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Can I change my Academic Advisor?
Yes you may. If you wish to change your Academic Advisor, visit the office of the Administrative Officer in the administrative office.
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What is an Academic Advisor?
The Academic Advisor is there to offer guidance in relation to your academic career at UWI. Each student is assigned an Academic Advisor from a member of faculty within their discipline. It is expected that you meet at least once per semester. The name of your Academic Advisor is posted on your CHOL account or you may check with the Administrative Officer in the administrative office.
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When should I contact my Academic Advisor
It is recommended that you see you Academic Advisor at least once per semester. You should especially do so at the beginning of the semester to plan your courses for the academic year.
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Who is my Academic Advisor
The name of your Academic Advisor is available on your CHOL account or you may check with the Administrative Officer in the administrative office. The list is also posted on the Notice Board in the Departmental Office.
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How best do I track my progress?
It is recommended that you use the Registration Aide for your Major to track your courses. This is available in the for download on the Student Resources page of the Faculty website.
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How do I apply for leave of absence?
A student who for good reason wishes to be absent from an academic programme for a semester or an academic year must apply for formal Leave of Absence through the Dean’s Office. The leave of absence request form may be downloaded from the Faculty website.
Leave of Absence may be granted for one semester or for an academic year. Leave of Absence, however, will not be granted for more than two consecutive academic years, or in the first year of the programme. A student who wishes to deregister from all courses in the first year of their programme must request deferral until either the next semester or the next academic year.
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I was asked to withdraw as a result of unsatisfactory performance, how soon will I be allowed to resume my studies?
No sooner than one (1) year after the date of withdrawal can you reapply for admission. A student who is Required to Withdraw may request a meeting with the Dean, who can examine the case and decide whether the RTW requirement can be waived.
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There is a “warning” status on my on-line student record. What does this mean?
A “warning” status reflects poor academic performance (i.e. the receipt of a term GPA of 1.99 or less). This should be taken seriously and the student should seek counsel from his/her academic advisor. If such poor performance is maintained by a student for the following semester, the student will be asked to withdraw from the UWI.
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What if I cannot continue with my studies?
If you are unable to continue in your programme for at least two academic years, you should write a letter to the Dean indicating that you wish to voluntarily withdraw from the programme. If you need to discontinue studies for up to one year, with plans of resumption following, it is recommended that you apply for leave of absence for the period.
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What is the deadline for applying for Leave of Absence
Applications for leave of absence must be made no later than the third week of the official registration period of the relevant semester.
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Can I carry forward coursework marks for a failed/incomplete course?
Where for medical reasons (certified by the Student Health Clinic), a student has failed a course, or not written the final examination, permission may be sought from the Dean to carry forward their coursework marks obtained in the respective course where the course is repeated within one academic year.
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How do I apply to do a course by ‘Exams only’?
A final year student can request permission from the Examinations Section, through the Dean to register for one or two courses by ‘exams only’. Exams Only permits the student to complete the course without attending instructional sessions and without submitting coursework. To be eligible, the student should have been previously registered, attended classes and completed all course work for the said course. Exams Only may be granted in cases where students were unable to complete the exam on medical grounds or under exceptional circumstances. Exams Only will not be granted for a first time course attempt.
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I am ill and unable to attend class or write an exam. What should I do?
If you are suffering an illness that precludes you attending class, submitting your coursework assignments on time or from taking final examinations, a medical is required from the Student Health Clinic. All registered students should register with the Clinic in order to access the services available.
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I missed an exam. What should I do?
If you missed an exam, you can retake it at the next available sitting. You would need to re-register for the course at the next offering. If you missed an examination for medical reasons, you should visit the Student Health Clinic.
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Where can I apply for a review or a remark for a course that I have failed?
A request for a review (where you go through the script with your lecturer) or remark (grade can be changed) can be made at the Examinations Section. There is a stipulated time-frame published by the Examinations Section for requesting a review or remark. Note that there is a cost attached to a remark.
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How do I transfer to another Faculty?
All students wishing to transfer to another faculty must apply to the programme of their choice. The application form is available on the Student Affairs website and should be completed in triplicate.
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I was accepted into a three-year (full-time) programme. Can I switch to part-time studies?
Yes, full-time students may opt to register part time i.e. 5-6 courses in the academic year.
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I was accepted into the four-year programme, can I switch to full-time?
A four-year programme indicates acceptance into part-time studies. You may switch to full-time studies only after successfully completing 24 credits of courses at level I.
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Can I get special permission to do extra courses?
Yes. Students who are in their final year of study (that is, they will complete at the end of the second semester), with the permission of the Dean, can be allowed to add up to 6 extra credits per semester.
