Sponsorship refers to the payment of all or some part of a student's programme fees (Economic Cost and Tuition Fees) by a third party (sponsor) under an arrangement that involves the University billing the sponsor for payment on behalf of the student. This normally refers to government agencies.
If your fees are being paid by your government the relevant government ministry MUST submit a letter to the university indicating what portion of fees will be covered by the sponsor. Letters must be addressed and submitted directly from the sponsoring agency to the University. Students should also have available a copy of the sponsorship letter.
Countries which contribute to the running of the University have varying policies governing sponsorship of their nationals pursuing undergraduate degrees. It is the responsibility of students to check with their Ministry of Education (or other relevant agency) regarding the policy of their country. The contributing countries are: Anguilla, Antigua & Barbuda, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Jamaica, Montserrat, St Kitts/Nevis, St Lucia, St Vincent & the Grenadines, The Bahamas, The Cayman Islands, The Turks & Caicos and Trinidad & Tobago. Bermuda is an associate contributing country.
Note that sponsorship does not cover University Registration Fees ( Guild Fee, Amenities Fee, Science Fee (FST students), PPAP Fee, ID card fee). These fees are the responsibility of all students. They can be paid by semester or all at once at the start of the academic year and MUST be paid before course registration can be completed.
The University submits invoices for payment to governments by the end of the third week of each semester. It is therefore crucial that if you experience any difficulty with payment of fees you should contact the Student Accounts Section of the Bursary before that deadline, so that any problems can be dealt with.
Students from Non-Campus Contributing Countries
Governments of non-campus contributing countries have varying arrangements regarding sponsorship of their nationals. It is your responsibility to confirm with your government any level of sponsorship they will provide, and to present the University with a letter of confirmation of this sponsorship.
Before taking up your place you should also ensure that you are able to meet any portion of fees that will not be met by your government/sponsor. You will be required to honour any fee invoices that are not paid by your government/sponsor.
Nationals of Barbados
The Barbados Government pays the Economic Cost and Tuition Fees for its citizens pursuing their first government-funded undergraduate degree. This does not apply automatically to self-financed programmes like the MBBS in the Faculty of Medical Sciences where Government sponsorship is limited to a set quota of students, and the BSc Human Nutrition and Dietetics where students are expected to pay the tuition fees themselves. Government sponsorship covers the expected duration of your programme (full-time or part-time) plus one additional year if needed. Students are expected to cover their own tuition fees if required to enrol beyond the sponsorship period.
Nationals of Trinidad and Tobago
Funding for nationals of Trinidad & Tobago is managed by the Government Assistance for Tuition Expenses (GATE) programme and is means tested. Students should visit the website or call 1-800-GATE or email gate.info@gov.tt for further information on eligibility for GATE funding.
It is important to note that fees vary among Campuses and the amount paid on behalf of students under GATE will for the most part be based on the fees payable by a Trinidad and Tobago national for the equivalent programme at the St. Augustine Campus. Your student account will be updated to reflect GATE funding only when your GATE application shows "CLEARANCE APPROVED."
ALL STUDENTS WHO ARE NOT SPONSORED BY THEIR GOVERNMENT ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE FULL PAYMENT OF ALL THEIR FEES.