The government of Antigua and Barbuda has confirmed that it will keep its overseas study scholarship program active, even after rolling out free tuition for students at the University of the West Indies Five Islands Campus. The policy will only restrict government-funded scholarships for degree programs that are already offered at the local campus, directing all international funding support to specialized training and disciplines not available domestically.
Director General of Communications Maurice Merchant issued this formal clarification during the weekly post-Cabinet media briefing held on Thursday. Merchant was asked to address public uncertainty over whether the new free tuition initiative at the local campus would lead to cuts or elimination of the long-running overseas scholarship program.
Merchant emphasized that the Caribbean nation currently holds a wide network of scholarship opportunities across the globe, with partner countries including Morocco, China, and India extending consistent study offers for Antigua and Barbuda students. He noted that these international opportunities remain a core part of the government’s investment in higher education for local youth.
The new policy framework, Merchant explained, is designed to create a clear, efficient division of public funding. If an academic program is already accessible at the Five Islands Campus, the government will not cover the cost of sending a student abroad to pursue the identical program. This approach is intended to avoid redundant public spending, stretch limited education budgets further, and bolster enrollment and development at the newly expanded local campus.
At the same time, the government will continue to fully support students pursuing overseas study in specialized fields that have not yet been added to the Five Islands Campus curriculum. This dual strategy balances two key policy goals: strengthening domestic higher education infrastructure while still ensuring local students can access specialized training that is not available within Antigua and Barbuda’s borders. Ultimately, the policy aims to maximize the return on public investment in tertiary education, opening up opportunities for students while growing the country’s local academic ecosystem.