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Can I register for Co-Curricular Credits?
Yes. Co-curricular courses are offered through the Office of Students Services. Co-curricular credits are done at Levels II or III and students can be given only 3 credits of co-curricular courses counted towards their degree requirements. The grading for co-curricular credits is pass or fail.
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Do I need to do courses outside my Faculty?
No. You have the option of taking out-of-faculty electives at any level where your programme permits. Note that permission is sometimes required from the Faculty offering the course.
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Do I need to take a Foreign Language?
Yes, if you do NOT possess a CXC General level pass at grades I, II or III (Grade III from 1998) or equivalent in a foreign language, then you MUST complete ONE of the following to satisfy the Faculty’s foreign language requirement:
(1) FREN0101 Beginners' French OR
(2) SPAN0101 Beginners' Spanish OR
(3) PORT1001 Portuguese Language 1A OR
(4) CHIN1001 Beginners’ Chinese
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Do I register full-time or part-time?
At UWI, full-time and part-time refer to the number of courses you are registered for and not the time of day the courses are offered. In other words, full-time students can expect to attend classes anywhere between 8.00 a.m. and 9.00 p.m.
Full-time status: To enter the full-time Programme, your letter of offer to UWI should indicate acceptance into the 3-year programme (full matriculation). Note that students eligible to study full-time, have the option to register part-time and can change to a full-time registration in a subsequent semester if they so desire.
Part-time status: To enter the part-time Programme, your letter of offer should indicate acceptance into the 4-year programme (lower level matriculation). Students with lower level matriculation are not permitted to register full time until they have successfully completed 24 credits.
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How do I interpret the course code?
Each course is assigned an alphanumeric code. The first four letters of the code indicate the subject area e.g. HIST is a history course. This is followed by four digits. The first number indicates the level: 1 for level one, 2 for level two and 3 for level three. For example:
SPAN1001 – Level I Spanish course
HIST2001 – Level II History course
LITS3001 – Level III Literatures course
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How do I register for my courses?
To add your semester courses, you log on to the Cave Hill Online Student Information System (CHOL) at www.cavehill.uwi.edu/chol
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How is my Programme structured?
To be awarded the Bachelor’s degree, you will need to complete 90 credits (approximately 30 courses) over the length of your programme (3-4 years). Each degree programme is divided into three Levels – Level I, Level II and Level III.
At each Level, you are required to complete 30 credits, a course is worth either 3 or 6 credits as indicated in the Faculty Handbook. Courses worth 6 credits are the credit-equivalent of 2 courses.
The Programme is broken down into three parts:
- Major Requirements
- Faculty Requirements
- Electives
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How many courses am I permitted to do during the Summer School?
Students are allowed to do a maximum of three 3-credit courses during the summer.
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How many courses should I register for in each semester?
FULL-TIME students register for ten (10) courses per academic year (Aug-May) i.e. 5 courses in semester I and 5 courses in semester II. Please note that students who are in full-time employment are NOT permitted to register full-time.
PART-TIME students register for five (5) courses per academic year (Aug-May) i.e. 3 courses in semester I and 2 courses in semester II OR vice versa. Note that part-time students who possess one ‘A’ level or CAPE pass may register for 6 courses in the academic year, i.e. 3 in semester I and 3 in semester II. Level I of your Programme will extend over a period of four semesters or two academic years.
Please note that registration is done on a semester by semester basis. Therefore, you can only register for semester I courses in August/September and semester II courses in January/February.
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What courses should I register for?
You should refer to the Faculty Handbook which outlines the course requirements for your programme.
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What do the (ELPT) Proficiency Test results mean?
A pass in (or exemption from) the ELPT test means that you go on to register for the required English Language Foundation courses i.e. FOUN1003, FOUN1004, FOUN1006, FOUN1008.
If you have failed the ELPT, you must register for and pass the course FOUN0100 Fundamentals of Written English BEFORE registering for any of the English Language Foundation courses. There is a fee attached to taking FOUN0100.
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What if I already have a Foreign Language?
If you already have the foreign language qualification, you should take a level I humanities elective from within the Faculty but outside your major to obtain the three credits.
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What out-of-Faculty Foundation courses are students of the Faculty of Humanities and Education required to do?
FHE students are required to do the following two foundation courses:
FOUN1201 Science, Medicine and Technology in Society
FOUN1301 Law, Governance, Economy & Society
These courses are level 1 but fit within your level II structure.
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Where do I receive approval for over-rides for course registration errors?
The Department responsible for the course as well as the Faculty Office processes over-rides for prerequisite errors, course clashes, and full classes. If a student wishes to exceed the maximum credit hours, they should contact the Faculty Office.
