The University of the West Indies (UWI) Five Islands Campus has officially opened applications for its brand-new Bachelor of Laws (LLB) undergraduate degree, marking a major milestone in Antigua and Barbuda’s efforts to expand local access to professional higher education. In a public advisory released this week, campus administrators confirmed that all prospective students must submit their completed applications no later than June 30, 2026, ahead of the programme’s first class launch scheduled for August 2026.
This new law degree is the product of a collaborative partnership between the Five Islands Campus and UWI’s established Mona Campus, a regional leader in legal education. What makes the offering particularly impactful for local students is that it removes the need to travel abroad to pursue an accredited UWI law degree, bringing rigorous professional legal training directly to learners based in Antigua and Barbuda.
The launch of the LLB programme aligns with the Antigua and Barbuda government’s broader strategic push to widen higher education access across the country. Prime Minister Gaston Browne has repeatedly prioritized expanding post-secondary opportunities, including a flagship policy to introduce free university tuition for all citizens of Antigua and Barbuda. According to Browne, the government’s commitment to eliminating tuition costs is rooted in a long-term vision: framing accessible higher education as a foundational investment in the nation’s overall development, rather than an expense.
Browne also emphasized that the ongoing physical and programmatic expansion of the Five Islands Campus is a core pillar of the country’s national education strategy. As the campus grows its academic offerings, it is positioned to become a central driver of sustained long-term economic growth for Antigua and Barbuda. Beyond economic impacts, the Prime Minister noted that initiatives like the new local LLB programme serve two critical purposes: they equip local citizens with the specialized skills needed to compete and thrive in an increasingly dynamic and interconnected global economy, while also strengthening domestic professional capacity in key sectors that serve local communities. For the legal sector in particular, expanding local access to accredited legal training will help grow the pool of qualified domestic legal professionals, supporting the long-term stability of the country’s justice system and related industries.
Prospective applicants interested in learning more about the programme or submitting applications can visit the official Five Islands Campus website at www.fiveislands.uwi.edu.