The first hall to be built across all UWI campuses, and the first to be transformed through renovation into modern student residential housing. Irvine Hall is known for its rich culture, vibrant student life, and strong sense of community, a modern housing provider on campus,  under a new public private (PPP), students benefit from additional high-quality accommodations designed for comfort and convenience. Together, they create a balanced living experience that blends tradition, support, and modern amenities for residents.

When you join our residence hall community, you unlock a door that offers new and exciting experiences, academic and personal support, meaningful engagement with others and lifelong friendships. Our community will challenge you, support you and inspire you. It is diverse and filled with energy and excitement. As the students say “The Vibez and the vine are synonymous”!

Irvine Hall

The oldest of the existing Halls of Residence at the University of the West Indies (UWI), Irvine Hall was named in honour of Sir James Irvine. Sir James was the Chairman of the Committee which recommended the founding of the then University College of the West Indies (UCWI) which later became the UWI.

Irvine Hall opened its doors in 1950 and has for 70 years provided a unique living-learning experience for its residents. Known as the Hall of Culture, Pride and Vybes, Irvine Hall provides an engaging community where students develop excellence in academics, politics, leadership, sports, arts and culture.

Our motto is ‘Know Thyself’ and underpins all the programmes and activities which are on offer to students. Here in Irvine Hall we equip our students to become their best selves. Irvine Hall has made its contribution to the UWI and the Caribbean Region in several ways, including:

The leadership of Irvine Hall has been provided by stalwarts such as Sir Phillip Sherlock (1950-1959), Dr. Rawle Farley (1959-1960), Professor Walter Harper (1960 to 1961), Sir Frank Worrel (1961-1966), His Excellency Mr. Cedric Harper (1967-1993). Mr. Carlton Lowrie (1994-2010), Mr. Jason McKenzie (2010-2014) and Ms. Simone Williams (since 2014) Irvine’s 70th anniversary celebration scheduled for the 2020/21 academic year was impacted by the COVID pandemic. We look forward to celebrating this platinum event in the future.

Video Tour

The Hall Song

Written by Michael Holgate (2023)

We walk through darkness to find ourselves,

We seek the truth and forget all else.

We ask for wisdom we walk the walk

We spark the courage within our hearts

We climb a little higher everyday

We're growing stronger,

We learn enough to fuel our lives.

To know yourself is right,

Oho we're Irvinites,

We keep our torch alight

Oho we're Irvinites,

All things Yes, we can do,

Hard time Yes, we pull through,

Upwards through the night,

Yes, we're Irvinites,

Oho we're Irvinites,

Yes, we're Irvinites

Oho we're Irvinites,

Yes, we bear the light

Oho we're Irvinites,

Yes, we’ll climb the hights

Oho we're Irvinites,

Irvinites,

Oh, look to the west Aaaaaah,

Seeing the light shining bright,

Ooh yes,

Oh, look to the west Aaaaaah,

Seeing the light shining bright,

Ooh yes.

The Hall Pledge

We pledge to dedicate our lives to the pursuit of truth, knowledge and excellence,

Striving always to make our lives a light to those around us.

Seeking always the interest of others, we dedicate ourselves and our abilities to the building of a better society, a brighter tomorrow for all mankind.

We shall forever keep the torch burning BRIGHT in our hearts and minds, never ceasing in our endeavors until we truly KNOW OURSELVES!!

Hall Management

Our staff members and partners are available to guide and support you. Your Student Services and Development Manager (SSDM), charged with ensuring that Irvine Hall delivers on its promises, lives on the property. She is supported by nine (9) Graduate Students known as Resident Advisors (RAs), who also live in the Hall. The staff here is a great resource. Get to know your RA on arrival. If you ever need help, I encourage you to look to your RA for assistance in getting in touch with the right person. We are dedicated to making your time here as successful and fulfilling as you want it to.

Ms Simone Williams is the Student Services and Development Manager of Irvine Hall at The University of the West Indies, Mona, where she leads the Hall’s student development, engagement and living-learning programme.

A higher education and student development professional, educator and researcher, Ms Williams has spent more than 15 years working within The UWI environment. Her professional preparation spans higher education and student personnel administration, applied psychology, teaching and learning, appreciative advising, inclusive and intercultural education, programme development and evaluation, and restorative and circle practices.

Her approach to residence life is grounded in the belief that a university hall should be much more than a place where students eat and sleep. A hall of residence is an educational community. It should provide students with opportunities to discover themselves, encounter differences, form meaningful relationships, develop their talents, serve others, exercise leadership and pursue academic excellence.

At Irvine Hall, this philosophy is closely connected to the Hall’s enduring motto, “Know Thyself.” Students are encouraged to see their university years not simply as a journey towards a degree, but as an opportunity to ask important questions about who they are, what they value, what they can contribute and who they are becoming.

Ms Williams’ work therefore places particular emphasis on student belonging, first-year transition, academic success, leadership and service, wellness, inclusion, community building and the development of the whole student.

For her, the measure of a successful Irvine experience is not simply that a student lived at Irvine Hall, but that the experience of being part of the community contributed meaningfully to the person that student became.