UWI Five Islands May Cap Law Programme as Applications Surpass Available Space, Browne Says

ST. JOHN’S, Antigua — The University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus may have to limit enrollment in its new law degree programme after receiving far more applications than anticipated, Prime Minister Gaston Browne said Saturday.

Speaking on the Browne and Browne radio programme, Browne revealed that 137 prospective students have already applied for admission, creating concerns about whether the campus has sufficient space and resources to accommodate them all when the programme launches.

“We have about 137 applicants already,” Browne said. “The challenge now is whether we have the space to accommodate all of them.”

The Prime Minister described the level of interest as a strong vote of confidence in the programme, which is expected to provide students in Antigua and Barbuda and across the region with greater access to legal education without having to study overseas.

However, Browne acknowledged that university officials are now examining whether enrollment may need to be capped in the programme’s inaugural year.

“We may very well have to cap the number,” he said, noting that the demand has exceeded initial expectations.

The Prime Minister said the government and the university are exploring options to expand capacity while maintaining academic standards and ensuring that students receive a quality educational experience.

Browne also used the discussion to defend the government’s investment in higher education, arguing that expanding opportunities for tertiary studies is critical to national development and social mobility.

He noted that the administration has committed to subsidizing tuition costs for students entering the law programme, with the government expected to cover approximately half of the tuition expense.

According to Browne, the law programme forms part of a broader strategy to strengthen the educational pipeline in Antigua and Barbuda by increasing access to professional training and reducing the financial burden on families.

The Prime Minister said the unexpectedly high number of applicants demonstrates the pent-up demand for legal education and validates the decision to establish the programme at the Five Islands Campus.

University officials are expected to determine in the coming weeks how many students can be accommodated in the first intake and whether additional measures will be required to meet demand.

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