption from the foreign language policy can now easily access the form online.

Click here or scan the QR code below to access the Foreign Language Policy Exemption form.

NB: Students are required to sign in using their student email account credentials to gain access.

Which courses are available to students who need to fulfil this requirement at the Cave Hill Campus?

• CHIN 1001 Chinese Language I
• FREN 0101 Beginners’ French
• JAPA 1007 Japanese for Beginners I
• LING 1819 Beginners’ Caribbean Sign Language
• LING 2902 Structure & Usage of French-Lexicon Creole I
• SPAN 0101 Beginners’ Spanish

How else can this requirement be fulfilled?

Students can fulfil this requirement by obtaining a certification in a foreign language from any institution outside of the University.

The following courses offered at these institutions will also be accepted:

Spanish

1. Option One: Complete two face-to-face courses at the Instituto Venezolano para la Cooperación y la Cultura in Barbados.

Certified completion of both Básico 1 and Básico 2. Click here to open a pdf with course content. Please contact paula.gonzalezgarcia@uwi.edu or barbadosivcc@gmail.com for further details on upcoming offerings of these courses.

2. Option Two: Pass a face-to-face oral test at Cave Hill: Spanish Language Certification Exam via Independent Modality (20 spots available)

If you think you are already at level A1 according to CEFR for understanding and speaking Spanish, through your own study or other exposure, you may opt to take this test. The next sitting will take place in January 2027. A sign-up link will appear here before the end of December 2026.

Please see the attached document for further information about this Exam

3. Option Three: Complete two online courses offered by the University of Valencia

Certified completion of both of the following two online courses offered as Massive Online Open Classes (MOOCs) by the Polytechnic University of Valencia will be deemed to satisfy The UWI Foreign Language Requirement:

• Basic Spanish 1: Getting Started, 4-5 hours per week, 7 weeks, cost US$29
• Basic Spanish 2: One Step Further, 4-5 hours per week, 4 weeks, cost US$39

The course links above give further details, including dates of upcoming offerings.

Chinese

Certified completion of the internationally recognized HSK 1 qualification in Chinese will be deemed to satisfy The UWI Foreign Language Requirement. The following resources are relevant:

• The Cave Hill Confucius Institute offers this qualification and preparatory classes. Visit the website and contact confuciusinstitute@cavehill.uwi.edu for further details.

• The following resources are also useful:

https://apps.apple.com/cn/app/chinese-hsk-vocabulary/id968165590

https://apps.apple.com/cn/app/hsk-mock/id1624661903