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How do I select my courses offered by the Exchange University
You are required to make an appointment with your Academic Advisor to go through the courses available and select those which will fit into your UWI academic programme. The courses selected must be approved by your Head of Department and Dean on your application form.
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How long is the student exchange?
Students of the Faculty have the option of pursuing courses at another approved university for one semester or for an academic year under the Student Exchange Programme. Please visit the Student Enrolment and Retention Unit (SERU) to learn more about the Study Abroad/Student Exchange programme. https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/international/current-students.aspx
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I'm a graduate student, can I apply?
Yes you may. Graduate students should seek permission in writing from their Departmental Head and Dean which should be approved by the Campus Coordinator, School for Graduate Studies and Research. Research students must identify a supervisor at the host university and submit an approved research proposal.
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What credits will I receive credit for the courses completed at the host University??
You will be awarded the letter grade achieved in the course from your exchange and the corresponding UWI credits for that letter grade.
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What do I need to apply?
Undergraduate students must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 up to the date of application. The final semester of your programme must be spent at Cave Hill.
Graduate students are required to obtain written permission from their Departmental Head and Dean which must be submitted to the Campus Coordinator, School for Graduate Studies and Research for final approval before they contact the International Office. Research students must identify a supervisor at their proposed host institution and submit a research proposal.
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Which are the participating Universities?
UWI has agreements with over 50 partnery institutions. For a list, visit https://www.cavehill.uwi.edu/international/partners.aspx

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Can I do a major in another Faculty?
Yes, you can with the permission of both faculty Deans. Kindly note however, that by adding a second major, you may be required to complete more than 90 credits to satisfy the requirements for both majors.
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Can I add a Minor to my programme?
Yes, you may apply to add any one of the Faculty minors available to your programme by completing and submitting the Change of Option form to the Dean’s Office. You may also add one minors from other Faculties but with permission of the relevant Dean. Kindly note that Minors are not usually permitted when pursuing a Special.
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When do I declare my minor?
Students must declare their minor on entry to level two and no later than the end of the semester I registration period at the beginning of their final full academic year at UWI.
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If I pursue 15 credits in any discipline area would I automatically be awarded a minor in that area?
No. You must formally declare the minor by completing a Change of Option form and submitting to the Dean’s Office. You should also check the Faculty Handbook for the courses required for that Minor.
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How do I transfer to another Faculty?
All students wishing to transfer to another faculty must apply to the programme of their choice. The application form is available on the Student Affairs website and should be completed in triplicate.
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At what stage of my programme do I register for HUMN3099?
HUMN3099 should be done in the final (full) academic year of your programme. Full-time students should have successfully completed at least 10 upper level (II/III) courses and part-time students, at least 14 upper level courses, to be eligible to register for HUMN3099.
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How do I complete the registration form?
Once you have been notified that your topic has been approved, you should register your topic on forms provided by the Faculty Office. THis will be sent to your email and must be returned by the date specified. Students should not attempt to get signatures from their Supervisors.
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Why do I need to complete the registration form when I have already registered online?
The registration form allows you to register your research topic and will indicate the name of the supervisor who will guide your research. CHOL Online registration merely adds this course to the list of courses that you are taking for the academic year.
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Who do I select as my supervisor?
You do not select your Supervisor. Supervisors are assigned by the Department based on the topic you submit for research.
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What is the difference between the supervisor and the moderator?
The supervisor is the individual with whom you will have regular meetings. This individual will guide your study and will be the first examiner for your study as well. The moderator coordinates the entire course and ensures that everyone who is registered online has a qualified supervisor and a feasible research topic. The moderator oversees the registration process and ensures that all students who have registered online are also registered manually (i.e. they have a topic and a supervisor). The moderator also coordinates the marking of scripts and the submission of grades for official reporting.
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Is there a scheduled class time on the timetable for HUMN3099?
No, there is no scheduled class time for HUMN3099 but students are expected to have regularly scheduled meetings with their supervisors. Failure to have such regular meetings may result in the supervisor declining to first examine the study which may result in the student failing the course.
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What do I do with the registration form when I complete it?
The completed registration form – which includes research topic, supervisor’s and second examiner's signature – must be submitted to the Faculty Office by the stipulated deadline.
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After I submit my completed registration form, can I change my research topic?
Research topics can only be changed with the expressed approval of the supervisor. Change of topics will only be accepted within Semester One of the academic year for which the study is being completed. Change to your titles (not topics) are permitted up until early September.
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Under what circumstances do I communicate with the Moderator?
Students should see the Moderator if they have challenges with their supervision.